Miami property owners pay high premiums for property insurance, and when their property is damaged by hurricanes, floods, fire, burst pipes, or any other number of causes, they expect to be compensated for their losses.
Unfortunately, making a full financial recovery for your property damage isn’t always as simple as filing a claim with your insurance company. In many cases, insurance companies will try to downplay the extent of your losses. They may delay paying your claim for weeks or even months. In some situations, the insurance company may deny your claim altogether.
Working with an experienced first-party insurance claims attorney will ensure that your insurance company upholds their end of the bargain and you receive the compensation you need to recover from your loss. Miami insurance attorney Mike Redondo is available to take your call, review the terms of your policy, and help you make a successful first-party insurance claim.
What is a first-party insurance claim?
When you file an insurance claim with your own insurance company, that is called a first-party insurance claim.
There are multiple situations that might require you to file a first-party insurance claim, even if someone (or something) else is responsible for your losses and damages. In the event of an auto accident, for example, you would not only seek compensation from the driver responsible for your injuries, but also from your own insurance company to cover immediate costs such as medical expenses.
In Miami, first-party insurance claims often arise from property damage resulting from natural disasters, such as fire, hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, wind or flooding. First-party insurance claims can arise from various situations, including fire damage, water damage from a broken pipe, mold damage, vandalism, or theft.
What does your insurance policy cover?
Prior to filing a first-party insurance claim for your property damage, you should review the terms of your insurance policy.
In Miami, it is common for homeowner’s insurance policies to only cover damage caused by certain natural forces. For example, homeowner’s insurance typically covers wind damage, but not flood damage. Flood damage, on the other hand, may be covered under a different insurance policy. This can be especially problematic for homeowners affected by hurricanes, since many homeowners mistakenly believe their hurricane insurance will cover hurricane-caused flooding.
In addition to covering the value of property damage and loss, most homeowner insurance policies provide coverage for living expenses that you incur while repairs are being made to your home. Furthermore, your insurance policy may also provide compensation for some cleanup costs.
Before you accept a settlement offer from your insurance company, you should review the terms of your policy with an insurance attorney to make sure you receive the fair value of your claim.
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How insurance companies may try to devalue your first-party insurance claim
You may have had your insurance policy for a long time. You may even know your insurance agent personally. However, insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind.
When a first-party insurance claim is filed, insurance companies do everything they can to limit the dollar amount they owe to you. Insurance companies may:
- Provide undervalued estimates.
- Look for technicalities in your policy that allegedly relieve them of liability.
- Argue over ambiguous policy terms.
- Pressure you into accepting a settlement for less than the fair value of your claim.
- Threaten to deny your claim if you fail to accept their initial offer.
- Convince you that you do not need an insurance attorney.
In the event of a hurricane, for example, an insurance adjuster may attempt to diminish the value of your claim by arguing that damage to your home was caused by a force not covered by your policy. For example, insurance company adjusters may claim that damage to your siding, windows or doors was caused by flooding, when they were actually first damaged by hurricane force winds.
When dealing with insurance companies, it may seem that the deck is stacked against you. Insurance companies have professional adjusters who will investigate your claim and expensive attorneys who will defend them from lawsuits. But you don’t have to pursue your first-party insurance claim alone. Redondo Law can help level the playing field and help you recover the full value of your losses.
How Redondo Law can help
Miami insurance attorney Mike Redondo will work with you to make sure that your insurance company honors the terms of the insurance policy you signed with them. As a former insurance defense attorney, Mike has the experience and knowledge required to challenge large corporate insurance companies. Now, he represents homeowners, business owners and other property owners, helping them maximize insurance settlement offers.
Redondo Law aggressively pursues your claims by:
- Investigating the extent of your property damage or loss
- Obtaining visual evidence through photos
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
- Making an inventory of your property loss and furnishings
- Documenting your expenses on repairs, services or anything else related to your property damage
If you are experiencing property damage or loss, you may be entitled to more than what your insurance company is offering. The first step to making a full financial recovery is just a free consultation away. Call Miami insurance attorney Mike Redondo today to discuss your first-party insurance claim today.
