Property Damage Claim

Property Insurance Claim Lawyers

Damage to your home from storms, fire, accidents, or other disasters can place a heavy financial burden on a homeowner. Because of this, homeowners insurance is a must-have. However, insurance companies are in business for profit, which means they are going to try to find a reason to deny a claim or give you a lowball repair estimate. If you received a denial or lowball estimate, fill out this form for a free case evaluation to learn how our property insurance attorneys can help you.

How Insurance Companies Deny Claims

Before you make a claim, review your homeowners insurance policy to make sure the type of claim you have is covered. In some cases, an insurance company will deny the claim, stating that it is not covered. One of the common areas of focus is roof damage. If the roof was damaged by hail or wind, an insurance company might tell you that it happened because of wear and tear, which is not covered under most policies. Our property insurance attorneys will investigate your claim and help you appeal the insurance company’s decision, whether it was a lowball offer or an outright denial.
If an insurance company avoids paying a legitimate claim, it made a denial in bad faith. If this is the case, you may be able to sue the company for breach of contract. In some states, you may even be able to sue the bad-faith insurance denial as a tort. If you can sue in that manner, you may also be able to recover punitive damages, other enhanced penalties, and attorney’s fees and costs.

Appealing the Insurance Company’s Decision

Before appealing the insurance company’s decision, we will review your policy to ensure that the claim you made should be covered and if the claim was made inside the insurance coverage period. We will also ensure that you didn't inadvertently fail to meet a condition of the coverage.

Before you contact our office, take extensive pictures of the damage. They could help with your appeal. Pictures should be taken at every angle, from a distance as well as close-up. Also, take pictures at different times of the day, as the lighting from the sun changes how things look in photographs.

Requesting an independent appraisal of the damages may be necessary. Many insurance policies allow for an independent review for a second opinion. Finally, show that you are a responsible homeowner who took every possible precaution to prevent the damage from happening, especially if the insurance company insinuates or tells you that the damage was due to your own negligence. This type of proof may include receipts for fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and security systems, as well as proof that your property was up to code.

Contact a Property Insurance Claim Lawyer

If your property insurance company denied a legitimate claim or gave you a lowball offer, contact our property insurance attorneys at Morgan & Morgan for assistance. When it comes to insurance companies, size matters. With more than 700 lawyers and attorneys in 16 states, we have the resources to fight even the biggest insurance companies. At Morgan & Morgan, we treat every case personally and every client like family, ensuring you get the best service possible. Discover what we can do for you.

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