Your home is more than an important investment. It is your safe haven, the place where you raise your children and spend time with loved ones. The idea of something bad happening to your home is stressful enough. The last thing you need is to get involved in a fight with your insurance company on top of that.
Let a Golden Beach personal injury lawyer handle the tough legal matters for you. We will evaluate your case at no charge, and we collect no fees until you get your money.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine so we can get started.
How Homeowners Insurance Works
Homeowners insurance can help you pay for repairs and replacements when your home is damaged. This may include losses caused by:
- Weather events: Like hailstorms, tornadoes, or sinkholes
- Human error or mechanical malfunction: Like a gas leak or explosion, or a burst water pipe
- Human malice: Like theft
However, there are often restrictions on what types of events insurance will cover. For example, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services, flood damage is not generally covered in your average insurance policy. If you live in an area prone to flooding, you will need to purchase flood insurance separately.
Even if you are covered for the losses you have suffered, insurance companies are sometimes reluctant to pay out. Worse, some insurance companies resort to underhanded—if not outright illegal—tricks to discredit your claim. They may not investigate your claim properly or they may drag their feet about accepting your claim so that they can avoid paying what you deserve.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine understand how devastating it is to deal with the aftermath of any disaster, natural or manmade. We can fight for the money you deserve while you focus on rebuilding your home and your life. Contact us. You will pay us nothing until you get your money.
What Your Insurance Policy May Cover
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) states that a standard policy should help you pay for damage to the house itself, as well as things like:
- Damage to other buildings on your property. This may include a garage or a shed.
- Damage to or loss of personal property. This applies to any clothes, furniture, appliances, and other personal effects that were stolen, damaged, or rendered unusable.
- Uninhabitability. This applies if your house is damaged so severely that you cannot live in it.
- Personal injury. If a person was injured while visiting your property, your insurance may cover their medical bills and any compensation they sue you for.
Again, covered property losses differ depending on your insurance policy. To make sure you have the right types and amounts of insurance for your property, speak with your lawyer (they can help you go over your policy).
Settling Disputes with Your Insurance Company
If your insurance company refuses to pay what you believe to be a valid claim, you have options. Before you get started, however, it is a good idea to consult a lawyer. They can make sure that you fully understand the situation and that you do not settle for less than you are entitled to.
Florida law provides several methods for you to try to settle insurance disputes with your insurance company. These methods are presented below. A lawyer can help you during every one of these steps.
Mediation
Per Florida Statutes § 627.7142, you have the option to request mediation to settle your disagreement.
At no cost to you, as the Florida Department of Financial Services explains, you can ask the insurance company to meet with you and a neutral mediator to try to work out your differences. You may bring your lawyer to this meeting, so long as you tell the insurance company ahead of time that your lawyer will be present.
While mediation can be helpful, no part of it is binding. You do not have to accept any settlements or agreements offered, and the insurance company does not even have to show up if they do not want to.
Negotiation
If your insurance company refuses to participate in mediation, or if the two of you cannot resolve your differences, then you can file a lawsuit. Your lawyer will notify your insurance company about the suit. They will also collect evidence—including, for instance, photographs of your damaged property—to support your position.
Trials are often lengthy and costly for insurance companies, so they may offer a pretrial settlement. It is up to you if you want to accept their offer, but be aware that insurance companies do not always offer a fair amount right away. Your lawyer can make sure that you get the money you deserve via a fair offer.
Trial
If all else fails, you can take the insurance company to court. Here, again, a Golden Beach property claim lawyer can fight on your behalf. They will schedule a trial, present all possible evidence, and argue your case before a judge and jury.
Other Ways a Lawyer Can Help
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine understand that you are under a lot of stress right now. We want to do everything we can to make this difficult time easier. We have multiple offices throughout the state of Florida, but if you cannot travel for any reason, your lawyer will be happy to meet you at a more convenient location. We will be available to you all day, every day, so you never have to feel hesitant about calling us with questions about your case.
If you are thinking of filing a property claim, you have a limited time to do so. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine as soon as possible. A Golden Beach property claim lawyer can explain your rights, figure out your best course of action, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We Can Help.
