Insurance Lawyer in Tallahassee, FL
According to recent statistics, 1 in 20 homeowners file an insurance claim yearly. A significant proportion of those claims constitute property damage due to accidents, theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and other reasons. Insurance is a necessary protection of your property against potential damage; however, getting compensation from the insurance company is not easy. It is not uncommon for claimants to be frustrated with delayed or denied insurance claims. Please continue reading if you want to learn more about the benefits of hiring a Florida insurance lawyer to get the compensation you deserve.
What is an Insurance Claim?
An insurance claim is a formal request submitted by a policyholder to their insurance provider for payment for the damages covered by the insurance policy. For example, an insurance claim can be made when the policyholder’s property undergoes damage.
Types of Residential Claims in Tallahassee, FL
The following are the most common residential insurance claims:
Wind and Hail Claims
Wind and hail insurance claims are common among residential claims in Florida, where storms are more frequent compared to other parts of the country. A strong wind or hail storm can cause damage to the roof, walls, windows, and other parts of residential property. Residential insurance coverage can reimburse you for your expenses to repair the damage.
Water Damage Claims
External water damage could happen due to rain and snow, while internal water damage is most commonly a result of water leakage in pipes. However, many standard residential property insurance policies might not cover flood damage. You may have to ask your insurance provider for a specific policy to cover flood damage.
Fire and Lightning Claims
Fire and lightning claims can result in structural loss to your residential property. While fire claims are less frequent, they can be severe, resulting in huge claims to cover the extensive damage. It should not be surprising that the bigger your insurance claim, the more resistance you may face from the insurance company.
Human-Incited Property Damage Claims
Other common residential insurance claims are human-incited, such as vandalism or theft. This can include graffiti on the walls, broken windows, broken locks, damage to outdoor accessories, etc.
Types of Commercial Claims in Tallahassee, FL
The following are the most common types of commercial insurance claims:
Burglary
A commercial insurance policy can help your business recover damages if someone commits a break-in that leads to property damage or theft of business assets. However, recovering expenses from your insurance company is another challenge.
Property Damage Due to Natural Events
Water-related damage, fire or lightning damage, and damages caused by heavy storms constitute property damage caused by natural disasters. Most commercial insurance policies cover the loss of property, structure, equipment, possessions, and financial losses suffered by the business.
Customer or Employee Accidents
Your company can be held liable for any accident that leads to a customer or employee sustaining a personal injury on business premises. If you have coverage for this type of incident, you will need to get the maximum compensation, as the injured party might file a lawsuit against you.
Why Are Insurance Claims Denied?
Denied insurance claims cases are not uncommon, and there are many reasons why an insurance company can dispute the claim. Unfortunately, only some of those reasons are legitimate. Experienced Tallahassee insurance lawyers can guide you through the process so you can understand why your claim was denied. If the insurance claim was wrongfully denied, you could seek an appeal against it and get compensation. Here are the reasons why the insurance company can deny your insurance claim:
Legitimate Reasons
- Fraudulent Claims: An insurer can deny a claim if it is fraudulent. For example, if someone purchases insurance and gets into a suspicious incident shortly afterward, the insurer can be wary of approving the claim. Similarly, if a policyholder gives the wrong address to get a lower insurance premium, they can face denied insurance claims when they file.
- Incomplete Records: Another reason the insurance provider can dismiss a claim is a lack of evidence or medical records supporting the claim. For example, if someone files a claim for long-term disability payments, they can be denied unless they have relevant medical records.
- Missed Deadlines: Claimants who miss the deadline for filing a claim or lawsuit can end up with denied insurance claims. Typically, insurance providers have a strict time frame to file claims.
- Non-Payment of Insurance Premiums: Your insurance provider has the authority to deny your claim if you fail to pay your premiums on time.
- Excluded Damages: Every insurance policy has specific exclusions, which is why you must thoroughly understand your coverage before filing an insurance claim. Your adjuster can deny your claim if your damages are excluded from your purchased coverage.
Bad Faith
Examples of bad faith tactics are when an insurance company fails to conduct a proper investigation of the legitimate claim, does not give an adequate explanation for the denial of the claim, or coerces the policyholder to accept an undervalued settlement offer.
Insurers can purposely delay a claim to pressure the claimant into accepting the undervalued settlement offer or give up on the claim. The insurance provider can also misrepresent the policy to convince the claimant they are requesting more money than what their claim is worth. Many states have laws protecting claimants for bad faith tactics. You should consult an attorney who specializes in insurance law to determine if you have been a victim of bad faith tactics by an insurer.
What Are Bad Faith Insurance Damages?
Bad faith damages can include all litigation fees, attorney fees, and any emotional distress suffered by the claimant due to intentional and unnecessary delay in reimbursement payments. They can also include punitive damages awarded by the court, including the original compensation from the primary claim.
To recover these damages, you can work with your Tallahassee, Florida insurance lawyer or legal team to prove the bad faith tactics of the insurance company. A Florida insurance lawyer can provide you with legal services to file a lawsuit against an insurance company. Policyholders are welcome to contact us at Florida Home Claim practice to schedule a free consultation. We have insurance law experts at our law firm, including Tallahassee property damage attorneys, to assist you in getting paid for your expenses.