Every year, Florida residents must prepare their homes and families for the possibility of a hurricane making landfall in their area. According to weather and climate experts, Florida hurricane season 2020, which is expected to see more activity than previous years, might require more planning. Many of our clients come to us because they need help getting what they are owed from the insurance company after a major storm. Even after taking the proper precautions for securing and protecting their homes, many people still experience significant losses from hurricanes. When the insurance company refuses to pay policyholders for covered damage, negotiation and litigation are often necessary. Here is what you should know about this year’s hurricane season so that you can make adjustments to your insurance policy and get your home ready. The NOAA Predicted a Busy Hurricane Season On May 21, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published a news article titled, “Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted for 2020.” As the title suggests, the article details the scientific agency’s forecast for the frequency of major storms this year. According to the NOAA, 2020 is going to be very busy: NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range …
Florida Personal Injury Attorney: 5 Tips for Preparing for a Deposition
When you and your Florida personal injury attorney file a lawsuit against the insurance company, both parties are permitted to collect evidence during what is known as the “discovery process.” Depositions are part of this process. What is a deposition and how can you prepare for yours? Here are five tips to help you get ready. What Is a Deposition? In the context of a personal injury lawsuit against an insurance company, a deposition is a pre-trial interview conducted under oath. During your deposition, your attorney and the attorney for the insurance company will ask you a series of questions. Your answers to these questions will form your testimony, which will be recorded. Review All Relevant Documents During your deposition, the attorney for the insurance company will ask you all kinds of questions about your case. The answers you give could influence how the court views your lawsuit, so it is best to be prepared. You can start preparing by reviewing documents like accident reports, medical records, notes or journal entries you wrote after your accident, and any other documents that could be relevant. Take Your Time with Each Answer Depositions are often high-stress situations, so when you start answering …
What Does a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Do?
The little man on the sign turns on, so you start walking across the crosswalk when—BAM!—you find yourself spread across the hood of some guy’s car. He’s just as shocked as you, by the look on his face. You never thought you would need a pedestrian accident lawyer, but here you are, in pain, more pain than you thought possible. Despite the pain, the first thought that pops into your head is, “This is going to cost a lot.” Probably more than you can afford. Good thing you and the at-fault driver have insurance. The question is, do you know how to get the most out of that insurance? Do you know how to get what you need for your injuries? What about pain and suffering? You think you can just file a claim and the insurance company—a for-profit company with a bottom line—is just going to hand over a fair settlement? If you weren’t in so much pain right now, you might get laughed at. If you are not sure whether you need to hire a pedestrian accident lawyer, there are some critical things that we do to help our clients that you should know about. Here’s what we …
Should I Try to Handle My Accident Claim without a Car Insurance Attorney?
For many car accident insurance claims, you should be able to go through the filing process without a problem, even if you do not consult with or hire a car insurance attorney, as long as the car insurance company acts in good faith. However, if you sustained injuries or someone close to you died as a result of an accident, your best course of action is to find an attorney you can trust to get you the justice you deserve. Here are four other reasons you should hire an attorney to take care of your claim. Your Policy Limits Might Not Be Enough to Cover Your Injuries In Florida, we operate as a no-fault insurance state, which means that each driver first must file a claim with their own insurance. While being a no-fault state makes accidents that do not result in injury or significant damage easier to handle, it also has drawbacks. For instance, when the cost of damages exceeds your insurance policy’s limits, things can get complicated. With multiple insurance policies in play and several parties trying to protect their interests, it is best to let a professional who knows how to navigate such a complex situation handle …
Hurricane Preparation Tips
Hurricane season is upon us so keep these tips on hand to make sure you’re prepared. General Hurricane Preparation Tips: Fill Ziploc-type plastic bags ¾ full of water and stuff them in every corner of your freezer. You want them to freeze while you have electricity. It might take a couple of days for them to freeze. Nothing is lost if you don’t get the storm. Fill up with gas Get cash Fill your prescriptions Wash your clothes and dishes Take photos of every room and the outside of your house. Upload them to the cloud, or email them to yourself in Gmail, Hotmail, etc. Also take photographs of important papers, ID cards, the information in your wallet and contact information. Upload or email those photos as well. Get a rabbit-ears type TV antenna so you can watch TV if the cable goes out. Try it out now. The antennas are cheap, and the TV is free. Gather up toys and games and put them in one place. In case you have to leave home, you will want them to keep the kids entertained. Know if you are in an evacuation zone. Contact your county emergency management office online or …
Miami Attorney Wins Decision on Insurance Policy Following Irma Damage
Daniel J. Rodriguez of RRBH Law in Miami recently won a decision for two of his clients that helped them get the award they sought from their homeowners’ insurance provider. When Lazaraly Guzman and Larry Rosado’s dwelling was damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017, they notified their insurance provider, American Security Insurance, Co., and filed a claim. Both Parties Disagreed on Damage Costs From the start, the insureds and representatives of the insurance company could not agree on the cost of the damage from the storm, so Guzman and Rosado started the litigation process. When both parties agreed to an appraisal per the insurance policy’s instructions, the court stayed the case until an award was issued. After both parties failed to agree on a neutral umpire for the appraisal, the court appointed Lawrence Leiby to oversee the appraisal. The disagreement centered on an email exchange between the appraisers for each party and Leiby. Leiby initially circulated an award amount of $121,800 to both parties’ appraisers. Court documents allege that the appraiser representing American Security Insurance, Co. objected to the amount and asked for an itemized list that detailed the damage. Leiby then sent a revised figure to both parties: $90, …