Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance Claims Help in Florida

Filing an insurance claim can be one of the most difficult and confusing endeavors the average person will ever go through. Unless you have been through an insurance claim once before and thoroughly learned what to expect, you could understandably be searching for answers right from the beginning. Insurance companies are also not exactly accommodating when it comes to making the process easier, possibly because they know that if you are left in the dark, it could serve as their advantage when it comes to offering you coverage amounts.

In order to give our clients and the people of our communities a leg-up in insurance claims, our team at The Morgan Law Group has compiled a useful Florida insurance claim FAQ list. Be sure to review it if you need to file an insurance claim of your own soon, or if you are already in the middle of such a claim. Of course, if you know you need a legal professional’s guidance or representation, you can contact our firm at any time. We regularly help clients in Orlando, Miami, Naples, and many other cities and counties.

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Insurance Claims

1. Should I talk to my insurer immediately after being in an accident or noticing property damage?
   After you are in a car accident, or when you discover that your property has been damaged, your first instinct might be to call your insurance provider and let them know what happened. However, this might not always be the best option. Saying the wrong thing to your insurer could feasibly reduce your chances of getting complete coverage for the damages, as even your own insurance company wants to find ways to pay you less. It is generally advised that you first talk to an attorney and then call your insurer. Remember not to put off notifying your insurer for too long, as it can be suspicious if you wait days or longer to tell them about an issue.
2. Do I need to talk to the insurance company of the other driver in a car insurance claim?
   It is not uncommon to get a phone call from an insurance company that is not your own after you have been in an automobile accident. If you see a call coming in that is from an unfamiliar insurer, you may not want to answer it, as this is probably the insurance provider of the other driver. In such phone calls, the insurance adjuster will ask seemingly-innocuous questions that are actually fishing for the admittance of guilt. You can let your Florida insurance claim lawyer field all calls from opposing insurance companies to avoid saying the wrong thing to them and increasing your own liability.
3. I have hurricane damage insurance but my insurer is saying the water damage might not be covered – why not?
   This question is fairly common in Naples, Miami, and other areas of Florida right on the coast. Hurricane damage insurance does not necessarily cover all types of water damage, and water damage insurance might not include storm surges caused by hurricanes and storms. Water damage can be caused by hurricanes, rainfall and flooding, and leaking internal pipework, all of which may require a different form of insurance. It is important to review your insurance policy to see what exactly will be covered in case of a hurricane.
4. What is bad faith insurance anyway?
   Insurance companies are supposed to treat you fairly and follow set regulations when managing a claim. Any deviation from the norm in an effort to save money can constitute bad faith insurance. Some of the most common forms of bad faith insurance include denying claims without giving a reason, refusing to send an investigator or claims adjuster to your home, and intentionally offering lower than your policy allows. The moment you suspect an insurer is using bad faith insurance to try to cut your coverage is the same moment you should contact our Miami insurance claim attorneys for help.
5. What is “assignment of benefits” in Florida?
   After filing an insurance claim, you may have the option to “pay” a contractor to conduct repairs with your own insurance benefits. This is known as “assignment of benefits” and is usually done upfront. However, in exchange for getting repairs to your property started sooner, you encounter a higher chance of complications with your insurer. In specific, your insurance provider, or the one representing the liable party, might refuse to pay for the contractor or whatever third-party is helping you. This sticks you and the third-party in a difficult spot. Such situations often require legal intervention to sort out.

Remember: if you need help with an insurance claim in Florida, you can always call (844) 818-0774 to connect with The Morgan Law Group