Are you wondering whether you need to hire an insurance litigation lawyer for your property insurance dispute? Each year, one out of every 40 homes in the United States makes a property insurance claim.
These can range from claims for minor wind damage to catastrophic loss as a result of the storm. Buying a flood insurance policy may give you peace of mind. However, sometimes you may also need to hire a lawyer to help you receive coverage for your loss. The compensation you’ll receive from your insurance company can be used for 24/7 Emergency Water Damage Floor Restoration and other services to restore your property. If you need a new insurance policy, then consider contacting professionals like the ones at Roger Butler Insurance.
Read on to learn 5 times you may need to hire a property insurance lawyer!
1. You Need to File a Claim
You should hire a property insurance claim lawyer when you need to file a claim with your insurance company.
There’s no way around it that accidents and other unforeseen events happen. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your situation, your loss may be a life-changing event for you and your family.
It’s important to not let your emotions cause you to make irrational decisions. Before you act on your feelings, take some time to consider your options and why it makes sense to hire an attorney to represent your interests.
An experienced property insurance attorney will handle filing your claim. They will also have contacts in the industry that will help them communicate more efficiently with claims adjusters and other attorneys that represent the insurance company.
2. Your Claim Has Been Denied
Although you may have paid your annual premium for years, it doesn’t mean your insurance company will be there for you when you need it most.
If you haven’t hired an attorney to handle your claim from the start, you may be looking for one after you’ve had your claim denied. Receiving a denial letter from your insurance company can be an emotional time but don’t settle for a ‘no’ from your insurance company.
When you retain a property damage insurance claim lawyer you will have someone in your corner to advocate for coverage of your claim in the most effective way. Hiring an attorney also sends a strong message to an insurance company that you mean business.
When an insurance company receives a demand letter from an attorney, there’s a better chance your claim will take a higher priority. That’s because there’s a business decision for an insurance company to make. The costs of litigating a case in court can add up quickly and are best avoided by all parties in a dispute if it’s possible.
3. Negotiating a Settlement
Sometimes your property insurance company will make a first settlement offer far below what you expect to receive. Hiring an attorney will give you someone to speak with the insurance company on your behalf about your claim.
For example, let’s say you make a claim of $50,000 to your insurance company to replace a damaged roof on your house. In response, your insurer makes an initial settlement offer of $30,000.
Instead of settling for less than you deserve, an attorney to help you negotiate a better settlement to cover the cost to replace your new roof. Some of the ways an attorney will do this are by applying the law in your state to the facts of this case.
This will help give you more leverage against the insurance company so that you can make a stronger case for why they should cover the full amount of your claim.
4. Litigating Your Claim
You should hire a lawyer if you need to file a lawsuit against your insurance company to resolve your claim.
The attorney you choose should be experienced in litigating insurance disputes like yours. Filing a lawsuit is only the first step in the litigation process. Your attorney will conduct discovery to learn more about the facts of your dispute, including taking depositions. An experienced lawyer will also have a good feel for the best expert witnesses to retain if you need one in your case.
Your lawyer must be prepared to take your case to trial if you can’t resolve it short of going to court. This includes presenting evidence to a judge or jury most effectively and persuasively to give you the best chance of winning your lawsuit.
5. Learn the System
An experienced property insurance attorney will know the in’s and out’s of the insurance industry. They will also know the most important stages of the claims process and how to ensure that your claim is evaluated most fairly.
The world of property insurance is unique from other areas of the law because of the relationship between an insurance company and its insured. In short, your insurance company agrees to represent you for certain losses as outlined in the contract between you and that company.
These policies typically have written exclusions and other legal language that can be hard for the layperson to understand. An attorney will review your policy for coverage issues and advise you about coverage issues and how to proceed with your claim.
Wrapping Up: Hiring a Property Insurance Lawyer
Hiring a property insurance lawyer can be one of the most important decisions you make for you and your family.
Before you hire an attorney you should spend time considering your need for one. You should consider who will represent your interests in the best way. Speak with prospective attorneys about their experience in the industry and what they think of your case.
You can also learn a lot about attorneys that handle property insurance cases by talking with trusted friends and family members. Ask them about who they have hired one in the past and what their experience was with that law firm.
Are you interested in learning about other helpful tips and tricks to use in your daily life? Check out our blog posts for other great ways to begin living a better life today!