You have recently filed a claim on your homeowner’s insurance and are awaiting money to repair your house. When your insurance company gets back to you with a settlement, you are shocked to see that they have denied your claim or have offered you far less than you expected. You wonder if you can do anything to get a better settlement or if you are stuck with their offer.
If your insurance company violates the terms of your policy, refuses to pay you what you are owed, or generally acts in bad faith, you can sue them in the State of Florida. The success of your lawsuit will depend on the quality of documentation you collect. It is also important to hire an experienced insurance lawyer Florida. Your lawyer will review your policy and help you decide if you have a valid claim.
Reasons You May Need to Sue an Insurer
If your claim is denied entirely, it may be grounds for a lawsuit. An insurance company may deny your claim for many reasons, but your attorney can tell you if those reasons are valid.
The insurance company may say that your policy does not cover the damages to your home. You should read your policy to see if it excludes what you are claiming. Every policy should have an exclusion clause, but the law favors the customer if there is any unclear language in the policy.
Make a claim as soon as you can, and check the language in your policy as soon as the damage to your home occurs. Some policies require you to call in within 24 hours.
In some cases, an insurance company may simply deny your claim because they are acting in bad faith. They may try to tell you that your policy does not cover your damages without being able to prove it, or the policy may have confusing language in it that is intended to be deceptive.
If an insurance company offers you too little money to settle your claim, your attorney will negotiate with them to get you a better deal. If the insurance company will still not offer you a reasonable amount of money, you may have to file a suit.
When an Insurance Company May Legitimately Deny Your Claim
An insurance company may claim that you lied on your application. If you put anything on your application that may be called into question, you should tell your attorney about it. Make sure you are always truthful when you file a claim because if you exaggerate the cost of your property or say that something was damaged when it was not, it will be considered insurance fraud.
What Documentation Should You Collect?
In order to prove your case, you should save all the bills or estimates you get for home repair. If you need to replace furniture or decor, remember to save the receipts for everything you buy.
Finding a Lawyer
The lawyer you select should specialize in homeowner insurance law. They should be able to provide you with references, and they should have enough time to devote to your case.
Damage to your home can be costly and devastating, but if you document damages and hire a good attorney, you should get the money you deserve.
