When your home or business is damaged by a sudden unanticipated leak, broken pipe beneath the slab or a long-term obscured leak, water can cause significant damage to your business or home. Settlement of a pipe break claim can provide the funds to repair or rebuild your home or to get your business back on the path to recovery.
Water damage claims are complicated because some forms of water damage are covered while other types of water damage are subject to exclusion. Although flood damage is not covered under a standard homeowner's policy without purchasing separate coverage, for example, a pipe that explodes and floods the kitchen causing sudden and accidental damage often will be covered.
One of the forms of repair that is typical after water damages your cabinetry, flooring, baseboards and other parts of your home or business involves use of a restoration contractor or emergency mitigation service provider. A qualified restoration contractor can evaluate the scope and severity of the water damage. The contractor also can set up equipment to dry out affected areas while mitigating long-term problems like the growth of black mold. Generally, your insurance company should be prepared to cover this sort of damage to reduce the possibility of further damage.
Water damage from a burst or leaking pipe can cause an array of damages that homeowner's sometimes overlook when making insurance claims. Water may seep into spaces unknown to a property owner and cause secondary damage that is not immediately apparent. This non-obvious water penetration can cause an array of problems including electrical damage, fire hazards, structural damage, rust, mold and mildew. Whether the water damage is caused by an overflowing washing machine, burst pipe or leak at a plumbing joint inside your home, the damage to your home can range in severity from stains on the ceiling to catastrophic damage to the entire structure.
The determination of whether water damage is covered can turn on subtle distinctions regarding the duration and unexpected nature of the event that caused the water penetration. Insurance adjusters who handle claims do not have your best interests in mind. The role of these agents of your insurer is to minimize the financial loss experienced by their employer. The adjuster and other representatives of the insurance company tend to omit secondary damages from the estimate of the value of the loss unless the policy does not cover the particular form of secondary loss.
An insurance claims attorney can help protect your interests and ensure you receive the full value of your claim in the following ways:
- Assist in preparing appropriate paperwork like a sworn proof of loss
- Review and analyze the policy coverage, exclusions, limits and deductions
- Negotiate a settlement for the highest value based on the damages
- Assist in getting your property inspected by an independent expert who can assess the damage
- Help you obtain funds to cover temporary relocation while your home is being repaired
- Coordinate the process of obtaining estimates for the cost of repair or replacement
- Advise you regarding hiring contractors and appropriate experts to repair the damage to the structure
- Conduct negotiations and respond to correspondence from the insurer
- Engage in ADR methods to resolve your claim like the appraisal process or mediation
- File a lawsuit for bad faith and breach of contract
You can reach Miami Insurance Claims Lawyer J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by dialing his direct number at (786) 272-5841, calling the main office at (305) 461-1095, or Toll Free at 1 (866) 71-CLAIM or email Attorney Gonzalez-Sirgo directly at [email protected].
