You may rely on your insurance company to pay your bill when a natural disaster or another event causes significant property destruction. However, insurance companies are known for taking advantage of claimants during their greatest time of need.
If you hope to avoid being taken advantage of, you should have a Boca Raton, FL, property damage attorney advocating for your best interests. Our legal team of seasoned Boca Raton personal injury lawyers is standing by to offer a free consultation today so you can learn more about what your next steps should be.
Common Reasons to File a Property Damage Claim in Boca Raton
You may need to file a property damage claim with your insurance company for many different reasons. Boca Raton may be a fantastic city, but that does not mean it is not without threats.
Common reasons for filing a property damage claim include the following:
- Water damage, including mold damage and flood damage in Florida
- Damage caused by fires and explosions
- Damage to your roof caused by storms, hurricanes, and falling trees
- Theft and vandalism
- Wind damage caused by powerful hail storms, thunderstorms, wind storms, and hurricanes
- Harm to your property as a result of someone else’s negligence
Unfortunately, you may be surprised that the insurance company has denied your claim for benefits and compensation. Insurance companies are notorious for attempting to increase their profit wherever possible.
When the insurance company gives you the runaround, ensure you have a property damage lawyer in Boca Raton backing you up. You need someone local who understands state and city laws to help with legal action to protect your rights as a property owner. Our team works tenaciously to get you a fair settlement for your insurance claim.
Time Limit to File a Florida Property Damage Claim
Regardless of the reason for the property damage, you must file a claim within the statute of limitations to get compensation for any injuries you have and harm to your property.
According to Florida Statutes section 95.11, you have four years to file a claim for property damage. If the damage resulted in a statewide natural disaster, you may have more time to file, but only a lawyer from our law firm can confirm this.
We can help you through this difficult time by answering any questions you have. We’ll also help you through the claim process. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get in touch with a lawyer before the time limit to file runs out.
How a Property Damage Lawyer in Boca Raton Can Help
Your property damage lawyer in Boca Raton can handle your case’s legal details. After everything you have been through, dealing with an adversarial insurance company is the last thing on your mind.
Your attorney can handle the insurance company’s threats and tactics to delay your claim’s processing or to deny your claim entirely. Your lawyer will be responsible for the following:
- Assisting you with filing a property damage insurance claim
- Handling all of the paperwork and documents associated with your case
- Determining how to best approach the insurance company’s denial of your claim
- Negotiating with the insurance adjuster to obtain a fair and reasonable settlement
- Bringing your case to court if the insurance company is unwilling to settle your claim fairly
- Helping you and your family recover the compensation benefits you are entitled to
- Determine if your insurance company operates in “bad faith” regarding your claim
Common Types of Insurance Coverage in Boca Raton
Multiple policies can protect you in the event of property damage. Types of insurance coverage that can protect you when your property is destroyed include:
Renter’s Insurance
This is one of the many property insurance policies designed for individuals who rent a property but do not own the premises. Renter’s insurance is designed to compensate individuals for the property inside of their establishment but not necessarily the building itself.
For example, if you are a renter and your home was destroyed by a fire, your renter’s insurance policy would cover all of your personal property within the home. However, the home itself would not be. Your landlord must file a claim with their homeowner’s insurance company to obtain compensation for the home’s value.
Property Insurance
This type of insurance protects the property, including a building and its contents. You must review your property insurance policy details to determine which items are covered.
Property insurance coverage typically protects against losses caused by natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, and other events.
Homeowner’s Insurance
Insurance for homeowners is designed for people who need to protect themselves from liability in the event of a national disaster or another event. A homeowner can file a claim with their insurance company when their home or contents within the home are destroyed or damaged in a special event.
If a party’s negligence played a role that resulted in harm to your home, you can hold them accountable. For example, if a robbery occurred and you have a security system that didn’t go off, you may be able to hold the company accountable for a faulty product.
Auto Insurance
Car insurance is required by state law if you are operating a motor vehicle. The vehicle is insured, and when someone suffers an injury, they can file a claim with their auto insurance company under Florida no-fault insurance laws.
You should purchase several types of auto insurance coverage in conjunction with the state minimum requirements. This includes collision, comprehensive, gap insurance, rental car coverage, glass coverage, and your standard property damage and bodily injury liability coverage.
What Does My Insurance Cover?
One of the top reasons victims of property damage have trouble dealing with insurance companies is they do not fully understand what their insurance policy covers. Many people make the mistake of assuming their insurance policy covers any type of property damage.
However, insurance companies often take advantage of claimants. If you are unsure about what your insurance policy covers, it is important to speak with a knowledgeable insurance lawyer before filing a claim.
The following is a list of common types of insurance coverage available to help you deal with property damage claims:
- Collision: Collision insurance protects against physical loss or damage caused by accidents involving automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, boats, trailers, farm equipment, construction machinery, and other vehicles.
- Comprehensive: Comprehensive insurance protects against losses due to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, and wildfires. It also helps pay for damages to buildings and other structures.
- Gap Insurance: Gap insurance pays for repairs after a storm or other event. The insurance pays for the difference between the cost of repairing the property and the amount paid by the owner’s insurance policy.
- Liability: Liability insurance protects against lawsuits filed by third parties injured while on the insured’s property.
- Personal Injury: Personal injury insurance compensates victims for injuries suffered during an accident.
- Property: Property insurance covers the cost of replacing lost or stolen items and protecting the value of the real estate.
- Rental Car Coverage: Rental car coverage allows you to rent a replacement vehicle if yours is damaged or stolen.
- Glass Coverage: Glass coverage pays for repairing or replacing broken windows and windshields.
- Property Damage: Property damage insurance pays for repairing or rebuilding a building or structure.
Your policy may contain provisions and exclusions and not adequately meet your needs. It is not uncommon for insurance adjusters to claim you do not have certain types of coverage when you do. If you have difficulty dealing with your insurance company, an attorney can help hold them accountable.
What Is in Your Policy?
You will need to consider your insurance deductible, the maximum amount your insurance policy is designed to cover, and whether there are any exceptions to your policy. For example, you might have water damage insurance coverage, but do you have flood damage protection coverage?
Insurance companies purposefully create contracts and policies that may be confusing and often fail to inform you if you do not have the types or amounts of coverage you need to be fully protected. If you are unsure what is covered or not covered by your insurance policy, reviewing the details of your case with your attorney may be beneficial.
Types of Damage For Property Owners Include:
- Roof damage
- Water damage
- Fire damage
- Wind damage
- Structural damage
- Flood damage
- Storm damage
- Tornado damage
- Hurricane damage
- Hail damage
- Smoke damage
- Tree service
- Sewage cleanup
- Mold remediation
Contact a Property Damage Lawyer in Boca Raton for Help
Don’t get stuck with the bill for your property damages. Hold the insurance company accountable for their financial obligation when you contact a Boca Raton, FL, property damage lawyer at GED Lawyers for help.
Call us or fill out the contact form on our website. We can help you secure the payout you need to cover your expenses and move forward with your life.
