Not everyone immediately thinks of getting legal help when they have to file an insurance claim. However, when homeowners have to deal with a complex claim, such as an incident where damage spread to their property from a neighbor’s or vice versa, or when they have experienced a total loss from fire or a natural disaster, it can make a lot of sense to get help from a lawyer.
A property damage lawyer is a professional who regularly works with people making home insurance claims. They understand the ins and outs of the process, they are familiar with the major insurance companies and their methods, and there are some cases where you cannot afford to take a risk with your insurance claim.
These are some of the cases where a property damage lawyer can make a significant difference in your claim and how they help.
#1 A Fire Led to a Total Loss
While any fire can be devastating, a total loss is exceptionally difficult, and it can turn into a major financial burden. You even run the risk of your mortgage lender taking the settlement and closing your mortgage, leaving you with nothing.
Property damage lawyers know how to negotiate with the insurance company and apply pressure to get homeowners a complete settlement.
#2 A Natural Disaster Affected Your Home
Natural disasters such as flooding or wildfires that affect thousands of people or entire communities at a time can put additional stress on a homeowner. Not only do people affected by a natural disaster often have to relocate out of the community for an extended period of time, but their insurance claims can also take much longer than usual as the volume of claims for insurance companies increase, and the availability of contractors decreases.
When insurance companies face widespread damage in a single community, they do not always commit the resources needed to effectively handle everyone’s file in a timely manner. For example, after the wildfires that devastated much of Fort McMurray, Alberta, it took some homeowners years to settle their claims, all while they had to keep up with mortgage payments on houses that had burned to the ground.
Working with an insurance or property damage lawyer can help keep your claim on track and apply pressure on the insurance company. They can also help make sure the homeowner gets a fair settlement according to the letter of their insurance policy. After a widespread natural disaster, some insurance companies try to mitigate their losses by controlling the amount they pay out, all at the homeowner’s expense. An insurance lawyer knows the ins and outs of your policy and can negotiate effectively to get you what you are entitled to under your contract of insurance.
#3 A Fire Spread from Your Property to a Neighbor
Insurance claims can become very complex when damage spreads from one property to another, especially when negligence or fault is also at play.
When something on your property causes a fire that spreads to your neighbor’s (or vice versa), typically, the neighbor’s insurance company will settle the claim with them and then pursue you for damages in a process called subrogation.
Your neighbor still has the right to sue you for costs not covered by their insurance company. These costs should be covered by the liability component of your home insurance, but the process as a whole can be legally complicated and come with many unforeseen costs.
A property damage lawyer will guide you through these complicated processes.
