Insurance Disputes & Unpaid Claims Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale

Fighting for the Rights of Our Clients in Broward & Palm Beach County

If your insurance claim was denied, don’t lose hope. The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A. offer experienced legal services to help you fight back and obtain the full and fair compensation to which you are entitled. Our Fort Lauderdale insurance claim lawyers offer over 25 combined years of experience to help you build a strong case in support of your needs.

How Do I Appeal an Insurance Claim Denial?

If you have filed for an insurance claim and received a denial letter in the mail, it is understandable that you may be feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. If you are sure that you deserve compensation for damages, you may have the option to appeal your claim.

The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A. can help you take the following steps to file an insurance appeal:

• Step One- Review your claim to ensure there were no errors or ways to improve it
• Step Two- Think about the option of hiring an insurance adjuster to get an independent appraisal
• Step Three- If you are unable to reach an agreement with your home insurance company, contact a Fort Lauderdale insurance attorney to assist you with aggressive negotiations to help you receive maximum financial compensation

What are Different Types of Insurance Claims?

You’ve suffered an unfortunate financial or physical injury, and the insurance company you trusted to protect you has denied your claim. Despite faithfully paying your premiums, you now find yourself in the unexpected position of fighting for the coverage you already paid for. The skilled insurance claims lawyers at the Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A. know how to combat the “delay, deny, defend” tactics insurance companies use to avoid honoring a valid claim.

The Law Offices of John D. Ameen represent policyholders who have sought legal action in disputes related to:

• Hurricane-related claims
• Property and casualty claims
• Life insurance claims
• Fire insurance claims
• Disability claims
• Auto insurance claims
• Business insurance claims
• Theft and vandalism claims

Lead attorney, Mr. Ameen offers an advantage of having once represented insurance companies, helping him see the way they think and planning accordingly. Whether through tough negotiation or aggressive litigation, Mr. Ameen is well-equipped to handle and resolve complex claim disputes.

Let Us Be Your Advocate

We understand that this is a difficult time. During your free consultation, our Fort Lauderdale insurance claim attorneys will carefully review your insurance policy to determine a course of action that helps you recover maximum benefits. If a lawsuit is necessary, Florida law requires your insurance company to pay your attorney’s fees and costs.

Understanding How Insurance Companies Operate

No matter what type of insurance policy you purchase, you are entitled to the full benefits of the policy if you have a covered claim. If your claim is denied, you have the right to challenge that denial in a court of law. Insurance companies are generally held to the standard of what a reasonable insurance company would do under the same circumstances. Your situation will first be surveyed by a claims adjuster.

This adjuster is not on your side. During their investigation, they may:

• Make you feel as if their only allegiance is to you
• Offer you a quick and easy settlement before you know the full extent of your damages or injuries
• Make you sign a medical release allowing them to look into your entire medical history
• Ask you to give them a recorded statement in order to “lock in” your testimony

Don’t fall into the insurance company’s trap. If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a serious accident resulting from someone’s negligence or misconduct, you are legally entitled to restitution for any injuries and losses you sustained.

Recorded Statements after an Accident Can Hurt Your Claim

Giving a recorded statement to an adjuster is not a good idea. Their questions are designed to get you to say something that can be used against you later. For example, if you said your knee hurt but did not disclose any back pain, they may accuse you of making the back pain up in order to profit from the accident.

An adjuster may ask you how fast the other driver was going. If you respond and say the impact felt like 60 mph, and the facts reveal that the other driver was only going 35 mph, the adjuster will build a case characterizing you as an exaggerator.

If they ask you where the other car came from and you say, “I don’t know,” they can use a he said/she said argument to plausibly excuse the blame from the insurer.

Documenting Your Injuries Is Essential

In Florida, if you have a preexisting injury or condition, you are entitled to recover more money – not less. This is because you are more likely to get hurt and need long-term medical care due to your preexisting condition. It’s important to visit a doctor after an accident and tell him/her every single ache and pain you have so that it can be documented. Disclosing them later will have less credibility.

If you have become disabled by injury or illness and are no longer able to work, you are entitled to disability benefits. If you have been denied these benefits, don’t be discouraged. Approximately seven out of ten claims for disability in Florida are denied at the initial claim or disability application level. The good news is that you can appeal your denied claim in a federal court under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

There are four steps in the claims appeal process:

• Reconsideration – Within 60 days of the Social Security Administration’s decision, we will submit a request to have your claim reconsidered by a disability claims examiner who was not involved in the initial review.
• Hearing – If your claim is in reconsideration, we can request to have the claim reviewed before an administrative law judge in a hearing. During this hearing, you can present your case and include witnesses, experts, and any additional evidence not submitted with your initial claim.
• Appeals Council – If your claim was denied in the hearing before the judge, we can request another hearing in front of the Appeals Council. The Council will either reverse the judge’s decision and approve your request, order a second hearing, or deny your claim.
• Lawsuit – If your claim is denied by the Council, you may be able to file a lawsuit in federal district court seeking benefits.

Are You Experiencing A Property Damage Nightmare?

Did your home, car, or business suffer damage due to a natural disaster, crime, or accident? Did your insurance carrier deny compensation to help you repair and rebuild?

As residents of South Florida in the heart of “Hurricane Alley,” we know the devastation storms and natural disasters can be. We’ve also seen our fair share of serious accidents due to dangerous highways, and crimes committed from an increasingly populated coastline. The first step to take toward proving an unfair denial is to gather evidence to support your argument.

Here are some examples of common property damage in Florida:

• Automobile accidents
• Fire damage
• Water damage
• Flood damage
• Windstorm damage such as roof damage, structural damage, or damage to landscaping
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Sinkhole

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.

This 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.

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 not to pay. 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 and attorney’s fees and court costs.