South Florida Attorneys Experienced In Hurricane Property Damage Claims
Those who own residences, vacation homes or commercial buildings or govern or manage homeowners and condominium associations in South Florida are familiar with the kind of havoc that severe weather can wreak on area properties. Hurricanes have been known to level buildings and completely destroy property in a matter of seconds. Although you can prepare for these storms with just a few days of notice, it is rarely enough time to fully hurricane-proof your property.
When a storm strikes, your property will likely endure some damage and when such devastation occurs, you may not know what steps to take first to secure your property and begin the long and expensive rebuilding process. Fortunately, as a responsible Florida property owner, you have insured your property against the dangers of hazardous weather – including hurricanes – and must first turn to your insurance company for help where you will file a claim for the damages to begin rebuilding your home.
Your first step should be to contact your insurance company and report the damages to your property. You should try and document the damages as thoroughly and quickly as you can, by taking photographs and making a detailed list of the items that have been lost or damaged as a result of the severe weather. Once your insurance company has been notified of your claim, it will assign an insurance adjuster to your case. That adjuster will be responsible for inspecting the damages, estimating the value of your claim and arranging any payment on your claim. Under the terms and conditions of your insurance policy, your insurance company has a duty to honestly and fairly investigate and evaluate your claim, and pay you any compensation that is due under your claim in a timely manner.
When Your Insurance Company Acts In Bad Faith In Your Hurricane Claim
Unfortunately, not all insurance companies properly and promptly pay on an insurance claim for property damage due to a hurricane. When an insurance company pays the full value of a claim, it loses money. Therefore, an insurance adjuster’s job is to minimize the loss to the insurance company, not to act in your best interest or give you immediate and full payment toward your claim. As a result, you may find payment on your claim unreasonably delayed or denied altogether for an unfair reason. In this event, you will need to fight for the compensation that you deserve. At Saavedra-Goodwin, our Fort Lauderdale hurricane damage attorneys can assist in advocating on your behalf
Our lawyers can investigate the circumstances, evaluate your claim and assess whether your insurance company has acted in bad faith. With the help of our lawyers, you can hold your insurance company responsible for living up to the terms of your insurance policy and obtain full compensation for your losses.
Contact An Attorney Who Can Help
Founded in 1988, Saavedra-Goodwin’s Fort Lauderdale hurricane damage attorneys have helped many clients recover compensation for hurricane damage. The attorneys at Saavedra-Goodwin can be reached online or by calling Saavedra-Goodwin. Don’t delay in seeking legal assistance; contacting us early in the process will help us gather the evidence needed to support your claim.
