FAQs

When making an insurance claim, some of the requirements that you must fulfill include:

1. Immediately notifying your insurance company of any loss.

2. Taking reasonable steps to secure the property from further damage.

3. Separating the damaged items from the undamaged items.

4. Providing a detailed inventory of all losses including:
– Quantities
– Damages
– Cost
– Actual cash value

5. Total loss claimed and other details related to the property that has been damaged.

6. Providing a sworn proof of loss form to your insurance company within 60 days (or in compliance with the times stipulated in your policy of insurance).

Each of these steps can be slightly different depending on whether you are dealing with a Fire Loss Claim, a Flood or Theft Claim or some other Homeowners Insurance Claim.

If you have suffered a substantial loss, it is helpful to seek legal counsel. An experienced insurance lawyer can:

– Efficiently take steps to assess your coverage
– Confirm that you meet claims process deadlines
– Gather the evidence required to prove your losses, and
– Calculate the damages to which you are entitled.

If you have just lost your home or have suffered a major disruption to your livelihood, it can be reassuring to have someone knowledgeable about property insurance claims available to deal with the legal issues while you deal with the personal impact of the damage.

Our lawyers work for you to expedite the claims process and assist you in maximizing the recovery of your loss; whether that is the result of reaching a more satisfactory claim recovery or by helping in the restoration of your residence or business operations.

Our goal is to help you get your life back by relieving you of the stress and emotional burden of dealing with complex matters, including the processing your claim. We will take on the role of settling your claim properly, promptly and efficiently by developing and implementing a comprehensive claim management strategy that is tailored to your specific situation. We handle the legal matters so that you can focus on what’s most important; the needs of your family and rebuilding your business.

As insurance lawyers for policyholders we commonly take the following steps:

1. Conduct a comprehensive review of your policy to determine your coverage and any limitations or issues that must be addressed.

2. Inspect the loss site and act as your advocate during any future site inspections and meetings with your insurance company.

3. Analyze and document the damage to your property and possessions including preparing inventories for all of your personal and business property including:
– stock
– machinery and equipment
– betterments and improvements
– calculate additional living expenses for homeowners.

For business owners, we review your operational and financial records to help you calculate your loss of business income, rental income, and extra expenses. Prepare data and evidence to support your claim including presenting your itemized claim package to your insurance company.

1. Analyzing industry data to determine what impact the event causing the loss has had on your profits.

2. Conducting a comparative analysis of your company’s projected performance to its actual performance before, during, and after the impacted period.

3. Evaluating non-loss-related events and conditions that may have affected actual sales during the impacted period.

4. Calculating damages solely attributable to the incident or event causing the loss.

5. Determining current replacement costs, including:
– Quantifying code upgrade costs (if covered).
– Analyzing construction estimates.
– Make sure you fulfill the requirements of your insurance policy and the claims process.
– Secure expert reports and consulting witnesses where necessary.
– Represent you in negotiations with your insurance company.
– Provide representation in court should that become necessary.

If you are facing the prospect of having to make a substantial insurance claim, contact us for a free consultation before you meet with your insurance adjuster.

If you’ve already had that first meeting with your insurer, don’t worry, we can still help. There is never a downside to getting a free assessment of your situation from experienced insurance lawyers. The information will help you evaluate your options and, if you decide you need help, we are here for you.