Over the past several years, many homeowners in Florida have had the misfortune of incurring damage to their property as the result of sinkhole activity. For many homeowners, the headaches and inconvenience caused by having to undergo the initial repair of this damage turned out to only be the beginning of the battle.
In almost every claim, when an insurance company agrees to repair an insured’s property, the insurance company will only agree to provide coverage for the repair protocol set forth by its chosen expert. Not surprisingly, the insurance company’s chosen expert will usually choose the least expensive repair method for the home. (It goes without saying that, were the expert to recommend a more complete repair method, he would not be the insurance company’s “chosen expert” for very long!) Faced with the insurance company’s mandate, the homeowner often agrees to allow the insurance company to repair the home pursuant to the insurance company’s chosen method.
The problem which has now arisen for numerous property owners is that the repair method mandated by the insurance company is insufficient to fully repair the property. Even though the insurance company’s version of the repairs have been completed, the property owner continues to incur damage to the home as the result of the sinkhole activity. Unfortunately, when this additional damage is pointed out to the insurance company, the carrier will deny any further repair to the property and state that the issue has been resolved – regardless of the existence of this new damage.
Fortunately, these property owners continue to have rights under their policies of insurance. Under Florida law, if an insurance carrier mandates that an insured repair his property pursuant to the insurance company’s chosen repair method, the insurance company must fully warrant those repairs. In other words, if the insurance company’s chosen repair fails to fully solve the problem, the insurance company is responsible to pay for any additional repairs necessary in order to bring the property to its pre-loss condition.
Has Your Home Insurance Company Denied Or Undervalued Your Property Damage Claim In Florida?
If your insurance company is dragging their feet regarding your property damage claim you should speak with an experienced insurance claim lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Florida law office directly at 800.451.6786 to schedule your free consultation. We help Florida residents just like you fight the big insurance companies who fail to abide by their own policies. Remember, we work on a contingent basis, meaning you don't pay us anything until we win your case.
