At some point, most homeowners have to deal with water damage in their home. Maybe you had a pipe burst. Or a storm caused so much damage to your roof that it had to be repaired. In situations like this, it’s a good idea to have a seasoned property damage attorney by your side to help you file a water damage claim in Miami successfully.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Water Damage in Your Home?
Water damage is one of the most common reasons homeowners have to file insurance claims. On average, 29% of all homeowners insurance claims have to do with water damage.
Water damage can be caused in a variety of ways. Some of the more common causes of water damage that our Miami property damage lawyers have seen over the years include:
- Clogged gutters
- Sewage or septic issues
- Inclement weather
- Burst pipes
- Leaking pipes
- Old or broken down appliances
Regardless of the cause of the water damage, you need to be careful. If you don’t take immediate steps to mitigate the damage to your home, there’s a good chance your claim will be denied.
Our Miami Property Damage Attorneys Are All Too Familiar With Insurance Denials
Most of the people who come to see our Miami property damage attorneys do so because their home insurance claim is denied. They suffer some sort of water damage in their home. They file their claim like they’re supposed to. And then their claim is rejected.
Our Miami property damage lawyers have helped thousands of people deal with damage to their homes. Your home is the biggest investment you’ll ever make. You need to take measures to protect it both before and after it suffers water damage.
If you would like know more information about if you can challenge your home insurance settlement, view this page.
Why Would the Insurance Company Deny Your Water Damage Claim?
When you file your insurance claim, the insurance adjuster has three options. They can pay your claim in full. Or, if they don’t agree with certain portions of your claim, they can pay it in part.
There are other times when your claim is denied outright. For some reason, the insurance company decided that your claim shouldn’t be approved per your contract.
Some of the more common reasons our Miami property damage lawyers have seen include the following:
- The damage was caused by an excluded peril according to your policy. For example, if the damage was caused by a flood, it will not be covered by your homeowner’s policy.
- You didn’t pay your insurance premiums on time so your policy was cancelled.
- You didn’t file your claim in a reasonable time.
- The damage is old, and the insurance adjuster thinks it got worse due to negligence.
There’s no way to know upfront whether the insurance company is going to pay your claim.
That’s why we suggest you meet with a Miami property damage lawyer sooner rather than later. They can help file your claim and make sure it is handled properly from the start.
What Can You Do to Prevent This From Happening?
There are, of course, things you can do to prevent water damage. For example, it’s a good idea to have your septic or sewage system inspected periodically. You should also investigate your home after any major storm to see if it suffered any water damage.
Another step you must take if you expect your claim to be approved is to identify the damage as early as possible. If the insurance adjuster thinks you allowed the damage to spread before filing your claim, they may likely deny it.
Your Miami Property Damage Lawyer Will Have to Justify Your Claim
As briefly stated earlier, there are often times when the insurance carrier agrees to pay your claim, but only in part. This is why it’s important that your Miami property damage lawyer submit evidence justifying your claim.
Some of the information that your attorney will need to send along with your claim include:
- Pictures of the damage
- A list of all damaged or destroyed items
- Receipts from any repairs made
- Estimates from local repair people
- A video of the damage with date and time stamps
The more information you have to justify your claim, the better.
Don’t Wait Too Long to File Your Claim
One word of caution. You don’t want to wait too long to file your claim. If you wait more than a few days, especially with water damage, the insurance company may deny it. Their argument is that had you presented your claim sooner, the damage wouldn’t have been so bad.
Our Miami property damage attorneys recommend that you contact our office as soon as you notice the damage. It’s critically important that you have them review your claim before you send it off.
It’s Important That You Keep Good Records
One other thing you should do is keep impeccable records. If you had previous repairs done, the insurance company will need to know. The same is true if you previously suffered water damage.
The reason you want to keep records is so that the insurance company can’t say the damage is old. For example, if you submit a claim for roof damage caused by a storm, you may need to demonstrate that it is new damage – not damage caused by a previous storm.
What Can Your Miami Property Damage Attorney Do If Your Claim Is Denied?
If your claim is denied, you have options. Your Miami property damage lawyer can always file an appeal. The only problem with that is the same person who denied your claim the first time will be the same person handling the appeal.
Ideally, your Miami property damage attorney will be able to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. This way, you can hope to get as much of your claim paid as possible. Plus, if you do settle your claim, you will get your payment much more quickly.
Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute to Speak With an Experienced Miami Property Damage Lawyer
It’s critical that you waste no time filing your water damage claim. You also don’t want to waste any time meeting with a Miami property damage attorney. This way, they can help ensure that your claim is filed properly. They can also make sure your claim is for the correct amount.
All you have to do is contact our office and schedule your free, initial consultation. Take the time to sit down with an experienced Miami property damage lawyer. Having an attorney by your side will increase your chances of having your claim paid.
