Filing a claim with your residential or commercial insurance company can be a time-consuming legal undertaking. A Boca Raton property damage lawyer in your area can help you navigate the application process, including double-checking your application for accuracy and completeness.
The law firm you choose can make an important difference in how your claim is managed. These 10 questions that you ask a property damage lawyer can help you understand their client management style, history, and communication style. Most will offer a free consultation that gives you the opportunity to ask and answer important questions about your claim.
Why Do You Need a Property Damage Lawyer?
The law does not require you to hire a lawyer. However, doing so, rather than taking on the insurance company on your own, has its advantages. Your lawyer can:
- Examine your insurance policy and its fine print
- Document your damaged property
- Document and assess your covered losses
- Handle all claim-related paperwork
- Handle all communication with the insurance adjuster
- Negotiate a favorable financial settlement
A lawyer can also file an appeal on your behalf if your original claim is denied or if you receive a lowball offer that does not fairly compensate you for losses that are covered in your contract.
If you decide to handle your claim on your own, you need to ensure you understand property damage laws, your insurance policy, and how to build a strong claim.
Do You Handle Residential and Commercial Claims?
When a natural disaster strikes a community, it affects both property types. If you are a business owner and homeowner, you may want one lawyer to handle both claims. These two claims can differ greatly, so asking this question can tell you about your potential attorney’s experience.
Finding out what types of claims your lawyer handles can ensure you are in the right hands and have confidence in the legal team you choose.
What Kind of Fees Do You Charge?
The answer to this question is important since it can clarify whether you can get help filing your claim or appeal immediately or wait until you can afford a lawyer. Property damage lawyers often accept cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning:
- You pay nothing upfront.
- All expenses are covered.
- There is no need to wait.
This fee structure also means you only pay the attorney for their time if and when they recover compensation for you.
When Is the Right Time to File a Property Damage Claim?
The sooner you get a law firm behind your fight for financial recovery, the more time they have to fight for you. You or your attorney should file your homeowners’ or commercial insurance claim as promptly as possible.
Failure to do so could invalidate your valid claim and lead to issues down the line. This can be especially important when a large number of people are filing claims for the same weather event.
How Long Do I Have to File a Property Damage Claim?
Every insurance company will have its own guidelines—described in detail in your policy—with regard to filing a claim. It will likely include a timeline and deadlines. State law, however, gives you one year to file your claim according to Florida Statutes § 627.70132.
When you are focused on relocating your family, boarding and securing your family, and returning to work and school, the time can pass quickly. A property damage lawyer can clarify the filing deadline and file your claim accordingly.
Will You Talk to the Insurance Company for Me?
Knowing what to expect from the insurance company and its adjuster is an important part of filing an effective claim. However, it’s also something you shouldn’t have to deal with. When your lawyer deals with the insurance company for you, they will:
- Handle all forms of communication
- Protect you from bad faith tactics
- Fight for a fair assessment of your claim
In short, your lawyer will negotiate the best possible financial settlement that lets you start restoring your property and rebuilding your life. They will also protect you from doing or saying something that could jeopardize your right to compensation.
Have You Handled Claims Like This One Before?
An attorney with a history that includes cases like yours can bring experience, team members, and resources to your claim. Browse the law firm’s case results and client testimonials to learn more about various aspects of their experience with property damage claims.
What Will You Do If the Insurance Company Is Treating Me Unfairly?
Insurance companies sometimes refuse to handle cases fairly. Bad faith insurance practices are prohibited by Florida Statutes § 624.155. Rather than mere negligence, it defines bad faith as tactics that are intentionally misleading, unreasonable, and unscrupulous.
If your insurance company is refusing to honor your contract, an insurance bad faith lawyer can help you get the treatment, respect, and compensation you need and deserve. They can also guide you through the entire process of holding the insurer financially liable for its actions.
Will You File an Appeal if a Claim Is Denied or Lowballed?
You do not have to accept a lower settlement than you deserve or a complete denial of your claim without a fight. However, an appeal can take time and attention to detail and can be difficult to manage on your own.
Look for a lawyer who has effectively navigated the appeals process and who is willing to go to bat for you.
How Often Do You Give Updates and Progress Reports?
As frustrating as it can be to struggle to get the coverage you paid for when you need it most, it can be even more frustrating to constantly wonder about the status of your claim. Choose a property damage attorney whose communication style matches your preferences to ensure a smooth attorney/client relationship.
This should mean you get frequent and informative updates on the progress of your case. These notices can help you understand the timeline for rebuilding your home and re-situating your family.
Contact Our Property Damage Team for Your Free Case Review
If you are struggling to settle a claim with your insurance company, a property damage attorney can help you obtain fair and appropriate compensation. When you ask a property damage lawyer the 10 questions above, you can determine which law firm will be the best option for you.
Find out how hard we will go to bat for you. Contact our consultation team at Ged Lawyers to get started on your property damage insurance claim today.
