Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Yes. J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo, P.A. offers free consultations to discuss your insurance claim in more detail.  Please have all documents related to your claim available for the consultation.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

 

A hurricane is a low pressure system that forms in the tropics and is accompanied by wind, water, and thunderstorms.  A hurricane is formed when a tropical weather system develops into an intense thunderstorm with winds of 74 mph or higher.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

A hurricane watch is issued to alert you of the threat of hurricane conditions within 36 hours.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

A hurricane warning is issued to alert you that sustained winds of at least 74 mph hour are to be expected within 24 hour or less.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

Please visit the National Hurricane Center or click here to learn how to prepare and plan for a hurricane.  You may also browse through the Hurricane Insurance Claims Library Section of this website to learn.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

Please click here for an informative article for preparing for a Florida hurricane.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

In the event a hurricane or windstorm damages your home, business or property you should:

Mitigate - Use your best efforts to make temporary repairs so that the condition doesn't get worse.  This will prevent the insurance company from later claiming that your hurricane damages are the result of your failure to mitigate your damages.  For example, if you have a roof leak, hire a roofer to put a tarp over the leak area.  Try not to pay the repairman in cash for the temporary repairs and if you do have to pay in cash, get a receipt and his name and contact information. Submit the temporary repair receipts to your insurance company for payment. 

Document - Take pictures of all affected areas.  Take video, if you can, of all affected areas.  Hold on to any receipts and estimates for repairs.  Get the contact information for any contractors that come to your property to give you estimates.  Do not throw out any correspondence or documents that are sent to you by your insurance company.  If you are mailing anything to your insurance company do it by certified mail, return receipt requested, and make copies of whatever you are sending for your records.  Keep a journal of all your communications with your insurance company.  If you become aware of any witnesses that have knowledge of any aspect of your claim, record their name and contact information.  Don't throw out any of the hurricane damaged items in your house.  

Notify - Put your insurance company on notice of the hurricane insurance claim.  Call your insurance company and let them know what happened.  Get the name of the insurance company adjuster assigned to your claim, his or her contact information, and the claim number. 

Call Us - Let us use our experience to help you.  Even if your hurricane insurance claim has been closed or even if you unknowingly accepted the small check they gave you, you may still be able to pursue your claim - you may be able to reopen an unfair claim years after the hurricane loss.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

In the event a fire damages your home, business or property you should:

Mitigate - Use your best efforts to make temporary repairs so that the condition doesn't get worse.  This will prevent the insurance company from later claiming that your fire damages are the result of your failure to mitigate your damages.  For example, if you have a roof leak after a fire, hire a roofer to put a tarp over the leak area.  Try not to pay the repairman in cash for the temporary repairs and if you do have to pay in cash, get a receipt and his name and contact information. Submit the temporary repair receipts to your insurance company for payment. 

Document - Take pictures of all affected areas.  Take video, if you can, of all affected areas.  Hold on to any receipts and estimates for repairs.  Get the contact information for any contractors that come to your property to give you estimates.  Do not throw out any correspondence or documents that are sent to you by your insurance company.  If you are mailing anything to your insurance company do it by certified mail, return receipt requested, and make copies of whatever you are sending for your records.  Keep a journal of all your communications with your insurance company.  If you become aware of any witnesses that have knowledge of any aspect of your claim, record their name and contact information.  Don't throw out any of the fire damaged items in your house.  

Notify - Put your insurance company on notice of the fire insurance claim.  Call your insurance company and let them know what happened.  Get the name of the insurance company adjuster assigned to your claim, his or her contact information and the claim number. 

Call Us - Let us use our experience to help you.  Even if your fire insurance claim has been closed or even if you unknowingly accepted the small check they gave you, you may still be able to pursue your claim - you may be able to reopen an unfair claim years after the fire loss.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

I understand that many of our clients do not have the resources or means to pay lawyer fees out of pocket.  This is why we offer a free consultation.  In the great majority of cases, if I decide to go forward with your case, I will work on a contingency fee basis. This means that if there is no recovery on your claim, you do not pay fees for our services or costs advanced by our office. Furthermore, under certain circumstances your insurance company will become responsible for paying your attorney's fees and costs. Since not all insurance claim cases are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

The answer to this question will depend on the insurance coverage that you have.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

Damage to your personal property such as furniture, clothes, electronics and other contents will be covered subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions in your policy.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

Yes, under standard homeowner's insurance policies and subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions in your policy.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

 

Yes, under standard homeowner's insurance policies and subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions in your policy.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

 

Your car will be covered if you own automobile comprehensive insurance coverage. Otherwise, your homeowner's policy will not cover the damage to your car.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

Many insurance companies will prefer if you file a police report.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

Don't throw away any damaged personal property until your claim has been settled and paid.   You should also photograph and video tape all damaged property.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

Yes, theft and vandalism coverage is standard in most policies and subject to the terms, conditions, and exclusions in your policy.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

Mitigating or preventing further damage to your home is a duty under your policy.  Retain copies of costs incurred for temporary repairs and document all expenses, including receipts, canceled checks, invoices paid, contractors name, address and telephone numbers and work performed.  And take photos and video of the damage.  Since not all policies are alike, please contact our office to discuss your case in more detail.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

 

Most homeowner's insurance policies provide that you must submit proof of the damage claimed. The most effective way of demonstrating your damages to the insurance company is by documenting the before and after condition of your property. The best way to document all your personal contents and condition of your home is by taking photographs and video of the inside and outside of your home. Make sure you take pictures and video of everything you can, including your roof, garage, attic, inside of closets, basements, etc. Do the same for your personal contents, including your flat screen tv, home appliances, all furniture, etc. Periodically update your photograph and video catalogue as you complete new property improvements and add property contents. Keep all receipts of personal property and home improvements. Ensure you safeguard at least one copy of your personal and video catalogue off site, such as a bank safe deposit box. Planning ahead of time will be the key to proving your losses to the insurance company and providing you some peace of mind during this difficult moment.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].

On the vast majority of cases, insurance claims attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo works on a contingency fee basis. This means that if there is no recovery on your insurance claim, you pay zero, including costs advanced by our office to litigate your insurance claim including deposition fees, consultant fees, court costs, expert witnesses, etc. Furthermore, Florida law states that if an insured has to sue his or her insurance company and succeeds, the insurance company is responsible for paying your attorney's fees and costs. Since not all insurance claim cases are alike, please contact our office.

You can reach Attorney J.P. Gonzalez-Sirgo by calling (786) 272-5841 or by emailing [email protected].