If Citizens Property Insurance denied your claim, you may be feeling confused and upset. Whether your claim has been denied outright, or Citizens refuses to pay the full value of your claim, know that you do have options. An insurance attorney can help you secure the maximum reimbursement for your claim—often at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
If you have a denied Citizens property claim in Florida, call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733.
Why You Should Work with An Attorney
If your insurance claim has been denied, you will need to somehow prove to the insurance company they are wrong.
If you dispute your denied Citizens Property claim, you can be certain the insurance company will turn to its army of in-house lawyers for advice on how to minimize payment to you.
You should have a lawyer on your side to level the playing field. An insurance attorney can provide all the same services as an insurance adjuster, in terms of collecting information, and negotiating on your behalf.
But an attorney can also represent you in court if it comes to that, and advise you on your legal rights regarding your policy and how best to state your claim.
Importantly, Florida law still requires insurers to pay consumers’ legal fees if they file suit individually against their insurance company and win, so you may not need to pay any fees for legal counsel.
Why Citizens May Have Denied Your Claim
Insurance companies—and Citizens is no different—will do their best to minimize their payouts to policyholders. There are a number of reasons why they will attempt to deny your claim:
Premiums are unpaid: The insurance company has the right to deny your claim if you missed a payment on your policy, or paid late.
False information on your application: When you make an insurance claim, the insurance company will review your original application to make sure there were no falsehoods or exaggerations about your property.
Deductible exceeds costs: If the cost of repair or replacement is less than your deductible, your insurer may deny your claim.
Specific peril not covered: If your plan only covers a windstorm, but your property was damaged by fire or flooding, your claim could be denied.
Even if Citizens has denied your claim, an insurance property attorney may still be able to get you compensation.
The Florida Homeowners Bill of Rights
In Florida, homeowners are entitled to certain rights with regards to insurance companies according to the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights. Legislators put these rights in place to protect homeowners from unreasonably lengthy claims processing by unscrupulous insurance companies.
The Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights states:
- Your insurance company must acknowledge your claim within 14 days of the date you submitted it.
- If you requested it in writing, your insurance company must send you confirmation of the status of your claim within 30 days of receiving it, e.g., whether it is being covered, partially covered, denied, or further investigated.
- Within 90 days, the insurance company should either send you full payment of your claim, payment of whatever portion is undisputed, or a written denial.
However, even if your insurance company responds within state limits, they may still attempt to minimize your claim.
What an Insurance Attorney Can Do for You
If your Citizens property claim has been denied, you do not have to give up. An insurance attorney can take the burden of fighting with the insurance company off your shoulders and reduce your stress by:
- Reviewing your insurance policy in detail and making sense of the jargon.
- Helping you collect evidence to show “proof of loss.”
- Completing the appropriate paperwork for your claim.
- Negotiating on your behalf with insurers.
- Protecting your rights.
- Representing you in court, if we cannot negotiate a settlement.
No matter where you are in the claims process, be sure to keep detailed records of your losses with photos and videos. Retain all your receipts for any repairs or other expenses you have incurred as a result of the loss, including temporary lodging, securing your property (tarps or lumber)—even the cost of essential personal items such as clothing or food which may have been destroyed.
If your home needs emergency repairs, hire a contractor to do those repairs only.
Call for a Free Case Evaluation
Receiving a denied Citizens Property claim—no matter how quickly—is never good news. But it is not the final word. An insurance attorney can work on your behalf to reverse the disputed claim and secure maximum compensation under the terms of your policy.
The Law Offices of Anidjar and Levine have the resources to assist your claim every step of the way. We can help you file an appeal with Citizens if your claim was denied, directly negotiate for a larger settlement, or represent you through litigation, if necessary.
We will start with a complimentary case evaluation, during which we learn about your specific situation, the efforts you have already made with Citizens, and guide you through your next steps and legal options. Call a property claim lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar and Levine today at 1-800-747-3733. You can concentrate on getting your life back in order while we take care of everything else.
We Can Help.
