DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF NOT SEEKING HELP

When storms as devastating as Hurricane Michael strike our coastlines, insurance companies immediately employ thousands of adjusters and other professionals to handle the thousands of claims that will soon flood in from the Panama City and Mexico Beach area.  The insurance company has ever incentive to pay the least amount owed on each claim to maintain their profit margin.  You deserve a team working equally hard for you to make sure the insurance company pays the maximum you are owed on your claim.  

Determining actual cash value versus replacement cost value, depreciate, cause and origin of the damage are all very technical components of insurance claims that insurance companies use to minimize your recovery.  Don't make the mistake of letting them because you did not have a professional who is experience in handling insurance claims working for you.  This is particularly true when bringing an attorney on board to help you with your claim will not cost you anything unless you recover from the insurance company and will likely result in a recovery that is much larger than what you might have recovered on your own if you settled for less than you deserve.  While we offer many free resources in addition to our After the Storm Guide, seeking the advice of an attorney for one-on-one help with your Hurricane Michael claim is the absolute best way to ensure you get the full recovery you are entitled to under your policy.

Waiting to Contact a Lawyer Can Negatively Impact Your Rights

One of the biggest mistakes people make when filing an insurance claim is waiting to contact a lawyer until there is a problem.  People expect that if they paid their premiums, they cooperate with the insurance company, and only want what is fair, that everything will be fine.  This is not always the case.  In fact, it is more often the insurance company is trying to gather evidence they plan to use to deny your claim.  TWW attorney, Phillip Warren, here explains why it is important to contact an insurance dispute lawyer before there is an issue and the types of things the insurance company may ask for that should prompt you to contact an attorney.  You have rights under the policy, and we want to make sure you take all the steps necessary to protect those rights.  If you have an insurance claim and you have questions about what the insurance company is entitled to from you or what you are obligated to do under the policy, contact us.  We never charge or an initial consultation to explain your rights. 

YOU CAN AFFORD AN ATTORNEY

Many people also wait to contact an insurance dispute lawyer because they do not think they can afford an attorney.  You can absolutely afford an insurance lawyer when you only pay if the insurance company pays you. Did you know that Florida law requires, in most circumstances, when you have to file a lawsuit against your insurance company and you win that—in addition to the insurance benefits the insurance company had already promised to pay you—they also then have to pay your attorney's fees?  We handle most insurance cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no attorney's fees if there is no recovery.  The only thing you can't afford is to trust that you don't need an insurance lawyer looking out for you because you only want what is fair. 

YOU NEED AN INSURANCE LAWYER, EVEN IF YOU ONLY WANT WHAT IS FAIR

You need an insurance lawyer, even if you only want what is fair, because the insurance company rarely plays fairly. While they tell you they are “investigating” your claim, sending an adjuster out to document damage, or asking for records or receipts, they are often trying to find everything they can and use everything they find to DENY YOUR CLAIM.  In the background, they are hiring experts (many of whom they have hired a hundred times before because their opinions are always favorable for the insurance company) to form opinions that allow them to say your damage is excluded. You likely cannot afford to hire your own expert, but we advance those costs on your behalf.  We will hire experts for you, experts who will conduct reliable investigations and render honest, reliable opinions.  You pay none of the costs we advance if there is no recovery. 

If you are trying to handle an insurance claim from Hurricane Michael on your own, you are putting your rights and your recovery at risk.  There is no cost or downside to contacting an attorney to talk about your policy, your claim, and the full amount you are entitled to recover.  If you have questions about an insurance claim, do not wait. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.