Owning a home requires consistent upkeep and promptly addressing any damage it sustains, be it from an accident or natural disaster. It can be difficult to come up with the funds to cover repairs, but the good news is that you can often file a claim with your insurance company. After all, you make a monthly payment just in case such damage occurs. Unfortunately, the insurer may dispute or reject the claim.
No matter where you are in the claims process, our Delray Beach home insurance claims lawyers are here to guide and advocate for you. Everyone deserves access to legal representation, and we want to make it easier for our community. You can find out more about how our Delray Beach property damage lawyers can help you with your insurance claim during a free consultation, so call GED Lawyers today.
Initial Steps to Take in Your Delray Beach Home Insurance Claim
When you’re considering filing a home insurance claim, make sure you familiarize yourself with your policy. Pay close attention to details with inclusions, exclusions, coverage, conditions, and limits. Doing so will help you avoid missing steps and running into misunderstandings.
Make sure to tell your insurance company about what happened. Many insurers require their policyholders to alert them about damage immediately. From there, you’ll want to document the damage. That means snapping clear photos and recording videos of how the event has affected your home. If you had to make temporary repairs, such as putting a tarp over a leak in the roof, make sure to get that, too.
Contact an inspector or a repairman to come to your home to assess the damage. They may give you estimates for cleanup, repairs, or even replacements in some cases. Hang onto any receipts, invoices, and other documentation you get from these professionals. Our team of Delray Beach personal injury lawyers at GED Lawyers can submit it and other information when it comes time to file your claim.
Working with a Delray Beach Home Insurance Claims Attorney on Our Team
Our home insurance claims attorneys will be there for you when you need them. They even have availability for weekend and evening appointments. If you ever have a question or concern regarding your claim or the process as a whole, don’t be shy to contact us. Our team will get back to you with the answer right away. You can also expect them to let you know about any updates, so you’re always in the loop. Some of the lawyers we have on our team include but are not limited to:
- Delray Beach fire damage claims lawyers
- Delray Beach storm damage lawyers
- Delray Beach wind damage lawyers
Hiring one of our lawyers will help give you peace of mind, knowing that we have your best interests in mind and will take care of all aspects of your case. Such services may include:
- Going over the terms of your insurance policy
- Determining your eligibility for coverage
- Gathering evidence of the damage
- Speaking to the insurance company
- Entering into settlement negotiations
- Going to trial, if necessary
Most claims settle without going to court, but we’re prepared to take that step if the insurance company refuses to cooperate with our requests. Our law firm provides mock courts and trials, and that’s not something a lot of others can say. Contact GED Lawyers today. We have staff members who speak multiple languages, including Greek, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, Portuguese, and Creole.
If Your Delray Beach Home Insurance Claim is Disputed or Denied
Your home might have sustained damage from any type of disaster. Roof damage is among the most common. Sometimes, winds from a storm or hurricane can be so strong that the shingles break or fly off the roof, compromising its integrity.
In more severe cases, a power line or tree may fall on the roof, creating a hole and making it susceptible to leaks. Alternatively, if lightning hit your house or nearby powerline, it could have sparked a fire, perhaps damaging parts of the house or making the entire property uninhabitable. All of these damages are solid grounds for a claim. However, the insurer could still reject or dispute them, for reasons that can include:
- A lack of or insufficient evidence
- Inadequate documentation
- Failure to reduce the risk of further damage
- Pre-existing damage
- Not alerting them about the damage soon enough
- Failure to meet the filing deadline
Another reason for denial is policy exclusion. For example, home insurance doesn’t cover floods. Instead, homeowners must buy a separate policy for flood insurance. A Delray Beach flood damage attorney on our team can review each of your insurance policies and establish the types of coverage you’re eligible to receive. If they find that the insurer rejected your claim even if it was valid, they can gather more evidence and resubmit to appeal their decision.
There’s Limited Time to Submit a Home Insurance Claim in Delray Beach, Florida
Filing your Delray Beach claim on time is imperative for receiving compensation for your losses. As such, Florida Statutes § 627.70132 affirms that there’s a one-year limit to do so. Some people may have more or less time based on certain circumstances, but they’re rare.
If you don’t act within a year of the damage, you may no longer qualify for coverage for things like cleanup expenses, structural damage, and relocation costs from the insurance company. What usually happens in that situation is that the insurer won’t bear liability anymore, and it will transfer to you.
A Delray Beach home insurance claims attorney at our firm can help you avoid this unfortunate outcome if you get in touch with us as soon as possible. One year isn’t a long time, but we aren’t strangers to working under strict deadlines and meeting them.
Our Delray Beach Home Insurance Claims Lawyers Want to Help You Today
If you’re struggling through the claims process after your house was damaged, one of our Delray Beach home insurance claims lawyers can take charge and fight for you. We provide our clients with exceptional service, and our client reviews can attest to that.
Reach out to GED Lawyers today. You don’t pay us anything unless we win.