West Palm Beach Property Insurance Lawyer

West Palm Beach Property Insurance Attorney

Sustaining damage to your property during a storm is stressful enough. When you add the aggravation of dealing with difficult insurance companies to the mix, you get a recipe for frustration. The good news is that if you’re having issues with your insurance company, a West Palm Beach property insurance lawyer may be able to help. We can assist with everything from filing initial claims to litigating property insurance cases.

Trust The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A.

The team here at The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A., has been in practice for decades, and we care about our community. We have a deep understanding of property insurance laws and over 30 years of combined experience to bring to bear on your case. Whether you’re having difficulty understanding your insurance contract and need something clarified, or you need legal representation in a case against your insurance company, we can help.

Why Hire a West Palm Beach Property Insurance Lawyer?

Florida is the most expensive state in the country to buy homeowners’ insurance, and the costs are only continuing to rise. The cost of homeowners’ insurance has risen by nearly 30% statewide, and Floridians are now paying almost $10,000 a year in premiums on average. The situation should only get worse from here, as global warming has already increased extreme rainfall by 10% and will continue to exacerbate already challenging conditions.

When you pay that kind of money for property insurance, you deserve to get the coverage to which you are entitled without being forced to jump through any hoops. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. Insurance companies have legions of lawyers on their teams looking for ways to deny claims. You should hire a property insurance lawyer, too, to even the playing field and increase the chances that you’ll receive a fair payout on your claim.

The Claim Filing Process

The process of filing an insurance claim may sound easy, but insurance companies often fight their clients every step of the way. If you find yourself in such a situation, here is the process that you can expect:

• Claim filing. You’ll have to notify your insurance company and provide key details about the damage and the event that caused it.
• Initial adjuster review. Your insurance company will assign an adjuster to the case. They will inspect the damage and determine whether it’s covered.
• Decision on coverage. Once the adjuster completes their work, the insurance company will let you know whether your claim is approved or denied.
• Settlement. If the claim gets approved, the insurance company will provide a payout based on the adjuster’s assessment.

Hire a Property Insurance Attorney in West Palm Beach

It doesn’t matter where you are in the claim-filing process. You can hire a West Palm Beach property insurance attorney at any point. If you have a lawyer from the beginning, they can help you with some of the steps required to file and pursue your claim.

Some people also wait until their claims have been unfairly denied before hiring lawyers. We can help you with this sort of situation, as well. Give us a call if your claim was denied outright or if the insurance company is trying to offer you an absurdly low settlement. We can fight for your rights as a homeowner and get you the money you deserve.

Common Types of Property Damage Claims

Every policy is a little different. In Florida, homeowners’ insurance policies do not include flood insurance, and that will have to be purchased separately. Whether you live in El Cid or Northwood Shores, it’s worth checking to see what your policy covers. It should include:

• Hurricane damage
• Other types of water damage
• Fire damage
• Hail damage
• Wind damage
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Sinkholes
• Roof damage

The particulars of the situation will help to determine how much of a payout you’ll get on your claim. If you’re not sure what your contract allows, you can bring it to us for review. We’ll let you know what your coverage limits are.

FAQs

What Is the 90-Day Rule in Florida Insurance?

The 90-day rule in Florida insurance refers to the fact that insurers have 90 days to deny or pay out on a claim following its submission. If you’ve filed a claim and have waited longer than 90 days, you should hire a lawyer familiar with property insurance cases. You may also need a property insurance lawyer if your insurer denies your claim without a valid reason.

What Are the Insurance Laws in Florida?

The insurance laws in Florida stipulate that insurers are required to offer a policy or endorsement that adjusts losses to a dwelling’s replacement cost and that they must offer law and ordinance coverage, which helps to rebuild to current building codes. The statute of limitations for filing a property insurance claim is five years.

What Is the 80% Rule in Homeowners’ Insurance?

The 80% rule requires homeowners to insure their houses for at least 80% of their total replacement costs to receive full payouts on claims. This coinsurance clause allows insurance companies to essentially punish you by paying only a proportional amount, leaving you responsible for making the rest of the repairs.

What Is the 15-Year Roof Rule in Florida?

The 15-year roof rule in Florida requires insurance companies to offer coverage for roofs under 15 years old. They’re also required to approve or renew policies on older roofs if a professional inspection can confirm that the structure has at least another five years of useful life. The statute was implemented to prevent insurers from dropping homeowners from their policies exclusively because of a roof’s age.

West Palm Beach Property Insurance Lawyer

Property insurance is designed to provide relief in the event of an unforeseeable disaster. However, insurance companies make the claims process challenging and issue denials when they shouldn’t. If you’re facing these issues, contact a West Palm Beach property insurance lawyer. The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A., have handled countless property insurance claims and advocated for their rights when insurers make life difficult. Contact us to schedule a consultation.