My Property Insurance Claim Has Been Denied…What Can I do?

Your home is still damaged, unrepaired, and you have received a letter stating your insurance company is refusing to cover your claim. You are likely wondering, “now what?” Read below for some tips as to the next steps you should take.

Read Your Policy

Policy language is often confusing and monotonous to read, but it may help verify your claim is valid. It is important to ensure you have complied with all post-loss duties and the insurance company is interpreting their own policy language correctly. If you are unsure about your policy language or if the insurance company is incorrectly denying your claim based on the language, it may be time to contact an attorney for further help.

Read the Denial Letter

Insurance companies will issue a letter denying your claim, known as a denial letter. Typically, they will deny valid claims citing things such as wear and tear, failure to notify the insurance company in a timely manner, or a number of other reasons. The denial letter typically does not state any facts the denial is based on, so it may come as a surprise to many homeowners. However, it does often provide a method for what you can do if you disagree with their decision, where you are able to detail all damages, the cause of damages, and other facts for additional review by the insurance company. If you hired a public adjuster to help you through the claims process, they may be able to assist you further with the appeals process. Or, you can turn to your attorney right away.

File a Complaint With the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation oversees all insurance companies throughout the state. Consumers who feel their claim has been wrongfully denied may file a formal complaint through their website at www.floir.com. The Office requires the insurance company to respond to your complaint within 20 days and may be requested to provide additional documentation regarding the denial.

Contact an Attorney

If your insurance company has heard your appeal and continued to deny your claim, it may be time to contact an attorney for further advice. An experienced attorney will be able to guide you through the process of further negotiating your claim to reevaluate coverage. If your insurance company continues to deny coverage, an attorney may also be able to bring a lawsuit against the insurance company for failing to provide you coverage for your claim.

If your insurance company is wrongfully denying your claim, contact our office today for a consultation.

This article is not intended to be legal advice nor create an attorney-client relationship.