Fallen tree limbs hurricane irma update

Hurricane Irma Update: Property Damage, Now What?

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Insurance Litigation

Hurricane Irma Update – Although Irma Arrived in Miami At High Tide, Most Claims We’re Seeing Involve Wind Damage Within days of slamming into the Caribbean and south Florida, Hurricane Irma pushed further north today, into areas to which many of our neighbors had evacuated over the weekend. The large rain bands extended across the entire state of Florida, downing trees and signs, pushing boats ashore and tearing off shingles.  The storm’s arrival at high tide caused flash flooding, most of which fortunately receded by later today. Hurricane Irma Update On Damage:  Although Irma’s damage to Florida was not as great as the worst forecasts, almost three quarters of the state are still without power, and areas such as Naples and Jacksonville, as well as low lying areas of Miami, suffered flooding, standing water and downed power lines. The Florida Keys suffered the brunt of the damage.  Portions of the road were washed out, and the rest was strewn with debris including sections of boats, jet skis and even appliances.   “I just hope everybody survived,” Governor Scott said after flying over the islands today. “It’s horrible what we saw.” Hurricane Irma Update On Insurance Claims:  Many of our clients have been …

Birds eye view of neighborhood property insurance attorney

How Do I Know If I Need A Property Insurance Attorney? 3 Things to Know Before Settling

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Insurance Litigation

Deciding whether to hire a property insurance attorney for your home insurance claim can seem like a tricky choice. In reality, though, it’s quite simple. Here in the Miami area, we see first-hand some of the worst home damage that this country has seen. From hurricanes to sinkholes, it seems that Mother Nature always has something up her sleeve. As an insurance litigation attorney, I deal with the fallout from these and other scenarios, and let me tell you—you do not want to go up against the big insurance companies alone. Even small regional insurance companies have the legal know-how to take you for a ride. Still don’t think you need a property insurance attorney? Here are three things to know before settling: If Your Home Insurance Provider Denies Your Claim Insurance companies are in the business of making money, so anytime they see an opportunity to not pay on a claim—perhaps by reinterpreting the legal language of your contract—they’re going to take it. When this happens, do not give up. Hiring a qualified insurance attorney to pursue your case will give you the opportunity to get the money that they owe you. If Your Home Insurance Settlement Is too …

Flooded neighborhood

Hurricane Preparation: What Did Hurricane Harvey Teach Florida About Planning Ahead?

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Hurricane damage, Insurance Litigation

The scene that many Texans witnessed may seem, at first, to point to the futility of hurricane preparation. The widespread destruction showed, if nothing else, that even those who took every precaution were subject to loss and injury. Homes destroyed. City streets filled with cars submerged. “If this is what happens, is storm preparation even necessary?” you might ask yourself. In the news, we hear more about the negative than the positive. Negativity is just better at attracting readers and viewers. But for every story of misfortune, there is also one of hope. Many of the positive stories to come out of Harvey’s aftermath are of brave men and women who prepared for the storm and risked their lives to help others. These stories demonstrate the importance of being prepared for the next storm. As Floridians, we know about the importance of hurricane preparation. We live it. But we still need a reminder, now and then, of the raw, unforgiving power that nature possesses. The devastation that Hurricane Harvey brought to Houston, Texas and the surrounding areas should be a lesson to us all. Stay safe, and prepare for the next hurricane with these guidelines: Basic Hurricane Preparation Know whether …

A young businesswoman protects a house from the elements - rain or storm and sun. Blackboard drawing top view.

Does Your Insurance Policy Cover Your Roof? It Depends…

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Insurance Litigation

Here in Miami, we all probably know someone who has had to deal with the insurance companies over storm damage to their home. As we recently saw on Wednesday, August 2, even a relatively small weather system like Tropical Storm Emily (technically downgraded to a tropical depression at that point) can cause major damage. As the forecast is showing, we’re not done with hurricane season quite yet.  Not even close, since forecasters are expecting an very active season as the waters warm up. Not surprisingly, one of the questions I get asked most often as an attorney whose cases often revolve around storm damage is “does my insurance cover damage that my roof sustains during a storm?” In fact, because the roof is susceptible to damage from high winds, hail, lightning strikes, and falling debris, one of my primary jobs as an attorney who handles insurance litigation is to get the insurance companies to cover the costs of various types of damage. You’d be surprised by what they try to get away with (or maybe not; they’re insurance companies, after all). While I’d like to be able to tell every single person who has asked me this question, “yes, your …

Damaged house from tree collapse due to storm

My Insurance Company Won’t Pay…Now What? How to Prepare for a Claim Denial

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Insurance Litigation

With the stormy season upon us here in Miami, the likelihood that you will need to file an insurance claim for damage caused by a hurricane or thunderstorm go up by the day. Insurance is supposed to give you peace of mind, and for that reason, any of your claims that get denied by the insurance company are all the more infuriating. It’s a common enough story. In the past 15 years, insurance companies have paid out more than $450 billion for damage done to property that is covered under their policies. Now that the numbers are in, those companies are trying to minimize their losses by looking for more ways to deny policyholders’ claims. Whether by finding legal loopholes or by simply rewriting policies to contain more claim exclusions, your insurance company has the advantage when it comes to winning a legal battle. What that means for policyholders is a repair bill that could lead to bankruptcy. Instead of being caught off guard when your insurance company refuses to repair your property after the next big storm, use these tips to get prepared: Document Your Property With today’s technology, it is so easy to document your property for insurance …

Mop bucket and caution sign inside a building

You’ve been in a Slip and Fall Accident. Now What?

RRBHLAWZENPersonal Injury Lawyer Florida, Slip and Fall

You think something like this will never happen to you, at least, not until you’re dealing with the hospital bills, the missed work, and the pain. Slip and fall accidents might not seem like they can do a lot of damage—we’ve all fallen before, especially as kids. However, it doesn’t take that much force to cause a sprain, a strain, or even a broken bone, all of which can develop into serious health issues in the future. If you experience a slip and fall accident, you may find yourself asking “now what?” You aren’t alone. What many don’t realize is that their misfortune is often the direct result of someone else’s carelessness or negligence, a fact that can help ensure that you aren’t left to deal with the consequences by yourself. Here’s what you can do if you’ve been in a slip and fall accident: Determine Whether Negligence Is a Factor Some accidents are unavoidable. However, stores and businesses have a responsibility to keep their premises reasonably safe. If you want to be compensated for your injury, you have to be able to prove two things: First, that negligence was involved. Second, that the negligence was at least partially responsible …

Estate agent shaking hands with customer after contract signatur

Are You Prepared for the Worst? 4 Common (Yet Crucial) Homeowners Insurance Policy Coverages

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or you’re just shopping around, buying a new homeowners’ insurance policy can be confusing. Because not all policies are created equal, the choice you make could end up helping or hurting you in the event of an accident or disaster. However, with a little bit of knowledge about what common things most policies cover, you can make the choice that is right for you and your situation. Ready to get covered? Here are four things that most homeowners’ insurance policies will cover: Structure of the Home Coverage for the structure of your home is what most people think of when homeowners’ insurance comes up. That’s because it is the most important part of any policy. To figure out how much coverage you need for the structure of your home, you need to estimate the value of your home—not just the mortgage amount, but the current value (it may have appreciated since you bought it), and perhaps even the cost of rebuilding your home if the worst should happen. In Miami, we know all too well the damage that catastrophic storms can cause to our homes. Unfortunately, when storms like Hurricane Matthew come to town, …

insurance company

Insurance Denied My Claim. Now What?

RRBHLAWZENInsurance Litigation

If your insurance company denies your claim, is there anything more you can do?  A good number of victims feel stranded when the insurance company says no. But take heart as it is certainly not over at that point.  Remember that an insurance company is a business with a profit motive and if they can find a way to deny your claim it will help their financial performance.  They will certainly interpret the language of the policy to their advantage. Your insurance company may deny your claim for one or more of the following reasons: A policy exclusion, for example the policy doesn’t cover that category of loss The claim wasn’t filed within a particular time limit The incident happened outside of your policy coverage dates However, when they do deny your claim they must provide you with a reason.  They must also notify you of your right to challenge a claims decision as failure to do so waives other rights they have in the policy. There are times when an insurance company may not act in good faith.  We have seen cases of insurance companies who have wrongfully cancelled a policy, raised premiums after a claim, delayed payment without …

Man Riding Bicycle on Street

Should I Call An Attorney After A Bicycle Accident?

RRBHLAWZENPersonal Injury Lawyer Florida

As our Miami roads swell with traffic by the day, so do bicycle accident fatalities. More and more people are embracing a healthy lifestyle, leading to the increased number of cyclists on the road.  This past January a driver struck two cyclists on Key Biscayne, killing one, as he briefly took his attention from the road to change a song on his phone.  A week earlier a drunk driver plowed into a group of 20 cyclists on that same road, striking and injuring 4 of them.  Two hours later yet another cyclist was struck in front of MAST Academy. LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 120 CYCLISTS WERE KILLED IN FLORIDA WITH MANY MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED.  THREE TIMES MORE CYCLISTS DIE IN FLORIDA THAN THE NATIONAL RATE. For all its beauty, Miami is simply not a bicycle friendly city.  Our wide and fast roads, aggressive drivers, endless construction and lack of connected bike paths make this a challenging city to ride.  Getting from point A to point B on a bike in this town typically involves crossing busy streets, navigating around obstacles and riding on streets without a marked bike lane or path.  With the Venetian Causeway closed for construction, anyone …