Although most people think of lawyers when it comes to personal injury cases, property damage can be just as devastating to their quality of life. This is especially true when it comes to our home or business. Then, when you take the prudent step of protecting your property with an insurance policy, it can come as a devastating blow to have your claim denied by an insurance company.
The good news is you don’t have to take that denial lying down. A Rehoboth property damage lawyer can help you fight for your claim. Ged Lawyers is a Massachusetts firm that has been helping people in your situation since 1995. We’re here to fight for your rights under your property insurance policy. If you feel like your claim has been wrongly denied or intentionally undervalued, please call us before you accept less than you deserve.
Insurance Companies Often Make Recovering from Property Damage Harder Than It Should Be
It doesn’t matter whether your home was damaged by a natural disaster such as heavy snow causing your roof to collapse or a fire caused by faulty wiring. Rebuilding after events like these is incredibly difficult. You would think at a time like this, the insurance company you’ve been paying on time for all these years would leap to your rescue and do all they can to get you squared away.
Unfortunately, all too many policyholders experience just the opposite. Their insurance companies can seem indifferent to their concerns, even to the point of callousness. Why do they act like this? The answer boils down to one simple thing: money. Despite your insurance company’s public efforts to project a community-oriented, service-first ethos, the reality is they are a for-profit business, and paying out claims eats directly into those profits.
Every dollar your insurance company shaves off your property damage claim is another dollar they can put in their shareholders’ pockets. So, they often deny or minimize claims as a matter of course, which only makes rebuilding your property (and life) even more difficult. You don’t have to accept this. A property damage attorney from Ged Lawyers can help you fight back.
What Kinds of Things Are Usually Covered by Standard Property Damage Insurance?
Most standard homeowners and business policies have a provision that covers property damage you don’t cause. Losses that are typically covered by a standard policy include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Storm damage, such as heavy winds, hail, or rain
- Fire damage, such as that caused by faulty wiring or lightning strikes
- Intentional damage, such as robbery, vandalism, or burglary
- Damage caused by civil unrest, such as looting or rioting
- Damage caused by extremely cold conditions, such as frozen pipes or roofs that collapse under the weight of snow
When your property is damaged in a scenario that’s covered under the terms of your policy, you have the right to file a claim with your insurer.
What Types of Property Damage Are Not Typically Covered Under a Standard Policy?
You have several different options when you purchase insurance for your property, home, or business. However, some specific types of damages are not covered in most standard polices. A partial list of damages that aren’t covered under standard policies appears below:
- Flooding – Floods caused by natural disasters such as hurricane storm surge or high waters from swollen rivers or lakes are usually not covered under standard policies.
- Damage you cause through negligence or inattentiveness – As a property owner, you have a responsibility to be proactive and maintain your property in good order. If you fail to do so (e.g., knowingly allowing a broken pipe to leak until it bursts without taking steps to repair it), the insurance company may deny your claim.
- Earthquakes – Much like floods, standard policies do not usually cover damage caused by earthquakes.
In the case of natural disasters like flooding and earthquakes, there may be separate policies you can purchase to add this coverage, but your basic policy will not likely cover those losses.
How Can a Property Damage Lawyer Help You?
Ged Lawyers has experience helping property owners successfully fight insurance companies they believe are wrongly denying their claim. When we represent your case, you get an attorney who is as committed to fighting for your claim as the insurance company adjuster is to paying you the least amount of money possible.
It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to deny claims you think are clearly covered under your policy. For example, if a lightning storm short-circuits your water heater and it floods your basement, your insurer may deny your claim because you didn’t have flood insurance. Or, if snow causes your roof to collapse, they may claim the collapse was not due to the snow, but your failure to maintain the roof properly.
However, the insurance company’s interpretation of the events in your claim is not final. A property damage attorney in Rehoboth from our firm can work back through the facts of your claim and present a strong case for why your claim should be covered. If that’s not enough to convince the insurance company and they still deny your claim, Ged Lawyers can fight for you in court.
How Do I Know If I Have a Good Property Damage Claim?
If you believe you have a property damage claim that has been wrongly denied by your insurer, or they are offering you a settlement that’s not enough to cover your losses, you do have options. We offer people in your situation a free case review.
Ged Lawyers has an office in Rehoboth, MA, and we’d be happy to talk about your property damage claim, your insurer’s actions, and what we think is the best way to move forward.
If You’re Ready to Fight for Your Property Damage Claim, We’re Ready to Fight for You
Property damage can be an incredibly devastating thing to deal with. No matter how bad the damage is, property damage causes financial upheaval and stress that nobody wants to deal with. When insurance companies add to this stress by wrongfully denying your claim or lowballing you with a settlement offer, you can fight back.
Whether it’s your home or your business, your property represents a significant investment of your time and money. If you think you are at a point where it’s time to have a lawyer make the insurance company honor their policy, reach out to us. Ged Lawyers is ready to stand with you and fight for your rights.
