Insurance Claims

Insurance companies usually make their profits when they fail to pay claims, or pay as little as possible. Their main goal is to delay, or even deny your claim, thus decreasing the overall loses and increasing their earnings. At the GM law firm, we assist our clients to gather all their benefits that they are entitled to from their insurance company. We specialize in :

         

Sinkholes Damages

Hurricane Damages

Water Damages

Fire Damages

Structural Damages

Fallen Object Damages

 

 

 

                                                      

 

The insurance companies must respond and act in good faith to all and any of your claims. Insurance companies that act in bad faith can be held liable to all and any claims made by their premium paying costumers. We advice you to promptly make sure that all the proper documents are sent to the insurance companies so they process the claim as quickly as possible. If you consider that the insurance company is not keeping up, delaying your claim, or denying you with any sort of motif, it is time for one of our experienced lawyers to assist your with your claim.

The GM Law Firm has over 30 years combined experience of loss consulting and insurance adjusting. The GM Law Firm is dedicated to providing policyholders with exceptional service from first contact to the successful outcome of your insurance claim and settlement. We have been highly successful in obtaining property insurance settlements for claims that were previously denied or grossly underpaid.

Our staff is experienced and knowledgeable about the methods, current practices, and laws governing Insurance Companies and Insurance Claims. In many instances, your insurance company is looking for the least expensive and not always the right way to repair your property. They’re concerned about their bottom line and have to satisfy their stockholders instead of satisfying the customers. Our job is to make sure you’re getting what you’re entitled to under the provisions of your policy and that you are satisfied with the results.

The GM Law Firm knows what you are entitled to under the limits of your policy and will endeavor to seek the maximum settlement. Most Insurance companies have in house adjusters to investigate claims; they also hire Independent Insurance Adjusters that serve their interests as well. The GM Law Firm does not perform any type of contracted work for Insurance companies; we only work for individuals requiring our services.

We work for you, the property owner, not the insurance company. There is never a fee for a consultation and we don’t get paid unless you get paid.

Why should I hire an attorney if my insurance company has already assigned me an adjuster?

The insurance adjuster that your insurance company has assigned to your claim works for your insurance company; therefore that adjuster has their best interest in mind. As your attorney, we will work diligently for you, to get you the highest settlement amount possible. Often, claims that are not settled by an attorney fall short in compensating the policyholder for their loss.

Why can’t I just file the claim myself?

You can, but it is not recommended. Insurance policies tend to be filled with complicated language and technical terms that make it very difficult to understand. Trusted Attorney only works with the most skilled, seasoned and experienced staff. Our expert adjusters will take care of the entire insurance claim process for you. It is proven that law firm can negotiate a higher settlement amount than if you were to file the claim yourself.

I have already settled my claim but I did not receive enough money to cover the damages. Is it too late to try to get more money?

Not Necessarily. The rules are different in each state. Our firm will review your claim to see if you legally qualify for more money. If you do, it is our pledge to recover every single penny you are entitled to.

How much money does the firm representation cost?

We will only get paid if we are able to recover a settlement from your insurance company. We charge a small percentage of the settlement they recover for you.

If I hire your firm will my insurance company raise my rates or drop me?

If your insurance company decided to drop you or raise your rates because you hired an attorney, it would be a serious violation. You are legally protected when you hire an attorney. It is your right.

Who can benefit from an attorney?

Any property owner, be it business or residential, that has sustained damage due to Fire/Smoke, Tornado, Hurricane, Wind, Water, Sinkhole, Mold, Theft/Vandalism, Broken Tile, etc. can benefit from the service that Trusted an attorney provide. In addition, if you are experiencing business interruption, you are entitled to recover your losses.

What is business interruption?

When a disaster strikes your business location, the location may be temporarily unusable. Your business will not be producing income and may continue to incur fixed costs (rent, utilities, etc.). Standard property insurance does not cover the loss of income caused by the temporary closure of the business. This is where Business Interruption coverage is applied. Most commercial policies contain some sort of this coverage.

Business interruption coverage typically covers:

  • The income your business would have made during the period your business location is unusable.
  • The costs and expenses incurred by your business even though the location is unusable.
  • Costs incurred in having to move and operate to and from a temporary location.

The most important aspect of professionally adjusting your commercial insurance claim is properly calculating the financial loss due to business interruption. It could mean the difference between losing your business and starting again right where you left off. This also includes any loss of rent from a leased property to the landlord.

This part of the claim is often overlooked and underpaid because the policyholder usually does not realize that they have business interruption coverage and if they are aware, they are uncertain as to how to calculate the actual loss.

The experienced, professional attorney and Trusted Adjusters have 30 years of experience recovering lost income due to business interruption.

When should I call to the GM law firm?

If you have suffered some type of property damage to your home or business, you should first contact your insurance company. If you are experiencing business interruption as a result of the damage to your property, you should call your insurance company. Your very next call should be to The GM Law Firm. We will be able to provide you with the most benefit if we are involved with your insurance claim from the very beginning of your loss.

The GM Law Firm will help you reach a more equitable settlement with your insurance company.

Our representatives will meet with you and review your insurance policy to determine your rights and obligations under the provisions of your policy. Many policyholders are not aware of what they’re entitled to under the provisions of their insurance policy. We can document the damage and prepare a detailed estimate of what is required to repair or rebuild your property and assist you with the inventory of damaged personal or business property. We can also help you determine costs associated with Business Interruption, Loss of Rents or Additional Living Expenses. All information will be compiled and presented to the insurance company with your claim.

We work with a team of experts including engineers, geologists, restoration specialists, and construction companies to return your property to its prior state of condition. If you’re not happy, we’re not happy.

The GM Law Firm will act on your behalf and will deal with the Insurance Company to expedite the settlement of your claim. You will be kept fully informed of every step and will receive updates on the progress of your claim. You will receive copies of all correspondence and your phone calls are returned the same business day. We will provide our opinion regarding the final insurance settlement, but the decision to accept or reject the offer is yours. Higher Standards will maintain a professional dialogue with the insurance company through the successful settlement of your insurance claim and will strive to minimize any inconvenience to you.

Sinkholes

Sinkholes can occur anywhere in Florida. Most homeowners see the first signs of possible sinkhole activity and believe it is normal settlement. Some signs of sinkhole activity are "stair step" cracks on the exterior walls of your home; stem walls separating from the main wall; an unusual amount of cracking in the driveway or patio slabs; unexplained loss of water from the swimming pool and numerous cracks around the pool deck. In the interior of the home there could be unusual cracks on the walls and ceilings; windows and doors that are difficult to open and close; floor tiles popping or cracking; uneven floors and water leak through the slab during heavy rains.

Fire

A fire, whether large or small, can be devastating to a family or business. We can help you inventory your belongings, prepare a cost estimate for rebuilding your home and work with your insurance company to get the funds to help rebuild your home, replace your lost belongings and restore your lives to some semblance of normal.

Windstorm (Hurricanes)

Windstorm, hurricane or tornado damage can range from being very minor, like a few missing shingles, to so severe that the home is declared a total loss. For homes that can be repaired, it is very important to take measures immediately to minimize additional damage. This may include covering your roof with a tarp or boarding up your window openings. If you do experience damage, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. For assistance in filing your claim and obtaining the best settlement possible, contact us for a free consultation.

Lightning

As Floridians, we live in the lightning capital of the United States. Lightning can be very dangerous and cause a tremendous amount of property damage. Buildings struck by lightning can start on fire and burn down. A power surge from a lightning strike can enter a home or business through a power line, damaging all electrical appliances, computers, and the wiring itself. In many cases, the entire structure must be rewired. It can also cause pinhole leaks in a building's plumbing. Call us for free consultation, to determine what you are due under the provisions of your insurance policy. Let us help you obtain a fair settlement to cover the costs of restoration of your property.

Water Damage (All Types)

Water damage can come from many sources including plumbing leaks, equipment failure (washing machine, dishwasher, hot water heater, icemaker, air conditioner), and structure failure (roof, rain gutters, grouted shower walls or floors). If possible and when it’s safe to do so, try to turn off the water source. Contact your insurance company and immediately contact a water damage restoration specialist to extract the water and begin the drying process to avoid further damage and the possibility of mold. For assistance in the filing your claim and obtaining the best possible settlement, please contact us for free consultation.

Mold

Mold is caused by moisture and often occurs after water damage due to a flood or leak. In addition to destroying the items it comes into contact with, it can be potentially hazardous to your health. It is important to dry the water damaged areas and items as soon as possible (within 24-28 hours) to prevent mold growth. In the event, you do have mold growth; follow the guidelines in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home. The guide can be found at http://www.epa.gov/mold/pdfs/moldguide.pdf Contact us for a free evaluation of your mold problem.

Theft

If you are the victim of theft, you should report the loss to the police as soon as possible. Make a list of all the items that were stolen and gather any proof of ownership records, such as receipts or a home inventory, you may have. Contact your insurance company immediately to place a claim. Never leave doors unlocked. Keep valuables out of sight in your car, workplace and home. Let us help you with your claim. Please contact us for a free consultation.

Vandalism

If your home or business has been damaged by vandals, contact the police to file a report. You should also report the damage to your insurance company as soon as possible. You may also report your loss to your agent.

Avoid disturbing the crime scene until the police tell you clean-up or repair can begin. You should save any containers that may help police identify the chemical composition of inks, paints, or cosmetics used during a vandalism incident.

EUO

Insurers are now commonly demanding EUO's. Although an adjuster may state that they just want to ask you a few questions an Examination under Oath is very similar to a deposition and can take six (6) to eight (8) hours depending on the claim and the attorney asking the questions. It is very important to realize that the insurer is not requesting a EUO for fun. They have an attorney asking you questions to attempt to deny your claim or to limit the scope and costs of the claim. Why else would your insurance company spend their money on hiring an attorney to review your file and interrogate you? You should remember that although most attorneys are just doing their job, their job is to protect their client, the insurer, and to deny the claim or reduce the value of the claim as much as possible. These attorneys need to justify their existence and reduce the value of the claim by at least three (3x) to five (5x) times the insurer’s costs to hire them.

For a free consultation please contact us.

THE GM LAW FIRM
INSURANCE DIVISION DEPARTMENT

Toll Free: 888.LAW.1430 ∙ Tel: 321.332.7348 Tel: 407-459-1430 ∙ Fax: 407.264.6575

insurance@TheGMLawFirm.com | www.TheGMLawFirm.com

THE GM LAW FIRM INSURANCE DIVISION DEPARTMENT

Toll Free: 888.LAW.1430 ∙ Tel: 321.332.7348 Tel: 407-459-1430 ∙ Fax: 407.264.6575

insurance@TheGMLawFirm.com | www.TheGMLawFirm.com