Florida Lawyers for First-Party Property and Contractor Insurance Claims

When you purchase a first-party property insurance policy, you’re trusting that the insurance company will take care of you if your property incurs damages, and you need additional coverage for expenses. 
Examples of possible ways your property can incur damages include:

• Storms
• Strong winds
• Fires
• Burglaries

Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t always uphold their end of the agreement when you submit a claim. If you find yourself the victim of unfair treatment by your insurance carrier, you may be able to file a property claim against them.

When Insurance Carriers Delay or Deny Your Property Claim

“Bad faith” is when an insurance company fails to process, investigate, or pay your claim in a reasonable timeframe. Typically, the carrier has 90 days to accept or reject your claim once you’ve submitted it; if your claim is accepted, the carrier should issue you payment within 20 days.

The circumstances under which you can file a claim against your insurance carrier for negligence are listed in section 624.155 of the Florida Statutes. 

Additionally, the Statutes specify that you must give your insurance carrier 60 days to cure (or fix) an alleged violation of your policy. If they fail to remedy the issue within the 60-day timeframe, you can proceed with a property claim in court.

Contractors and Property Claims in Florida

If you’re a contractor, you face unique challenges when it comes to property claims. You can take certain steps when providing estimates or assessing repairs to protect yourself from dishonest insurance carriers. These steps include:

• Reviewing the insurance policy with the homeowner 
• Recording the scope of the property damage through photos
• Coordinating with the homeowner so that you can be on-site when the insurance adjuster comes to inspect the property

We have years of experience helping contractors with property claims against insurance companies. We can advise you regarding documentation to file after a property inspection, and we’re ready to go to court for you if necessary.