Home and business owners carefully select their insurance policies so that they are covered financially in case of a disaster or emergency. While many insurance companies cover the loss in the event of a claim, that is not always the case. There are a variety of reasons insurance companies may deny a claim or not cover all related losses. Fortunately, property owners and businesses dealing with insurance coverage disputes in Indiana, Illinois, Florida, and across the United States have options to manage these issues.

If your insurance company does not meet its obligations, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are out of luck. A skilled insurance coverage attorney who knows how to handle property damage claim disputes can take on your case and help you get the coverage due to you, plus additional compensation in some cases.

An Attorney Can Help You With Insurance Coverage Disputes in Indiana, Illinois, Florida, and across the US

Insurance coverage disputes in Indiana, Illinois, Florida, or elsewhere can be complicated. Sorting out the specifics of your insurance policy and investigating the true causes of damages takes significant time and specific knowledge. Insurance companies often have staff dedicated to managing these disputes. However, the resources of an insurance company should never deter you from seeking the coverage you are owed. An insurance coverage attorney can help you fight back and get the compensation you need to be made whole.

Insurance and Fire Damage Claims and Disputes

When your property is damaged in a fire, it can be a stressful and emotional time. Fire often destroys sentimental personal belongings and can even be traumatic for survivors. Fire and smoke damage can cause thousands of dollars in damage in just a few minutes. When you are recovering from a fire, the last thing you should have to worry about is a denied or underpaid claim.

Unfortunately, insurance companies sometimes deny fire damage claims, which can leave the policyholder with substantial out-of-pocket expenses. These are some of the most common reasons insurance companies deny or underpay fire damage claims:

• Insufficient coverage;
• Property and belongings valuation disputes;
• Suspicion of fraud or arson;
• Extent of damage disputes; and
• Defective design issues.

When an insurance company denies your claim or makes a low offer for any of these reasons, it can be beyond frustrating. A denied claim only adds insult to injury as you are trying to pick up the pieces following a fire.

An attorney who is adept at resolving fire damage claim disputes can help you challenge the findings of an insurance company and improve your chances of recovering the compensation you need to be made whole.

Water Damage Insurance Coverage Disputes in Indiana

Heavy rain, flooding, burst pipes, and other events can cause serious damage to your home or business. Repair bills for water damage can easily add up to thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, when your property has water damage, your insurance claim may not go as smoothly as expected.

There are many reasons insurance companies deny claims for water damage. Some of the most common reasons are claims that the water damage was due to an uncovered issue, including the following:

• A preventable maintenance issue;
• A long-standing water leak;
• Construction defects;
• Failure to maintain a sprinkler system; or
• A leak that was ignored.

Insurance companies can also deny your claim if they think that you did not act properly to mitigate the water damage. If you are filing a flood claim, the insurance company may deny your claim if you are not covered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

When an insurance company unjustly denies a claim, it is possible that the company isn’t interpreting the policy language correctly. It is also possible that the company’s adjuster is inaccurately attributing the damage to an issue such as poor maintenance. When you work with an insurance lawyer experienced in water damage claim disputes, you can be sure that your situation will be fully investigated and that the insurance company is meeting its obligations in full.

Storm Damage Claim Disputes and Insurance Recovery

Storms can be devastating to homes and businesses. During strong storms, structures are vulnerable to external damage but also internal damage due to broken windows, a fallen tree, or other storm-related incidents. Storm damage can sometimes leave homes uninhabitable.

There’s nothing that can be done to prevent a storm, so many insurance policyholders are shocked when their claim is denied or when the insurance company makes a low offer. Storm damage claims may be denied when the insurance company claims the damage to your property was pre-existing rather than caused by the storm. Retaining an attorney to assist with storm insurance coverage disputes in Indiana and beyond can help you overcome a denied claim and get the funds you need to restore your home or business.

First-Party Bad Faith Claims

Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and they sometimes go to great lengths to minimize payouts. One of the ways they do this is by denying insurance claims. Not all claim denials are unlawful. However, insurance companies must act in good faith. If an insurance company is acting in bad faith to avoid its responsibilities, the policyholder may have cause to file a lawsuit seeking damages from the bad faith handling itself.

Aside from denying a claim, there are a number of bad-faith actions an insurance company may take, including these:

• Unnecessarily delaying your payment;
• Failing to conduct a thorough investigation;
• Improperly blaming damage on an alternate cause;
• Wrongfully interpreting your insurance policy;
• Trying to settle with you for an inadequate amount;
• Failing to explain why your claim was denied;
• Telling you not to seek legal representation; and
• Making threats to cancel your policy or deny your claim.

If you think your claim was denied unfairly and that your insurance company is acting in bad faith, you can benefit from legal representation by an attorney who knows how to handle first-party claim disputes.

Get Help With Insurance Coverage Disputes in Indiana, Illinois, Florida, and across the US Today

At Ashford DiMartino, we have the experience and knowledge required to take on and resolve insurance disputes. For help with insurance coverage disputes in Indiana, Illinois, Florida, or elsewhere, contact us today by calling (219) 728-5210 or filling out our online contact form.