Whether it’s a hurricane, a flood, or a car accident, it can be expensive to pay for property damage out of your own pocket. That’s why you have home and car insurance. But insurance companies are profit-driven and may do whatever they can to avoid covering your claim.
If your insurance provider is refusing to honor your policy, a property damage lawyer from GED Lawyers can handle your case by negotiating a fair settlement or filing a lawsuit to seek compensation through the legal process on your behalf.
A Property Damage Lawyer Can Fight to Recover Compensation For You
When you purchase insurance, you understandably expect your insurance provider to pay for the damages your policy covers.
But insurance providers are sometimes reluctant to pay out on claims because it means they have to spend money, which cuts into profits. An insurance policy, however, is a contract. And you can enforce the contract when you have a legitimate claim.
If your insurance provider is refusing to cover your legitimate claim, a lawyer from our firm may be able to recover compensation that covers the following types of property damage:
- Wind damage
- Water damage
- Car accident damage
- Hurricane and storm damage
- Flood damage
- Roof damage
- Fire damage
Florida requires insurance policies to include coverage for wind storms. This is particularly beneficial to Floridians since hurricanes are common. What your standard policy does not include, however, is flood coverage. Flood insurance is sold separately, so you would have to purchase additional coverage to make an insurance claim.
Insurance companies advertise themselves as protection for your property when things go wrong. Sadly, while you pay your premiums every month for this protection, it can be a hassle to receive approval for your claim and a payout when you need it most.
A Property Damage Lawyer Can Help Your Case in Parkland, FL
If the insurance company denies your claim or offers you a low settlement, we urge you to consult with an attorney. Insurance companies are far more likely to work with you fairly if they see you have legal representation. Going to court is risky because the insurance company could end up having to pay an even larger settlement. This is why most cases settle out of court.
A lawyer with experience handling property damage cases and insurance claims can benefit your case. If you hire our firm, we will:
- Review your insurance policy and the terms that relate to your claim
- Investigate how the insurance company is handling your claim
- Collect evidence and documentation to support your claim such as photographs, witness statements, expert opinions, and receipts
- Assess the value of the property damage so we can demand an accurate pay-out for your claim
- Communicate with your insurance provider on your behalf to protect you from saying something the insurance adjuster could use to devalue your claim
- Negotiate with the insurance company to reach a fair settlement that covers the damages
- File a lawsuit and represent you in court
The insurance system and legal process are both complex to navigate, but a property damage lawyer from our firm knows the ins and outs of the insurance system and has the training and experience to guide your case through the legal process and help you understand both using non-technical terms.
With an attorney on your case, the insurance provider will likely take you and your claim more seriously and work to offer you a settlement that covers your damages.
Legal Obligations of Insurance Providers
Insurance companies do not just get to do whatever they want in response to a claim. They are bound by law to settle claims in good faith with policyholders and have specific obligations toward them, including:
- Investigating all claims
- Factually representing policies
- Communicating in writing with claimants within 30 days
- Acknowledging claims and taking action on them
- Providing a reasonable explanation for denying a claim
- Notifying policyholders is additional information is necessary
- Issuing payment of the claim within 90 days if there is no dispute
Again, an insurance policy is a contract between the provider and the buyer. If your insurance provider is refusing to settle your property damage claim in good faith according to the terms of your policy, you may have a case to file a lawsuit.
Cost of a Property Damage Lawyer in Parkland, FL
You already have concerns that you will have to pay for property damage out of your own pocket, even though your policy should cover the costs. Understandably, you may have additional concerns about hiring a lawyer because you don’t want extra expenses.
But a property damage lawyer from our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay us unless we win your case and you recover compensation for damages. We will help you understand how payment works in detail so there are no surprises.
We also offer free consultations so we can evaluate your claim and answer questions, which we will do by giving you straight answers.
You Only Have a Limited Time to Act on Your Property Damage Claim
Property damage is costly, and if you don’t have the money to fix it yourself, you are relying on your insurance policy to cover the cost of repairs. This means you require a timely settlement.
But you don’t have all the time in the world to wait before you decide to file a lawsuit. Every type of damage is different. Some, such as flood insurance, have different rules and time limits. When it comes to hurricane damage, you only have three years to file a lawsuit, according to Florida Statutes § 627.70132.
Consult With a Property Damage Attorney in Parkland, FL Today
Maybe you understand your policy, but maybe you don’t. A lawyer from GED Lawyers can review your policy and calculate the value of your claim so you can seek a fair settlement.
If your insurance provider is not handling your claim in good faith, please do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation with a property damage lawyer from our firm by contacting us to talk about your case today.
