So, you’ve suffered significant damage due to a hurricane, or a motorcyclist hit your car. Even though you’re thankful you weren’t hurt, you have a huge mess on your hands. A mess that occurred through no fault of your own. How do you go about making sure you get the money it takes to take care of your property damage?
In the vast majority of instances, your best bet will be to hire a property damage attorney ASAP. We’d all like to think insurance companies will be there for us when we need them the most. But the hard truth is that isn’t always the case. In fact, there’s a better chance your insurer will give you a hard time than coming through with the money you need.
If that’s the case, get in touch with Eberst Law as soon as possible. We’ll do all we can to make sure you get every penny that’s coming to you. Contact us online or call 1-888-CALL-JON to learn more about how we may be able to help.
Types of Property Damage in Florida
As fantastic as the weather in Florida typically is, we can, unfortunately, get our fair share of storms. But there are a lot of different ways in which property damage can occur that aren’t weather-related at all. Sure, we get hurricanes and tornadoes, but mold, fire, theft and vandalism can also cause damage, as, of course, can car and truck accidents.
No matter how your property damage occurred, your insurance should pay for any damage that isn’t your fault. But that doesn’t mean it will. Insurance companies routinely deny claims when they don’t think a policyholder will fight for their rights. They also tend to believe that homeowners, as well as other types of property owners, probably did something wrong to cause the damage.
How an Attorney Can Help Your Claim
Whether your home was severely damaged in a hurricane, or your car was hit from behind by a distracted driver, you probably assumed that your insurer would pay. Only to realize you were about to be in for the fight of your life.
An attorney can help with that fight, especially if the insurance company is acting in bad faith. What does this mean? These are just a few examples.
- The company doesn’t give you a reason for denying your claim.
- It doesn’t provide you with important information.
- It didn’t disclose the limits of your policy, leading you to believe you had more coverage than you really did.
The list goes on and on, but you get the point. Even if a carrier doesn’t act in bad faith, it could still make you a lowball offer that doesn’t come close to paying for the damage you’ve suffered. Either way, having an attorney on your side could help you see that justice is observed.
Skilled attorneys know how to uncover evidence that shows the true extent of your damage, or to prove that you weren’t to blame for whatever caused that damage. They’ll be more than willing to go to court to fight for you if needed. When an insurer realizes that you’re not going to give up, they’ll oftentimes be more willing to provide you with a fair settlement.
Steps to Take after Property Damage
It can obviously be devastating to realize that your home has been destroyed in a storm, or your car has been totaled in a wreck. But as long as you’re not hurt, you need to try and gather yourself and take action to prove you’re entitled to the money you deserve.
Maybe the most important thing will be to take photos as well as videos of the damage as soon as possible. Why is time of the essence? Suppose part of your roof has been ripped off of your home due to fierce winds. Storms will soon be coming through, so you’ll need to have some temporary repairs performed.
If you don’t have clear pictures and/or videos of the damage, your insurance company could claim that the damage really isn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be.
Once you’ve documented the damage, report what’s happened to your insurance company as fast as possible. Even though the insurer may eventually act in bad faith, you need to act in good faith at every turn. Failing to do so could make it almost impossible to get the money you need.
The next thing to do will be to get a copy of your homeowner’s or auto insurance policy. This means the entire policy – not just two or three pages. If you don’t have one on hand, contact the carrier to get a certified copy.
When You Don’t Need to Call a Property Damage Attorney
Not every insurance company will act in bad faith, or otherwise try to derail an insurance claim in every instance. There are times where insurers will do exactly what they’re supposed to do. If your insurer agrees with the extent of your property damage, and agrees to pay what it takes to restore your property to where it was before the damage took place, then you won’t need legal representation.
When You Do Need to Call a Property Damage Attorney
Unfortunately, those instances are relatively rare. More than likely, you’re going to have trouble obtaining fair compensation. As stated before, your insurance company will either try to deny your claim, or it will do whatever it can to pay you as little money as possible. In either scenario, you’re going to need the help of an attorney.
Insurance companies have teams of incredibly effective professionals on their side working against you. You’ll want someone just as effective on your side working for you. That’s what you’ll get when you turn to The Eberst Law Firm. Please don’t try to fight an insurance company alone. Give us a call at 1-888-CALL-JON or use our online form for a free consultation.
