There was a time when filling out forms for a property damage claim then submitting them to an insurance company was an uncomplicated experience. A property owner only had to provide their damage claim form and wait to get a fair reimbursement. Insurance companies now are very focused on minimizing their losses. They are determined to always pay the lowest amount possible for a settlement. In many cases, the only way a policyholder can obtain a fair property damage settlement is to enlist the services of an experienced fire and flood damage attorney. If you’re the victim of arson, you might need a Philadelphia criminal lawyer.
Insurance Coverage
It is important to know what is covered under an insurance policy prior to submitting a claim. Knowing what is covered, and the responsibilities of an insurance company will help with the claims process. This can eliminate any confusion when it comes to a settlement.
Property Damage
An insurance claim can cover many different types of property damage.
*Fire – This includes damage to property from smoke and flames.
*Theft and Vandalism – This will involve reimbursement of the value of any items stolen.
*Water – This could be a result of broken pipes, dishwater leaks as well as air condition leaks and more.
*Flooding – This will involve damage caused by rain or other types of water issues.
*Roof Leaks – This is damage to walls, ceilings and more.
*Mold – This is often associated with water damage
*Wind – This includes damage from tornadoes as well as hurricanes and more.
Insurance Adjuster
An insurance adjuster is usually the one to determine the value of a claim for an insurance company. A claims adjuster is trained to visit a property and conduct thorough inspections. They will take pictures, make reports and more of your damaged goods, including leather goods, etc that may have been damaged. Many policyholders are not happy with their initial offer from an insurance adjuster. This is a time when a policyholder may want to get help from their own adjuster as well as an attorney to protect their interests.
Claim Rejection
It is possible for an insurance company to deny a policyholder’s claim. It is also possible for them to not pay the full value of a claim. If this happens, a policyholder does not have to accept the results. An insurance claims lawyer will know how to represent a person in this situation. They may challenge the methods used to obtain information as well as anything used to deny a claim or provide a low settlement offer. An insurance claims lawyer will know how to negotiate with an insurance company. They are experienced in overturning a denial or obtaining a fair settlement. If necessary, they will know how to file a lawsuit on behalf of a policyholder to obtain the benefits they deserve.
Commercial Property Damage
It is possible for an insurance policyholder to experience damage to their home as well as the commercial property they own. A commercial insurance policy will require the business be restored to pre-damage conditions. Many companies struggle if an insurance company refuses to pay out under a policy’s business income coverage as well as business interruption coverage. An experienced attorney will know how to get an insurance company to pay a company what it is due to them.
It is possible for an insurance company to make filing and collecting on an insurance claim a daunting task. An insurance company may give a policyholder a settlement that’s too low, takes an excessive amount of time to provide a settlement, not base it on what is in the insurance policy, deny a claim and more. An experienced lawyer will be able to review a policy, gather facts about the damage and more. They know how to use this information to make the claims process go quickly and provide the best possible results for their client.