Posted on March 7, 2024
ICHQ | Site Author
Your home is probably your most valuable asset, and when an unexpected disaster damages it, you need your homeowners insurance company to live up to its promises. Unfortunately, many insurance companies care more about their bottom lines than their policyholders. A lawyer for home insurance claims from Insurance Claim HQ wants to help you recover the compensation you need.
What Are Some Reasons You Need a Lawyer for Home Insurance Claims?
In an ideal world, filing a homeowners claim would be a quick and easy process. Unfortunately that is not always the case. You may need the help of a property damage attorney for various reasons.
Your claim is large or complex
The larger your claim is, the more motivated the insurance company is to save money by reducing your settlement or denying your claim. In addition, they have more opportunities to take advantage of you if you have a complicated claim because you do not deal with home insurance claims and insurance contracts daily.
A lawyer for home insurance claims has the expertise you need to see through the insurance company’s tactics and ensure you receive a fair settlement. A lawyer can also assist you if you cannot reach an agreement with the insurance company and need to file a lawsuit.
Your time is valuable
You already have a lot on your plate, and now you also have to deal with the aftermath of the catastrophe that damaged your home. You do not need to add dealing with the insurance company to your list of responsibilities.
Even if your insurance company is cooperating, a property damage attorney can save you valuable time and energy by dealing with your insurance claim so you can get on with your life.
Your insurance company is offering you a low settlement or denying your claim
There are many ways the insurance company may try to reduce the value of your claim or avoid paying it altogether.
Without help, you may be stuck with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses or be unable to restore your home to its previous condition. If the insurance company unfairly devalues or denies your claim, a property damage lawyer can protect your rights.
You are not an expert on insurance
Most people are not experts on their property’s insurance policy. Your insurance company is. Insurance policies are full of exceptions, exclusions and confusing wording.
Working with a lawyer for home insurance claims will put you on an even playing field with your insurer. Your attorney will review your policy, explain any legal jargon and advise you about any coverage issues you may encounter.
You need a second opinion
You may find you have many questions that you cannot trust your insurance company to answer. Is the insurance company’s estimate fair? Is the adjuster being honest about what your policy does and does not cover? Are they looking after your interests or their own?
A property damage lawyer can give you peace of mind that you are receiving a fair settlement for your claim.
Your insurance company is delaying your claim
Louisiana law gives the insurance company 30 days from the date you submitted proof of loss to settle most claims. Sometimes insurance companies delay claims without a valid reason.
Hiring a property damage lawyer may motivate your insurance company to settle your claim promptly. If it does not, your attorney can help you pursue a bad-faith lawsuit.
What Kind of Lawyer Do I Need for Property Damage?
You could hire any attorney for property damage. However, there are several reasons to work with an attorney who handles property damage claims in particular.
Substantial experience
Property damage lawyers handle home insurance claim cases every day. They know the ins and outs of the industry and are familiar with the tactics insurance companies employ to avoid paying insurance claims.
They also have relationships with public adjusters, contractors, remediation companies and other parties that you may need to negotiate with or utilize the services of to get your home repaired. A lawyer who handles all types of cases or insurance claims will not have as much experience dealing with home insurance claims.
Extensive expertise
Attorneys who do not have expertise in handling home insurance claim cases often refer those cases to property damage lawyers. Working with a lawyer for home insurance claims from the start saves you the trouble and potential delay of switching from one attorney to another in the middle of your claim.
Potential pitfalls
If you make a mistake or say the wrong thing before you hire an attorney, your insurance company will use that against you. Hiring a property damage attorney from the start avoids potential pitfalls by forcing the insurance company to deal with your attorney instead of you.
Abundance of resources
A large property damage law firm, such as Insurance Claim HQ, has the resources to pursue your claim from start to finish, even if you need to go to court to resolve your case. A small law firm may not have the resources to take on a powerful insurance company with lots of money and an army of lawyers.
Bad faith lawsuits
Your insurance company must abide by the terms of your contract and deal with you in good faith. If they do not, you may need to file a bad-faith lawsuit.
Bad faith claims can be difficult to prove. A property damage lawyer will have the expertise to file and present a bad faith claim in court successfully. If you win your case, you will receive the settlement the insurance company should have paid, plus an additional settlement to compensate you for the insurance company’s illegal actions.
Hire a Lawyer for Home Insurance Claims
The best time to hire a lawyer for home insurance claims is before you file your claim. The attorneys at Insurance Claim HQ have decades of experience negotiating property and casualty insurance claims and will work to maximize your recovery.
Contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a home insurance claim lawyer. We help homeowners nationwide.
