RRBHLAWZENblog, Author at Miami Personal Injury and Insurance Attorneys- RRBH law

How Long Does a Home Insurance Claim Take in Florida?

RRBHLAWZENblog April 25, 2022Homeowners' Insurance, Hurricane damage, Insurance Litigation, Property Insurance

How long does a home insurance claim take in Florida? When you file a homeowners insurance claim in the Sunshine State, you might expect immediate relief. Here’s why that’s a mistake. While it is practically impossible to pinpoint how long an insurance claim will take to pay out, there are a few milestones you can rely on to get an idea about what to expect. It can take days, weeks, or even months—sometimes even years—before you see a single cent from your insurance provider. It all depends on the circumstances surrounding your claim. Here are some things to keep in mind as you wait for the insurance company to cut you a check. How long does a home insurance claim take in Florida? In Florida, insurance companies have 90 days to notify you whether they have accepted or denied your claim. If your insurance provider approves your claim, the Florida Statues state that they must pay you within 20 days of their decision. If they do not pay your approved claim within this timeframe, the payout will accrue an interest rate of 12% per year. The larger the claim, the more likely your provider is to use the whole …

Personal Liability Insurance: What Is It and Why Is it So Important?

RRBHLAWZENblog January 15, 2021Homeowners' Insurance

Personal liability insurance coverage is among the most important parts of any homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. If you are ever liable for damages because of property damage or personal injury, your liability insurance coverage provides protection. In this article, we examine some of the basic aspects of liability coverage, including what it is, what it does and does not cover, and some of the consequences of not having adequate coverage on your policy. Here are a few things you should know. What Is Personal Liability Insurance? Personal liability coverage is included in homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies to protect the owner of the policy. Without this coverage, their personal assets could be at risk if they are ever sued. This type of coverage also pays for the cost of defending against any lawsuit brought against the liable party. Personal liability insurance covers a few different types of damages: bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury covers medical expenses when someone is injured on your property. Examples include the following: Hospital costs Ambulance costs Medical and surgical procedures X-ray services Dental costs Funeral costs The policy covers costs when a lawsuit is brought against the policy owner due to the …

Personal Injury Law: 4 Common Terms You Might Hear in Court

RRBHLAWZENblog January 1, 2021Personal Injury Lawyer Florida

If you are ever involved in a personal injury case, you will probably hear some terms you have never heard before. Here are a few of the most common. Whether you are a victim of a slip and fall injury or an auto accident injury, if you pursue a legal case against the at-fault party, you will probably be overwhelmed with the complexities of Florida’s legal system. Part of the problem for many newcomers to the legal landscape is all the new unfamiliar terms that they encounter. To help you become familiarized before you see the inside of a courtroom, we have compiled a few that you are likely to hear. Statute of Limitations A statute of limitations is the amount of time that a plaintiff has to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases varies from state to state, but generally, it falls around 2-4 years. In Florida, we have a generous statute of limitations of 4 years for cases that are not considered medical malpractice. Negligence Negligence is a term that denotes one party’s carelessness or failure to act that results in damages to another party. As the plaintiff, you will be required to …

How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Settle a Claim in Florida?

RRBHLAWZENblog December 15, 2020Insurance Litigation, Vehicle Accidents

How long does an insurance company have to settle a claim in Florida? To answer this question, we will need to examine a few different types of car insurance. When you get hurt in a car accident, the last thing you should have to worry about is money. Yet, as bills pile up and weeks of missed work go by because of the severity of their injuries, money is often the biggest problem for victims of negligent drivers. When you are injured and in need, it seems that financial help cannot get there soon enough. If you have been in a car accident in Florida, you are probably wondering how long the insurance company has to settle your claim. Here are a few things you need to know. How Long Does an Insurance Company Have to Settle a Claim in Florida? The answer to this question depends, in part, on the type of insurance policy you are filing a claim against. In Florida, we have no-fault insurance laws that allow drivers to file claims against their own personal injury protection (PIP) policy, which by law has a minimum of $10,000 of coverage. While the timeframe that policyholders can expect to …

Why Do T-Bone Car Accidents Have the Most Injuries? The Answer Is Simple and Devastating

RRBHLAWZENblog December 3, 2020Insurance Litigation, Vehicle Accidents

T-bone car accidents are notorious for causing severe injuries. Why does this particular type of car accident cause injuries that are so traumatic? The answer is twofold, and it is devastating: T-bone accidents usually occur at high speeds because they usually happen when one car is trying to beat a red light at an intersection. The angle of many T-bone car accidents directly impacts passengers in the other car. T-bone accidents leave little between the passenger and the significant force of the at-fault driver’s car. If the imagery this description evokes is disturbing, it’s for the best—no one should ever have to experience such an accident. Unfortunately, many people do, and they suffer the consequences—financially as well as physically—for years to come. Some suffer for the rest of their lives. Common Injuries After T-Bone Car Accidents Due to the severity of these accidents, it’s important to know what types of injuries to look out for should you ever experience one. While some severe injuries are easy to identify, some may only appear days or weeks after the accident. Here are some of the most common. Head Injuries Traumatic brain injuries are a common effect of car accidents, especially T-bone car …

Should I Sue or Settle My Car Accident Injury Claim? Here Are the Advantages of Each

RRBHLAWZENblog November 17, 2020Insurance Litigation, Personal Injury Lawyer Florida, Vehicle Accidents

If you have been in an automobile accident, you may be wondering if you file a lawsuit or settle your car accident injury claim. While the best choice for you depends on the details of your case, each avenue has advantages. Allow us to break it down for you. Imagine you are in the hospital with a serious injury because another driver decided that the rules of the road did not apply to them. Maybe you don’t need to imagine. The good news is that, even if you decide that you need to file a lawsuit to cover your injuries and related costs, most of the time people settle out of court. Whether you are suing the insurance company or the driver responsible for your pain and suffering, here are a few things you should know about this critical decision. Advantages of Settling Before Going to Court Settling your car accident injury claim before filing a lawsuit has certain advantages. For instance, if you need money fast to cover your bills, settling can get you the cash you need. If you decide not to file a lawsuit, you can also avoid attending multiple lengthy court appearances over several months. One …

hands fixing a pipe for property insurance

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s Managed Repair Program Shortchanges Homeowners

RRBHLAWZENblog November 10, 2020Insurance Litigation, Property Insurance

Has your home been damaged by water? If you have a homeowners insurance policy under Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s Managed Repair Program, you might not be able to choose who does repairs. Since 2017, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has been encouraging its policyholders towards a new program designed to handle claims for water damage stemming from sources other than storms. The reason this program is necessary, the not-for-profit government entity claims, is that non-storm water damage claims are driving up insurance rates and claims abuses by independent contractors are to blame. While it is true that some claims abuses do occur, the Managed Repair Program takes power away from policyholders. Here’s what you should know. What Is a Managed Repair Program? Check Your Homeowners Insurance Policy To summarize, managed repair programs are special homeowners insurance programs that encourage policyholders to use a contractor chosen by the insurance company to make repairs. According to the Citizens website, their program “offers valuable services to customers with eligible policies whose homes have been damaged by water not caused by weather.” The services that the company offers to new and renewal homeowner (HO-3) and dwelling property 3 (DP-3) policyholders include emergency water removal and …

Roofers roofing after settlement with help from an insurance claim lawyer

4 Things Your Homeowners Insurance Company Won’t Tell You (But Your Homeowners Insurance Lawyer Will)

RRBHLAWZENblog October 16, 2020Homeowners' Insurance

Homeowners insurance is notoriously complicated and confusing. In fact, many policyholders hope they never have to use theirs because they do not understand the ins and outs of their coverage. The insurance companies are counting on your confusion. Will you let them get away with denying coverage, or will you hire a homeowners insurance lawyer to clear things up? If you haven’t had to think too much about your homeowners insurance, consider yourself lucky. Being able to forget about what your policy covers means you have not had to file a claim in some time (perhaps ever). Then again, if you haven’t had to use your coverage recently, that means you might need a refresher on what your policy covers and what it does not cover. And even if you know what is included in your policy, do you really understand how it all works? Your insurance company would rather keep you in the dark about some pretty important aspects of your policy. Here are a few. You May Be Entitled to Replacement Rather Than Repairs If you purchased a policy that stipulates you are entitled to the replacement cost of a damaged item or part of your home, you …

Doctor working with patient for a personal injury lawsuit

Can I Ever Reopen My Personal Injury Lawsuit? Don’t Settle Until You Read This

RRBHLAWZENblog October 9, 2020Personal Injury Lawyer Florida

You are about to settle your personal injury lawsuit. After estimating the cost of your ongoing medical care, you have decided that the offer will be adequate to cover expenses, so you sign on the dotted line. Fast-forward six months and you still have not regained your full capabilities. Not only is your care more expensive than you imagined, you were not able to return to work as quickly as you thought. The money from your settlement is starting to dwindle. This scenario is much too common, and it begs a critical question: can you ever reopen your personal injury case if the compensation you received in the original settlement is insufficient? In most cases, you are not going to like the answer. Here is what you need to know before settling your case. Why You Probably Cannot Reopen Your Personal Injury Lawsuit If you have settled your case, you usually cannot reopen it to seek more compensation. Why? Well, with most insurance payouts and settlement agreements, you typically have to sign a release form. This release form effectively waives your rights to seek further damages for your injuries. Most courts will uphold the release form you signed, so challenging …

How Much Is My Car Accident Settlement Worth? It Depends on These Factors

RRBHLAWZENblog September 14, 2020Personal Injury Lawyer Florida, Vehicle Accidents

Everyone who is thinking of filing a claim wants to know: how much is my car accident settlement going to be worth? The answer could range drastically from several thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you have been in an accident and want some reassurance that you are going to be able to pay your hospital bills and get compensation for missed work, it’s best to consult with an attorney before filing a claim. Searching the internet is an excellent way to do some preliminary research on what you might be able to expect in a settlement, but the truth is, your case is vastly different from someone else’s. While they are not the only factors for you and your lawyer to consider, three common factors can determine what you can expect in an accident settlement: The severity of your injuries Damage caps Personal injury protection coverage The Severity of Your Injuries Could Affect Your Car Accident Settlement If you are new to learning about Florida’s laws, you might be surprised to know that Florida is a no-fault state. The Sunshine State’s no-fault status requires victims of car accidents to first seek coverage for injuries through their own …

Negligent Security Lawyer: Can I Sue My Landlord for My Assault?

RRBHLAWZENblog September 7, 2020Insurance Litigation, Personal Injury Lawyer Florida, Property Insurance

Were you assaulted in your apartment or place of business? A negligent security lawyer may be able to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Here is everything you need to know about negligent security lawsuits in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, over 81,000 violent crimes took place in the state in 2019. These crimes range from simple assaults and robberies to more extreme cases involving sexual assault and homicide. If you are the victim of a violent crime while on someone else’s property, you may be able to file a negligent security lawsuit against the property owner to recover damages. Here’s what you should know. What Does Negligent Security Mean? Property owners have a duty to ensure the safety of others who set foot on their property. When they fail to provide adequate protection and that failure results in a violent crime, the property owner can be held liable in civil court. A negligent security lawsuit is a premises liability claim that allows victims to receive compensation for any physical and emotional injuries they sustain. Who Can I Hold Liable Under Florida Law? Under Florida law, plaintiffs can seek damages from many groups. Landlords, property …

How to Prepare for a Hurricane Evacuation during COVID-19? 5 Critical Ways to Get Ready

RRBHLAWZENblog August 28, 2020Hurricane damage

This Atlantic hurricane season is projected to be one of the most active in recent history. So far, there have been 13 named storms, and the NOAA is calling for as many as 25 by the end of hurricane season in November. To make matters even more complicated for residents in areas like Miami, the COVID-19 pandemic could make a hurricane evacuation much more difficult. To keep yourself and your family safe in the event that an evacuation becomes necessary, we have compiled some tips to help you prepare. We are already well into hurricane season, so the sooner you start taking precautions, the better off you will be in a worst-case scenario. Preparing for Hurricanes during COVID-19 By now, you have probably already started preparing your home for the next big storm. If not, take a moment to read our recommendations here. When you are prepping your home and your plans for sheltering in place and evacuation this year, it’s important to understand that it could take longer to get supplies. Do not wait till the last minute to buy essentials like bottled water and emergency food because the stores might not have them when you need them. Give …

What Happens When You Are Injured in a Store? 3 Things to Know

RRBHLAWZENblog August 14, 2020Personal Injury Lawyer Florida

Do you know what happens when you are injured in a store? If you have never had a slip and fall accident, you probably do not know what to do if something happens while you are shopping. These accidents, unfortunately, happen every single day in Florida and around the country. You never know when you could come across unsafe conditions—even if the hazard is a simple puddle of milk on grocery store linoleum, a slip and fall can lead to a lifetime of pain and suffering. You must be prepared for anything, and that means knowing what happens when you’re injured in a store. Here are a few things you should know in case it happens to you. Obligation to Maintain a Safe Premises When a store is open to the public, it is obligated to keep the premises safe for patrons. If the store does not adequately maintain the premises, anyone who is injured may have cause to file a lawsuit to recover damages for injuries. Injuries that are a result of the negligence of the store can be serious, leading to long recovery times, costly hospital bills, and even permanent pain. What happens when you’re injured in a …

roof tiles before roof insurance claim process

How Does the Roof Insurance Claim Process Work? 5 Things to Know When Filing

RRBHLAWZENblog August 7, 2020Homeowners' Insurance, Hurricane damage, Insurance Litigation

As most Floridians know by now, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is going to be a busy one. Hurricane Isaias, though only a Category 1 hurricane, caused widespread damage to homes across the east coast. One of the most common types of damage that can happen to a home during a hurricane is roof damage, which begs the question for homeowners: How does the roof insurance claim process work? When you file a claim, these five things are good to know. Making a Claim with Your Insurance After a storm damages your roof, the first thing you probably think you need to do is contact your insurance. While you do not want to procrastinate when filing a claim, it is in your best interest to consult with a property insurance attorney to make sure you are protected. Many insurance companies, to avoid losing revenue, will deny or underpay claims, sometimes in bad faith. When you have an attorney from the start of the process, you can ensure that they will take your claim seriously. Make Temporary Repairs Repairs take time, but you cannot wait to protect your home from suffering more damage from the elements. Be sure to document the …

What Does a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Do?

RRBHLAWZENblog July 3, 2020Insurance Litigation, Personal Injury Lawyer Florida

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 …

How to Prevent Bicycle Accidents in Key Biscayne: 8 Safety Tips for Cyclists

RRBHLAWZENblog June 28, 2020Personal Injury Lawyer Florida, Vehicle Accidents

Miami is notoriously dangerous for cyclists. Bicycle accidents in Key Biscayne are especially common. Here’s how to stay safe this summer. Every summer in Miami, the roads and trails seem to fill up with bicyclists. With the restrictions surrounding COVID-19 slowly fading, this year will probably see lots of people out on their bikes. One of the most popular places to ride—Key Biscayne—is likely to see a lot of increased bicycle traffic, as well. It’s no surprise, considering the beautiful views of Biscayne Bay along the way. Unfortunately, the incidence of bicycle accidents in Key Biscayne will also rise as people start to take to the roads across the Rickenbacker Causeway and throughout the island. If you plan to ride your bike this summer, whether solo or with friends and family, here are a few things you should know about staying safe. Why Accidents Happen First, it’s important to understand why bicycle accidents happen before we discuss any safety tips. Knowing what to look out for will increase your chances of avoiding injury. Some of the most common reasons that bicycles get into accidents with automobiles include: Poor cycling infrastructure Inattentive driving and riding Failure to give right of way …

In a Rear End Collision, Can I Be Held Liable for Damages If I Was Hit from Behind?

RRBHLAWZENblog June 4, 2020Vehicle Accidents

When you get rear ended while driving, you might think that you can’t be held liable for the accident. In most rear end collision cases in Florida, that’s true—the rear driver is usually found to be at fault. The reason rear end accidents usually favor the driver who is struck from behind is that Florida courts use a rebuttable presumption—an assumption that stands unless another party contests it—in such car accidents. What you might not realize, though, is that in certain situations you can be held liable as the front driver. You never know when someone will hit you from behind. Here’s what you should know. When the Front Vehicle Can Be Held Responsible in a Rear End Collision In Florida, the law follows what is known as “comparative negligence” to assign liability in auto accidents. For instance, the jury in the case could find you 20% liable and the other driver 80% liable, which would reduce the compensation you would receive in a settlement. In a rear end collision, you could be assigned some or even all of the responsibility for the accident in certain situations. For example, if the evidence were to show that you were driving erratically …

Can a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Get My Medical Bills Paid?

RRBHLAWZENblog May 15, 2020Personal Injury Lawyer Florida, Vehicle Accidents

Anybody who rides knows—motorcycles are a way of life. Unfortunately, motorcycles are also dangerous, even when the handlebars are held in experienced hands. No one expects to need a motorcycle accident lawyer to help them recover compensation for their injuries, but when you are in that position, you probably want to know that your attorney is going to be able to follow through. So, can an attorney help pay your medical bills after a motorcycle accident? Absolutely. But it’s not guaranteed. For that, you need to make sure that the lawyer you hire knows what they are doing. It’s not enough that they handle auto accidents—they should be knowledgeable about motorcycle accidents specifically. Why? Because they are different. Why Motorcycle Accidents Are Different It’s not just the lack of safety features, such as seatbelts and airbags, that make motorcycles so much more dangerous than other vehicles. It’s also difficult to see them on the road because of their speed and their small size. Regardless of visibility, though, other motorists owe a duty of care to those they share the road with, and not seeing a motorcycle is not an excuse. The injuries that motorcyclists sustain during an accident are also …

Page 1 of 3
1
2
3
→