Insurance carriers often deny hail damage claims. So, can a Miami hail damage attorney help you with a denied claim? Get the answer in this article.
Living in Florida means being exposed to severe weather and tropical storms. As a result, you will likely face wind damage, water damage, hail storm damage, and other natural disasters. Our Miami hail damage attorney recommends property owners buy a homeowners insurance policy.
If you buy insurance coverage from a homeowners insurance company, you can file a property damage claim for issues like structural damage, roof leaks, etc. However, filing a property damage insurance claim does not mean insurance providers will pay you compensation.
Sometimes, insurance companies act in bad faith and deny your property damage claim. Even if you have a valid claim and never defaulted on your insurance premiums, this could be the case. When this happens, you may want to think about hiring a Miami hail damage attorney.
This article looks at how a property damage lawyer in Florida can help you level the playing field after a denied property insurance claim for hail storm damage. Contact VG Law Group for legal advice and representation.
To have a valid claim, you must suffer severe damage to personal property, primarily your home. The hail size determines the extent of the damage to your property. Hail size ranges from small to large. Hail can sometimes reach the size of a softball, which can easily cause devastating damage.
Some common types of storm damage are:
The total costs of hail storm damage can quickly increase, especially if the storm happens more than once a year. However, you can file claims for storm damage if you have insurance coverage. A Miami hail damage attorney can help you commence the process.
Similar to personal injury claims, several factors affect a variety of insurance claims for storm damage. We examine some of them below.
Before filing a hail storm damage claim, examine the extent of the damage. The degree of harm to your property determines how much you'll get as compensation. So, if you have extensive roof damage, the money you'll get from your insurance provider will be more than if you only had a broken window.
Get an independent adjuster to examine your property to determine the extent of the damage. A Miami hail damage attorney can help you get one.
The cost of repairs is another factor to consider when taking legal action. As your insurance claim attorney would tell you, it is essential to keep receipts of all your expenses. It shows how much you've spent fixing the damage and reduces the chances of the insurance adjusters disputing the amount.
A public adjuster can help you estimate repair costs. However, suppose your roof sustained the most damage. Contact a roofing company to get their estimate and compare it with the public adjuster's.
When filing a property damage insurance claim, the deductible amount from your insurance policy is another crucial consideration. Generally, a South Florida insurance carrier will expect you to have paid the deductible before making a claim. Therefore, the amount they pay you would not include the amount of your deductible.
Yearly, thousands of Americans file hail damage insurance claims for compensation. In 2021, there were over 3,000 hail storms, with the insurance industry paying out billions of dollars in settlements. The statistics are not different in 2020, with State Farm paying over $3.1 billion in hail claims.
However, despite these massive payments, there are many denied claims yearly. Below are some of the common reasons for most denied hail damage insurance claims.
Most insurance issues start from a lack of coverage. Note that standard homeowners insurance includes fire, lightning, and wind damage claims. However, you need a different policy for storm damage, smoke damage, hail, and hurricane damage.
Therefore, if the policy does not cover hail damage, the insurance company will deny the entire claim. So, before the claims process, speak with an experienced home insurance attorney. The property claim lawyer will examine your insurance policy to ascertain the type of coverage.
Even if you have a legitimate claim, the insurance company will not entertain it if you file after the deadline. Therefore, you must always commence your claim on time. So check your insurance policy to know the time listed.
Do this immediately after the hail storm. Most insurance carriers give a 180-day window, but yours might be different. So, find out from your policy.
Our Miami hail damage attorney observed another ground for denial is failing to pay premiums. Doing this can cause a lapse in coverage, and you won't get money to cover the damage to your property. So our legal recommendation is to ensure you pay your premiums when due.
Other reasons why your insurance carrier would deny your hail damage claim are:
The direct answer is yes (usually). A Miami hail damage attorney can typically help with a denied claim appeal. While there are several valid reasons for denials, there are unfair reasons too. Therefore, your Miami hail damage attorney will appeal their decision if your insurance carrier acted in bad faith or failed to consider all the evidence.
Aside from the appeal, an experienced insurance lawyer will do the following:
Insurance disputes are never easy, and having expert help to navigate the process is always helpful. A Miami hail damage attorney will render expert legal advice throughout the claim procedure. In addition, they will examine the property insurance policy and ensure you followed the proper steps for requesting compensation.
Also, lawyers at an insurance claim law firm know the applicable insurance laws and will explain them to you. They will offer legal recommendations on the steps to take to get the compensation you deserve.
Before filing an appeal, your Miami hail damage attorney will respond to the denial in writing. The aim is to reach a settlement and get you the insurance money. If your lawyer and insurer don't settle, they will file an appeal.
Insurance companies often work with big law firms. The lawyers at these firms are out to protect the insurer's interests. Therefore, it can really help to have a Miami hail damage attorney to keep the insurer's legal team from infringing on your rights.
Furthermore, a property damage insurance attorney will negotiate fair compensation for your damages. Also, you might need to file a lawsuit to get the insurance payout. In such a case, reach out to a Miami hail damage attorney for a free consultation.
It's frustrating to have your claim denied when a hail storm damages your home. But, thankfully, you may still be able to receive compensation if you act quickly. Speak with a Miami hail damage attorney at VG Law Group today to see if we can help with your case.
If we're able to take on your case, we will protect your rights and ensure you don't get bullied by insurance adjusters. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
