Property Damage Lawyer Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The amount that you can recover often depends on the size of the policy and the value of the insured property. There are cases where the insured property appreciates and the policy is inadequate to fully cover a loss. There are, however, criteria for the way that a first-party insurer calculates your claim. These include:

• Replacement value of the damaged item
• Cost of repairs, if repair is possible
• Loss of use until the item has been repaired or replaced
• Sentimental value (in case of heirlooms or very personal items)

If you have insured your property for physical damage, you have in effect purchased a first-party insurance policy. An example of this would be a homeowner’s insurance policy that covers a house and its contents, but there are many other types of properties that can be covered with a first-party policy. 

The first step in pursuing any claim is to get as much information on the case as possible. A claim that’s backed up by plenty of information has a higher likelihood that the desired outcome will be obtained. You should also document the damage with photographs or video. Ideally, you will have comparison photos from before the damage occurred. A public claims adjuster can assist you with preserving evidence and calculating damages. 

With regard to any type of accidental damage, your safety comes first. Do not try to enter or go near damaged property if there’s a risk of injury. As was mentioned before, document all damage with photographs or video. If you have receipts for damaged items, collect them to accompany your claim. If the property was damaged during an incident, gather the names of any witnesses that may have seen the damage occur. 

Depending on the type of first-party claim, your payment could take some time to process. As a rule, larger claims take longer to process. It is important, however, that you do not accept the first offer merely out of expediency. Insurance companies frequently low-ball settlements to protect their bottom line. A first-party property damage lawyer can help you navigate the difficult negotiations process. 

Negligence occurs when someone acts carelessly and it results in damage. With regard to first-party insurance claims, an insurer may try to claim that the insured was negligent. They may then use negligence as an excuse to deny a claim or reduce the settlement amount. If another party was negligent, they may try to hold them accountable for the loss. A property damage lawyer can help you defend against claims of negligence by your insurer. Talk to a property damage attorney in Fort Lauderdale today.

If you own a home, a piece of land or other structure, you probably also have property insurance. You know this because when you purchased this home or land, your lender made sure you purchased a property insurance policy as a condition of the loan. The policy will stipulate limits as to how much it will pay in case of damage.

The time limit depends on every state. In Florida, it is generally five years. Do not sit long on your claim and take action today by calling a property damage lawyer in Fort Lauderdale.

The short answer is yes, everybody needs property damage liability insurance. Why? Because accidents in the form of fire, wind, storms, and even theft, can happen when you least expect it. And in most states, this type of insurance is required by law.