Water Damage Claims Lawyers in Florida and Property Insurance Issues
An overview of water damage and property insurance issues
Property in Florida should be insured against water damage. This is a common problem that can happen in homes and buildings due to plumbing issues such as leaks, but natural causes related to the weather and climate are possible as well. Homes and businesses in the state can sustain water damage during various weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and other disasters, and the expense associated with repairs and replacements for damaged property may be extensive enough that the owner will need financial assistance from their insurance company. If this happens, the process of filing a claim and getting the right amount of compensation can be arduous due to a number of issues within the insurance industry, including illegitimate claim denials from providers.
As a general rule, Florida water damage claims attorneys can be retained to provide representation and advice during any of these issues. Here is an overview of some of the matters related to water damage and how to receive help from a lawyer.
What is water damage in Florida?
Water damage is a broad term for property damage and destruction that occurs to various amounts of water and moisture. This can be from weather events such as flooding or rain, as well as other situations where property is exposed to enough water to cause losses over extended periods of time. When a major hurricane strikes the state, it is common for thousands of properties to experience some kind of water damage within just a few hours.
To ensure adequate protection against water damage, many homes in the state will need both homeowners insurance and flood insurance, as water damage caused by flooding will always require a separate flood insurance policy for coverage. Those who have concerns about water damage coverage should try to contact their insurance provider and make sure coverage is in place before the damage happens.
Water damage and mold
Excessive water buildup and damage can also lead to mold accumulation. This can happen slowly and in areas out of plain view, so it is sometimes difficult to notice issues with mold until the problem is severe. Mold poses a number of health risks, and it is recommended for individuals to vacate structures that have issues with mold until the problem is resolved. Entire buildings are often considered uninhabitable when water accumulation and damage leads to additional issues with mold. The cleanup process for mold associated with water damage can require help from special professionals, and their services can be expensive in Florida. These kinds of services should be covered under most insurance policies, but it is important to check with the provider in advance.
Water damage claims insurance lawyers in Florida
Once water damage happens, it may be necessary to retain legal assistance for a number of reasons. Most of the problems with paying for water damage are caused by insurance providers and their methods of evaluating and paying out claims.
Water damage insurance claims attorneys are beneficial at this time as they can look at a claim, review the insurance companies actions, see if the insurance company acted in bad faith, as well as discovering other problems. If the insurance company commits any illegal actions, they can face lawsuits and other consequences from the insurance industry regulators. The insurance industry routinely has to pay out settlements after water damage claims attorneys discover problems with how they communicate with customers and fail to follow all applicable regulations and insurance policy terms.
Insurance claim denials and water damage
Property owners who file a claim should be careful to document their damage thoroughly and respond to any inquiries from their insurance company in a timely manner. Even when following all the rules, insurance claims related to water damage and other kinds of property damage are denied for many different reasons, however insurance companies can be at fault for making mistakes or engaging in dishonest practices. Common reasons for legitimate insurance claim denials include the type of damage not being covered under the policy, the property owner waited too long to file a claim, or the damage amount is too small to exceed the deductible. However, if the insurance company has made administrative mistakes while processing the claim, delayed for an excessive amount of time, or rejected a legitimate claim, these kinds of tactics by the insurance provider may all require the claimant to get legal assistance. Even the insurance company’s own appeal process is usually insufficient to correct these kinds of serious problems.
Florida insurance adjusters and water damage
An insurance company will send an adjuster to view and verify water damage before paying out a claim. Ideally, this adjuster should check the information sent by the policyholder, evaluate the property in person, and send their unbiased recommendation to the insurance company. This process is subject to a number of problems as well. The adjusters may disagree with the property owner’s assessment, and they may say that the value of the damage is much less than previously thought. They may also make mistakes, as the insurance adjusters usually do not have the kind of expertise necessary to accurately judge things like water damage and roof damage. In these situations involving disputes, the property owner may want to get an opinion from another neutral adjuster or file an appeal related to their initial claim. If none of these efforts are successful, Florida water damage claims lawyers may need to get involved in the process to review a claim and get a settlement that provides enough compensation. The settlement offer from the insurance company should always be reviewed with a lawyer before being accepted.
Help from local water damage claims insurance attorneys is available
Madalon Law is a trusted firm that can provide more advice about issues related to water damage throughout the state of Florida. Their water damage claims attorneys in Florida have significant experience in dealing with insurance companies and all of the other issues discussed in this article. Anyone who wants more information can contact the firm to schedule a meeting and get advice related to how to handle their personal situation.
