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Common Questions About Florida Homeowners' Insurance Claims

Our Jacksonville insurance lawyers are often asked many questions about homeowners’ insurance. Many of those questions are addressed below:

What Law Governs Homeowners’ Insurance Claims?

Homeowners’ insurance policies are considered contracts under Florida law. Accordingly, Florida contract law applies to these claims.

What am I Entitled to in a Homeowners’ Insurance Claim?

Your homeowners’ insurance carrier should pay for repairs of any damage that is covered under your policy. It is important to note that you are supposed to have your home restored. Many insurers try to simply put a “band-aid” on the damage by making simple repairs, but as a homeowner, your policy entitles you to a restoration of your home to its pre-loss condition.

When am I Entitled to a Roof Replacement Instead of Just a Repair?

In general, under Florida building code, if a roof is more than 25% damaged, a full roof replacement is required and should be covered by your insurance policy. Additionally, if repairs will result in a mis-matched roof where the repaired area is visible or is a different color than the older area of your roof, a full roof replacement should be covered. Roofing issues represent on the most common types of claim disputes seen by our Jacksonville insurance lawyers.

What is the Deal with “Depreciation?”

Insurers are allowed to assess depreciation when they adjust your homeowners’ claim. Depreciation is usually calculated by figuring out replacement value, along with life expectancy. Using these figures, the insurer will calculate an amount they label as depreciation. Under Florida law, insurers are allowed to withhold the depreciation amount until after you complete your repairs. Once you finish your repairs, you provide documentation to your insurer, and it will issue you a check for the depreciation amount.

How do I know When I Need a Jacksonville Insurance Attorney?

You may need a property damage attorney for many reasons. If your insurer denies a claim you believe they should have paid, you should call one of our attorneys. Additionally, if the insurance company underpays your claim, you may have a case. Sometimes insurers ignore your claim altogether, or they delay responding to you for unreasonable amounts of time. If you are encountering any of these problems, you probably need a lawyer.

Why is my Hurricane Deductible so High?

Most Florida homeowners’ insurance policies have a separate deductible for hurricanes that is a percentage of your total coverage. This can result in astronomical deductibles that shock homeowners after a named storm passes through. However, these high deductibles can often be avoided by a simple phone call to your insurer – call your insurer today and inquire about the price to lower your hurricane deductible to a more manageable level.

What if I Need to Move out During my Home Repairs?

Most homeowners’ insurance policies include coverage for loss of use. This can help you pay for a hotel or home rental, along with your increased expenses for eating out during repairs.

Do I Have to give a Recorded Statement or Submit to an Examination Under Oath (“EUO”)?

Most Florida homeowners’ policies require such cooperation in order for the insurer to conduct its investigation. However, you are entitled to have an attorney present for such proceedings. If your insurer has requested a statement or EUO, call us today to discuss how we can assist you.

How will I Pay my Homeowners’ Insurance Attorney?

Every firm is different, but at our office, all cases accepted by our insurance attorneys in Jacksonville are taken on a contingency fee basis. We will either negotiate our fees with the insurer, or if a settlement is not reached, the court will determine what amount of fees the insurer must pay us.

Does our Firm Only Handle Storm Damage Claims?

No! We handle all types of homeowners’ insurance claims, from damage caused by an overflowing washing machine or broken pipe, to vandalism or theft. If you have experienced a covered loss at your home, and your insurer has not paid you everything to which you believe you are entitled, contact our attorneys today.

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I have known Mr. Lawrence for several years and in my opinion he is the most professional and trustworthy lawyer I have ever known. I have had dealings with other lawyers but they were not as good as Mr. Lawrence. I would highly recommend him. Carla
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I was referred to Greg by a coworker after I received a bad injury from an auto accident and was so pleased with Greg, and staff. They literally took care of everything for me while I was healing and kept me updated every step of the way. Calls and emails were always accepted and returned promptly and they were extremely patient and helpful with any questions and concerns that I had. Should I ever need legal assistance again I will definitely be calling him and referring him to family and friends. Amie M.
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I would like to take a moment to say thanks to Greg, and his staff for doing an excellent job with my deceased mothers nursing home case. After hiring two other law firms my brothers and I decided to hire Greg. This was the best decision that we made regarding this case. Greg took the time to get to know who our deceased mother was, and the important facts involving our claim. As a result Greg was successful in resolving our claim to our satisfaction. Greg is the best attorney that I have ever met! I would highly recommend hiring Greg for any nursing home, or any other claims. Falsario Arnold
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Of all the things that pleased me about Greg was that he was always available to me. If I called or emailed, I spoke to him and wasn't pushed off to one of his paralegals or assistants (although they were very helpful as well). I felt like I had a lawyer - not a factory. Scott
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