First-Party Insurance Claims Lawyers
Freidin Brown, P.A. represents policyholders in large claims against their property insurance companies. Our clients include condominium associations, hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and other entities that have significant damages to their properties. Whether the damage is from broken pipes, fire, or a hurricane, Freidin Brown, P.A. steps in when your insurance claim is ready to be taken to court.
Insurance companies may deny your claim for a variety of reasons, including reasons that fall under bad faith or may otherwise breach the contract you signed. A first-party insurance claims lawyer with Freidin Brown, P.A. can become an essential asset in this process. With our attorneys by your side, you will have someone who prioritizes your needs while bringing over a decade of experience to your case. Call our firm now at 888-677-7764 to get started.
What Are First-Party Insurance Claims?
Insurance policies, claims, and terminology are already confusing for many people. Parties in an insurance claim include the person who is covered by the insurance (you, i.e., the first party) and the company that offers the policy (the second party).
In a first-party claim, you are demanding that your insurance company pay you money you believe it owes you. For example, when you have property damage claims and you are seeking a payout for your losses, you are going through your own policy for reimbursement for your expenses and losses.
Coverage for Property Damage
Coverage will depend on your policy and insurers. At Freidin Brown, P.A, our first-party claim attorneys can help those who are seeking payment for property damage claims like:
Water Damage
Insurance policies typically cover water damage when pipes burst or freeze, or from interior damage from rain or sprinklers, among other causes. Some policies may cover water damage from backed up sewers or drains, but some may not.
Water damage can result in destructive and hazardous mold, especially if left untreated. Water damage can cause structural issues on your property, damage your electrical and gas lines and systems, and damage all your belongings.
Water is an incredibly destructive force, and it is important to take swift action when you notice leaks and water damage in your home or commercial property.
Flooding
While caused by water, flood damage is usually covered by a separate flood policy. When choosing a policy, make sure you find out what is and is not covered by the coverage you are selecting.
Without this coverage, you will likely need to cover the expenses on your own. While federal assistance is available, there is no guarantee you will get it. Flood insurance requirements will depend on your location and your lenders.
Fire
Fires can start from multiple sources, and policies typically cover fire damage to homes, dwellings, and other structures. Coverage can help you with various associated expenses for repairs or accommodations if your home is uninhabitable. Your policy may even cover smoke damage.
Homeowners insurance policies and commercial property policies can even cover damage from wildfires, but always check your policy before assuming it does. Not all companies will automatically include this coverage, and where you live can have a big impact on this.
Hurricanes & Other Natural Disasters
Hurricanes, wildfires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, even winter storms—these and other natural disasters can wreak havoc on your life and properties. Some come without warning and cause incredible amounts of destruction despite your best preparations.
Some insurance companies offer separate policies for damage caused by natural disasters, while others build this coverage into the plans they already offer. For any type of damage, always check what is excluded in your policy.
Additional Property Damage Causes
While weather and water are some of the more common reasons property owners file claims, they are not the only causes of claims. Vandalism, theft, and other human-caused issues, like construction concrete overspray, may be covered by insurance policies.
Filing an Insurance Claim for Property Damage
When faced with property damage, you file a claim with your insurance carrier by informing them of the incident and damages, and submitting any proof you have. The insurer will have to investigate your claim, and then it can approve or deny your request.
Make sure you are aware of your policy requirements, as many companies will require that you file a claim within a certain period of time, or within a reasonable timeframe after discovering the issues. Make any temporary or short-term repairs to help prevent worsening conditions and keep invoices and receipts for reimbursement.
Why Would I Need to Pursue a Lawsuit Against My Insurer?
Insurers can deny claims for many legitimate reasons, but there are times when these denials do not make sense, and there is a larger issue with how the insurer is handling your claim.
Insurers may try to delay paying you or processing your claim, undervalue your claim, or deny it outright. You already have a lot to deal with, but our first-party insurance claims attorney can also help you with:
Bad Faith Claims
Insurance companies hold a lot of power over their policyholders; their decisions can determine whether someone has the money to fix their home or business. While some insurers act in good faith when reviewing a claim, others do not. Misrepresenting your contract and not revealing the limitations of your policy can be considered “bad faith” actions.
The threshold for proving bad faith actions is not as simple as some may think, and just because someone is unhappy with an insurance adjuster’s assessment and decision, does not mean the company is acting in bad faith.
Bad faith actions can encompass many scenarios, which means it can be difficult for many policyholders to determine if this is happening to them. Insurance companies may avoid investigating your claim, offer an unfair settlement for something that is covered under your policy, and many other scenarios. Insurance companies should provide reasons why they are conducting investigations and explain their denials; if they do not, this could be a sign of them acting in bad faith.
Attorneys are especially helpful with this type of case, as they understand the multitude of scenarios that might be in bad faith, and they work within state laws to help clients like you.
Breach of Contract
A breach of contract can look similar to acting in bad faith, and the breach can lead to these bad faith actions. If you are pursuing a lawsuit against your insurance company for a breach of contract, this means that you believe the insurer is not upholding its end of the bargain.
If they deny part of your claim even though it is explicitly covered in your policy, this could be a breach of contract. Our insurance claims lawyer can help you with the distinction and set your case up for success. Call us at 888-677-7764 to get started now.
What Can a First-Party Insurance Claims Lawyer Do for Me?
Dealing with property damage is already a headache, but having to negotiate with insurers makes this process even more painful. Confusing terminology, back-and-forth communication, and potentially underhanded tactics, mixed with the general stress of damage and repairs, leave property owners like you overwhelmed and overworked. It is easy to just accept what insurance companies offer, if they offer anything at all.
However, you don’t have to. If this is what you are facing, you can reach out to Freidin Brown, P.A. Our first-party insurance lawyer can help by:
- Providing legal advice and consultation: it can be hard to know if you have a case against an insurance company. Our lawyer can review the details, and if you have a case, our firm can get started. We can discuss insurance offers and advise you on your next steps.
- Reviewing and analyzing insurance policies: Most people do not spend their days dealing with insurers and pouring over policy documents, so it can be hard to find yourself in the middle of a claim arguing with adjusters. Our lawyer has dedicated years to this field, and she is prepared to take over and make sure that insurance companies are following the contract and state laws for your case.
- Assisting in the preparation and filing of claims: Our firm can help you file your claim, making sure you submit everything you need to minimize your chances at a denial.
- Negotiating with insurance companies: Insurance companies can be hard to deal with, especially when you are juggling phone calls and appointments for repairs and inspections, in addition to everything else going on in your life. We can handle all communications while keeping you in the loop.
- Representing the policyholder in disputes and litigation: Although some insurance claims can be handled quickly, some become much longer affairs that even go to court. Our attorney is prepared to take your first-party insurance claim to this stage and represent you and your interests, making sure you get what you need to get your home or other property in order.
Our attorneys have significant experience helping people like you fight for what they are owed and the multi-million-dollar results to prove it. No insurance claims case is too big for Freidin Brown, P.A., so do not hesitate to reach out for a consultation.
Do Any Deadlines Apply to My First-Party Insurance Claims Case?
Yes, there are limits on when you can take action against the insurance company. As a reminder, start the claims process as soon as the incident occurs or as soon as you notice the damage. Take whatever actions you can to address the current damage to your property. Waiting too long or allowing the damage to worsen can make your case more difficult.
In the event you must pursue a lawsuit to seek compensation for your losses, you will be subject to the relevant state statute of limitations. Every state is different, but there can be separate deadlines for bad faith claims and breaches of contract, so it is best to act quickly. The sooner you reach out to our firm, the better. We can determine how much time you have to act.
Call Our First-Party Insurance Lawyer Now for Help With Your Property Claim
Delays or denials of your claim can leave you with mounting bills, even though you were promised coverage. You are dealing with unbelievable amounts of stress with no end in sight, but we would like to help.
Here at Freidin Brown, P.A., we believe in giving clients a fighting chance against insurance companies who unfairly deny claims. With multiple multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for our insurance claims clients, we believe we can help you. Call us now at 888-677-7764 so we can see how we can help you.
