Florida, famously known as the "Sunshine State," is a great place to live, especially if you love hanging out at the beach in the summertime. However, as beautiful as Florida is, homeowners in cities like Pompano Beach and Boca Raton face several hazards each year.
For instance, the chance of earthquake damage in Pompano Beach is about the same as Florida's average and is much lower than the national average. On the other hand, the risk of tornado damage in Pompano Beach is higher than Florida's average and is higher than the national average. This is because Florida is susceptible to natural disasters like hurricanes, flooding, and sinkholes.
The fact that the state is a coastal city also increases its chance of natural disasters. For these reasons, prudent property owners take out a homeowners insurance policy with an insurance company. The policy helps them mitigate property damage in case of a hazardous condition or occurrence.
However, the insurance provider can reject a property damage claim. When this happens, there is a need to involve a Pompano Beach homeowners insurance attorney.. At VG Law Group, we have experienced condomiunium & HOA insurance lawyers lawyers well-versed in insurance laws and the claims process.
When an auto accident occurs, the auto insurance policy of the parties takes care of payment for injuries and damages. Similarly, when a property owner suffers property damage, the homeowners' insurance policy covers the repairs. If anyone suffered injuries on your property, the insurance coverage handles their medical expenses.
In a nutshell, homeowners insurance has different insurance coverages that help pay for the repair of your home. It also replaces your home and belongings damaged in certain perils. Plus, if you accidentally damage another person's home property, it takes care of the payment for repairs or replacement.
In Florida, hurricane or water damage are common reasons to file an insurance claim. These two lead to a wide variety of damages like roof damage, pipe burst, etc. Cities prone to hurricane and water damage claims aside from Pompano Beach and Boca Raton include Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Cape Coral, etc.
In Florida, there are several coverage types for you to choose from. They include:
Just as we see in motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, or motorcycle accidents insurance claims, insurance companies deny claims a lot. The first thing you need to note is that insurance providers are always after their bottom line. Thus, before paying financial compensation, an insurance adjuster would look for loopholes to base a denial on.
Some of the common reasons for property damage claim denials are:
If you have a flood insurance policy, you can't use it for damage caused by a hurricane. This is because hurricane damage is not covered by the policy. So, read the fingerprint of your insurance policy before making a claim. If you don't, expect outright denial from the insurance company.
When making an insurance claim, you must bring it within the time frame stipulated in the contract.. If you wait too long to commence a claim, the insurance provider will refuse to entertain it. Similarly, Florida has a Statute of Limitations for property damage.
Under the law, you must commence legal action within five years from when the property damage occurred. Time starts counting from when you suffered, say, water damage and not when you filed a claim with your insurer.. Failure to file a claim within this time will make your lawsuit statute-barred.
In Florida, every homeowner's insurance policy has a deductible you must pay before your coverage takes effect. Thus, if the damage is less than the deductible, you will pay for it out-of-pocket. Any claim you file with your insurance provider will fail. Thus, if the deductible stipulated in your policy is $5,000 and the damage is less than that amount, the insurer will reject your claim.
The insurance adjuster needs all the necessary information about the damage you suffered to pay you financial compensation. However, if, during their investigation, they find some crucial facts missing, they can deny the claim. In addition, they can claim bad faith insurance on your part, meaning you do not have a legitimate claim.
Suppose you suffered minor roof damage from a hurricane. It is your responsibility to ensure it doesn't become significant damage. That is, if the damage is only to one part of the roof, you must prevent the rest from caving in. If you fail to do so, the insurance company will claim you failed to mitigate additional damages and deny you compensation.
The insurance company will also deny your claim:
The role of a property damage attorney is similar to that of a personal injury lawyer. It's about representing your interest and ensuring that you win your insurance claim dispute.. An insurance claim attorney will do the following for you:
It is better to work with an insurance lawyer than without one. Insurance claim attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, and will represent you in disputes to ensure the insurance company acts in good faith. It means we get paid when we win for you, so you do not have to worry about upfront payments.
At VG Law Group, our Pompano Beach homeowners insurance claims lawyers have the required years of experience and expertise to help you. We see you as a real person and will work relentlessly until we win for you. We can get started on your case if you schedule a free consultation with us today.
