Florida property owners are no strangers to our extreme weather conditions, reflected in the high premiums we pay for our insurance. When your home or business premises are damaged, your insurer should cover the cost of rebuilds or repairs promptly. However, many home and business owners are devastated when their property claims are undervalued, delayed, or outright denied.
It’s always best to be prepared when the worst happens. Read on to learn about how to make a claim, common issues with insurance companies, and how a Jacksonville personal injury lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Making a Claim for Property Damages
If you own any type of property, it’s beneficial to know how to manage a claim and what to avoid doing to optimize the process. We are always a phone call away if you run into problems or want us to manage the process for you.
Gather Evidence
Before making a claim, gathering as much evidence as possible to support your case is essential. You can take photos and videos of the damaged area and any belongings and write detailed notes about what happened. If you have any photos taken before the damage, hold onto those too.
Keeping an updated online list of your belongings and copies of receipts can also help streamline the claim process. Finally, if there were any witnesses to the damaged property, note their contact details, as their statements can corroborate what happened.
Notify Your Insurer Within Your Policy’s Specific Time Limit
Be sure to notify your insurer as soon as possible, as missing any time limits could risk your right to claim. When you contact your insurer, you will need to provide them with basic details about your claim. Describe what happened, when, and where.
At this early stage, you simply need to file a Notice of Loss and don’t need to give a complete statement. For example, you may not currently know the total cost of your repairs or rebuilds, and estimating your damages incorrectly could harm your settlement. If you must make emergency repairs to stop further damage, keep a well-documented account (with pictures) of the process.
Evaluate Your Losses and Repair or Replacement Costs
Having filed a Notice of Loss, you’ll need to accurately assess the full extent of your losses and the repair or replacement cost, including any incidental expenses (if you had to move to temporary accommodation, for example). This involves carefully itemizing all of your damages with supporting evidence. You will also need to organize repair estimates and possibly property appraisals depending on the severity of the damage.
It is essential to be as accurate and detailed as possible when evaluating your damages to help ensure that your settlement fully covers your losses.
Submit Your Claim to the Insurance Provider
Once you submit your claim, the insurance company should investigate by inspecting the damage, evaluating the evidence, and updating you regularly. Remember, as insurance companies work to generate profit, their goals may not align with yours when settling a claim. You could experience:
- Unreasonably delayed claims
- Undervalued settlement offers
- Unfairly denied claims
- Disputes regarding proof of damage
- Disputes over building maintenance before the property damage
- Misrepresentation of policy terms and conditions
- Failure to investigate a claim
If you are searching for a law firm to take care of your property damage claim or are dissatisfied with how your insurance company is handling your case, we can help. With almost 30 years of experience, we provide powerful and effective legal representation against opponents of any size, delivering meaningful results for our clients.
The Benefits of Hiring Our Property Damage Lawyers Serving Jacksonville
Having our property damage attorneys manage every aspect of the claim process provides peace of mind that your case is in good hands. In addition, having paid your premiums, you should not have to face the stress and frustration of battling with your insurer while getting your property and life back on track. We can:
Explain Your Legal Options and Guide You Through the Claim Process
Having a legal team on your side to answer your questions and guide you through the process can make a devastating situation a little easier to cope with. We take care of all communications with the insurer, so you don’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing, submitting enough evidence, or leaving anything out that could harm your case.
Assess Your Damages
We can carefully build your loss inventory, accounting for property repair, rebuild, or replacement costs and any other expenses related to your claim. This can be an upsetting and stressful experience to tackle alone, and once you accept a settlement, there is no going back. We can work hard to build a strong, evidence-backed claim to seek the compensation you deserve so you can get back to normal as soon as possible.
Determine the Insurance Coverage Available to You
Our team can help you identify all insurance policies and coverage that apply to your situation. We can scrutinize the small print to ensure you get the most from your policy and that your consumer rights are always protected.
Lead Settlement Negotiations
We can seek to maximize the value of your settlement in negotiations with insurers. With nearly 30 years of experience to bring to the table, we are well-positioned to fight for your compensation.
GED Lawyers: Fighting for Property Owners in Jacksonville
The team at GED lawyers can help with many types of property damage cases, including:
- Roof damage claims
- Residential property damage claims
- Mold claims
- Hurricane claims
- Fire and smoke damage claims
- Commercial property damage claims
- Claims stemming from defective construction
If your property was damaged, we can help. Let us handle all of the stress of your claim while you focus on getting back to your life. For a free consultation, contact our team today. We can discuss your property damage claim and tell you more about your legal options.
