Orlando Insurance Claims Attorneys
Americans tend to insure just about everything and spend a lot of money on insurance because we expect it will protect us if a “worst-case scenario” actually occurs. In reality, however, making a claim with an insurance company can be a stressful, time-consuming process, and very often, policyholders are very disappointed when their claim is denied or underpaid.
If you have suffered what you believe to be an insured loss, consulting with an Orlando insurance claims attorney prior to making a claim helps to clarify your legal rights and ensures that you fully understand all of your legal options. If you have already filed a claim and it was denied or underpaid, an insurance claims attorney help you appeal your insurance company’s decision and, if necessary, file a lawsuit against them. At Bailey Fisher, we have extensive experience helping claimants navigate the often complex and confusing process required to get a claim approved and fighting for the payment they deserve.
Types of Insurance Claims
Our experienced Orlando insurance claims attorneys routinely assist policyholders, insureds, and victims filing claims for injuries or losses involving a wide variety of different types of insurance policies, including:
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Claims — A surprising number of motorists are unfamiliar with benefits offered by uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. The State of Florida requires anyone operating a motor vehicle on the state’s roadways to carry a minimum of $10,000 in bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. Despite the mandatory insurance laws, there are motorists who drive without insurance or who only carry the bare minimum insurance. If you are involved in a collision with one of these drivers, and you sustain serious injuries, you may need to look to your own insurance coverage for compensation. If you elected to carry uninsured/underinsured coverage, that coverage is intended to provide coverage when an at-fault party is uninsured or when the injuries you sustained exceed the at-fault party’s insurance policy limits.
- PIP Claims – Because the State of Florida is a “no-fault” insurance state, a motorist must also carry the minimum amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. The no-fault law requires an injured victim in a motor vehicle accident to seek compensation for medical expenses and lost income from his/her own insurance policy instead of pursuing a traditional personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party, unless an accident causes permanent injuries or otherwise gives rise to serious damages that exceed what is called the “No-fault threshold”. Proponents of the no-fault system point to how much faster a victim can receive compensation because there is no need to prove negligence, or fault. While that is typically true, PIP insurance only compensates a victim for up to $10,000 in specific economic damages for certain medical expenses and lost income, and then only at a percentage of the actual loss incurred. PIP provides no compensation for pain and suffering damages caused by the collision, and is subject to a number of conditions and limitations that the attorneys at Bailey Fisher know how to address.
- Homeowner’s Insurance Claims – Most homeowners carry homeowner’s insurance to protect them in the event of losses caused by theft, fire, natural disaster, or other potential threats. When all goes as planned, a claim is paid out by the insurance carrier in short order for the amount submitted. Often, however, things don’t go as planned. Homeowner’s insurance companies often require a ridiculous number of corroborating documents and evidence before approving a claim and take a very long time to approve it – and even then, they are notorious for underpaying claims.
- Commercial Insurance Claims – If you own commercial property, or you own a business that leases space in commercial property, you also undoubtedly insure the investment of time and resources you made into your business against the numerous possible ways in which a loss could occur. Commercial insurance typically insures against losses from water and fire damage, theft and vandalism, and even losses caused by mold, asbestos, and other toxic environmental factors. When a business experiences a covered loss, it is imperative that the loss is reimbursed as quickly as possible because the business may not be able to survive otherwise.
- Hurricane/Windstorm Damage Claims – In Florida, most homeowner’s and commercial insurance policies include a separate premium and a separate deductible for losses caused by a hurricane and/or windstorm. Unfortunately, this provision of the policy is frequently not explained to the policyholder. Consequently, policyholders are often shocked to learn that the damages caused by a hurricane or windstorm are either not covered at all, or that they must meet a much higher deductible than is required for other losses before the policy will pay out. Navigating the path to approval for a claim based on hurricane or windstorm damage can be difficult without the assistance of an experienced insurance claims attorney.
Get Help from Experienced Orlando Insurance Claims Attorneys
The Orlando insurance claims attorneys at Bailey Fisher have extensive experience helping individuals and businesses through the insurance claims process in Florida. We are committed to ensuring that claimants understand their rights under their policies as well as making sure they understand other legal routes that may be available to them if their claims are unjustly denied.
If you suffered what you believe to be a covered insurance loss, consult with one of our experienced insurance claims attorneys immediately to ensure that all your rights are protected.
Call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Orlando insurance claims attorneys will evaluate your case for free and discuss your legal options with you.