Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, and flooding. If your property was damaged after a natural disaster, you might expect your homeowner’s insurance to cover the repairs. However, insurance companies such as 1st Liberty Insurance Agency may deny your claim or delay your payment for various reasons.
If you or a loved one received a denied 1st Liberty property claim, we may be able to help. Call the Florida property claim lawyers at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today to learn more about your options. We can review your policy and your claim and assist with your appeal.
Your Rights as a Homeowner
If you are in compliance with the terms of your homeowner’s insurance policy, you have certain rights regarding the claims process, including the right to be compensated for:
- The cost of repairing or rebuilding your home;
- Compensation for any losses you may have incurred if your vehicles or other machinery were damaged; and,
- Compensated for damage or destruction of personal property in the home and in your backyard.
If you own a home in Florida, your insurance must notify you that:
- They received your claim within 14 days.
- They informed you about the status of your claim within 30 days.
- They sent full or partial payment or informed you about why your claim was denied within 90 days.
Common Issues Facing Post-Disaster Victims with Property Damage
If your claim was denied, 1st Liberty Insurance Agency may have told you that:
- Your property had code violations that render your policy void.
- The damages that you claim were caused by a natural disaster existed before the event happened.
- The damages that you claim were caused by a broken pipe were caused by flooding and your policy does not cover flooding.
- You made an error when you first got your policy which nullifies their responsibility to compensate you.
- You do not have enough coverage and are underinsured.
- The items that you claim have a specific value are depreciated by the insurance company.
- The contractor estimates for repair work are too high.
Regardless of the reasoning behind your denial, an attorney can help you draft an appropriate appeal to pursue compensation from 1st Liberty Insurance Agency.
Proof of Loss
Insurance companies may send out a proof of loss request before a settlement offer is made. You have a legal obligation to submit to the request as a policyholder. If 1st Liberty Insurance Agency requests proof of loss, any information or documents you give the insurance company is done under oath. Your attorney may advise you to:
- Never miss a deadline.
- Be careful in your responses because you are submitting a sworn statement.
- Review the terms of your policy so that you understand your rights and obligations.
- Make note of the date and the extent of the damage.
- Keep a record of what steps you may have taken to mitigate the damage.
- Take photos and write descriptions of the damage.
- Keep all receipts related to the property damage.
- Keep copies of everything the insurance company sends you.
- Take notes if you have any conversations with insurance company agents.
Proof of loss is not always requested, but it is an important document that should be answered accurately and honestly.
How a Lawyer Can Help If Your Claim Was Denied
If you receive a denied 1st Liberty property claim, your property claim lawyer can explain your rights as a homeowner in Florida and help you understand the way that insurance companies generally handle most property claims. We can also help you build a strong appeal that supports your claim for compensation.
We will:
- Assess the damage, including before-and-after images whenever possible.
- Help you gather the evidence related to your claim and handle the communication between you and the insurance company.
- Ensure that procedural deadlines are met.
- Prepare your case for trial but negotiate with the insurance company to try and settle the case through mediation or arbitration before the trial.
- If necessary, represent you in court.
Florida Statute of Limitations
If you wish to file a lawsuit against 1st Liberty Insurance Agency or any insurance company for denying your claim, you generally have three years from the date of the event to do so. If your claim has been denied and you want to file a claim, it can be helpful to get started as soon as possible. There is a lot of evidence to gather, and the longer you wait to file the harder it will be to collect what we need to build a compelling case on your behalf.
If you are dealing with a denied 1st Liberty property claim or the settlement offer is insufficient to cover your damages and losses, you do not have to face the appeals process alone. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today for a free review of your insurance policy, claim, and options for moving forward. We can help you pursue the compensation to which you are entitled, and hold 1st Liberty Insurance Agency accountable if they violated your rights as a Florida Homeowner.
We Can Help.
