What Evidence Do I Need for My Insurance Claim?
When you file a claim after an accident in Florida, you will need to provide certain elements of proof in order to have a successful claim.
These elements of proof could include:
- Pictures documenting damages
- Receipts or records of any purchases you made to protect your home (security system, fire alarm)
- Witnesses’ testimonies
You can also request independent appraisals if there are disagreements over the value of your property. It’s very important to establish that you are a safe and responsible owner and that there was no negligence or recklessness on your part that caused the damage. If we appeal the claim and it is denied, our attorneys will be fully prepared to take the insurer to court or to a private arbitrator.
Life Insurance Claim Denials
Before your loved one passed, they did the responsible thing and bought life insurance to protect and provide for the ones he/she left behind. Ideally, your insurance company would do the right thing and adhere to your loved one’s wishes. If a death occurs within the first two years of the policy, beneficiaries should expect that the policy will be investigated to determine if the deceased misrepresented themselves in the claim.
Should You Let Your Lawyer Talk to Your Insurance Company?
Insurance companies get encouraged whenever they get to manage a claim for a policyholder or claimant who is alone. They get worried when they see that a claimant has an insurance claims lawyer, though. Attorneys know what to do, say, and demand in order to get around insurance company tactics that are designed to confuse and frustrate claimants into admitting liability or giving up on their claims after multiple denials or delays.
Because insurance companies don’t like dealing with attorneys, it is highly recommended that you let your insurance attorney do all of the talking with your insurance company. Once you have hired a lawyer, you no longer have an obligation to speak with your insurer. You can instruct them to redirect all further communications to your attorney, who will act on your behalf and keep you informed as things develop.
Two main benefits of allowing your insurance claim lawyer to do the talking for you:
- Fewer complications: Trying to discuss your insurance claim without fully understanding the details of your policy and your state’s liability laws is likely to cause trouble for you. Avoid misspeaking by simply not speaking to the insurer once you hire a lawyer.
- Less stress: By allowing your attorney to intercept, relay, and respond to all insurance company communications, you can take a step back from the situation, slow things down, and breathe a little easier.
Did My Insurance Company Act in Bad Faith?
As a policyholder in Florida, your rights are protected under the Unfair Claim Settlement Practices Act. Your insurance company must handle your claim promptly, reasonably, and in good faith. If your benefits were unreasonably withheld from you, your insurer has acted in bad faith.
Our job as your legal representation is to prove that the insurance company failed to honor its contract and had no reason to not pay your claim. Florida’s bad faith law is codified in Section 624.155, Florida Statutes. In certain circumstances, the law allows for the recovery of punitive damages, as well as attorneys’ fees and court costs.
Bad faith insurance claim practices include, but are not limited to:
- Failing to promptly and thoroughly investigate a claim
- Unreasonable interpretations in translating policy language
- Refusing to settle the case or reimburse you for the entirety of your loss
- Unreasonable denial of benefits to a claim or termination of an insurance claim that should have been paid
- Unreasonable delay in making payments to the policyholder
- Unreasonable failure to defend a policyholder who has been sued under a policy containing a liability provision
- Unreasonable attempts to under-settle or low ball the payment of a claim
Let the Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A. help. Dial (800) 953-2858 or contact us online now to get started with a free and confidential consultation.
