Disputes over property damage claims are common in Florida. You may end up in a dispute with your insurance company over the value of your damage or whether your damage is even covered at all. Further, you could run into a disagreement over many complicated sub-issues, such as the market value of damages, the level of depreciation, what exactly caused the damage or the interpretation of a very narrow section of policy language. In the event that your insurer is not paying the full value of your claim, please consider the following brief overview of what you can do to resolve the issue:
Review the Decision
Under Florida law, property insurance policyholders have valuable rights. One of these rights is that policyholders are entitled to receive a formal letter from their insurer detailing the decision. The letter should explain exactly why the insurance company made the decision that they did. In some cases, your letter might explain why the insurer is denying your claim outright. In other cases, your letter might explain why you are receiving a lower settlement offer than you believe is fair. You need to comprehensively review this decision letter. Only when you understand why your insurer made the decision that they did will you be able to know exactly what action to take next. For example, you might be able to resolve the issue by providing additional evidence to the company. Sometimes, the insurance company made the adverse decision because they were missing a key document. It is always a good practice to review your initial claim as well, as it is possible that your claim had an error.
Consider Alternative Dispute Resolution
If your claim has been partially paid, it may be best to consider a form of alternative dispute resolution. Ultimately, in these type of cases, there is an agreement that your damage is covered by the policy, and the dispute is simply about the cost to repair your damage. If that is true in your case, you may wish to seek an appraisal. During the appraisal process both you and the insurance company can present evidence as to proper calculation of the value of the property damage. After both sides make their case, the amount the insurance company owes you will be decided by the appraisers and umpires selected by you and the insurance company.
Hire an Attorney
If your dispute arose not because of a disagreement over value, but instead because of whether or not the damage was covered at all, you should seek professional assistance from an experienced
Broward County property insurance attorney. Your attorney can assess your damage and your insurance policy and help you determine the best way for you to obtain a full and fair settlement offer.
Was Your Property Insurance Claim Denied?
If your property insurance claim has been denied, the attorneys at Geyer Fuxa Tyler may be able to help. Our property insurance dispute team has helped many property owners obtain the full and fair settlement offers that they deserve. Please do not hesitate to call our Sunrise office today at (954) 990-5251 to set up a free review of your claim. Our firm serves clients throughout Broward County, including in Coconut Beach and Oakland Park.
