Property Damage

The Importance of Hiring a Lawyer For Damaged Property

Property damage can be a significant disruption, whether it results from natural disasters, accidents, or negligent acts. Amidst the ups and downs, you may wonder if hiring a lawyer is worth it. The answer is: yes. In particular, you should hire an attorney from Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys to assist with your claim.

Our lawyers can help you navigate the complex claims process, ensuring that all paperwork is correctly filed and deadlines are met. They are also adept at dealing with insurance companies, who often seek to minimize payouts or find ways to deny claims. Additionally, our legal expertise can be invaluable in cases where liability is disputed or you need to challenge an unsatisfactory settlement offer.

By securing legal representation from Shunnarah, you safeguard your interests and gain a confident ally who can guide you through the legal challenges after property damage. Teaming up with one of our attorneys can help you by providing:

Factors that Influence Property Damage

Loss of fine art

A professional appraisal of your fine art is important to the amount of compensation you’ll get after experiencing property damage. Having your art professionally appraised will help you enter it into the Art Loss Register (ALR), which contains up-to-date information on stolen, damaged, or lost antiques and collectibles. The ALR is a computerized international database operated by an independent company based in London that offers pre- and post-loss services.

Even if you only have one or two pieces of art, make sure it has adequate coverage in case of property damage. Many limitations on home or condo insurance will often mean high value art is without adequate coverage, putting your treasures at risk.

Hail damage

Living in an area prone to severe weather and/or having a low slope or flat roof with asphalt shingles puts you at high risk for hail damage. Luckily, the majority of homeowners’ policies cover hail damage, mitigating the expensive nature of such repairs.

While hail can occur practically anywhere if natural conditions permit, insurers often may try to argue the damage suffered from a hail storm does not fit the conditions necessary for a claim.

Sinkhole damage

Sinkholes tend to form in areas where underground water supplies, such as from an aquifer, dissolve rock—typically limestone. They are formed under pressure, generally from extreme drought or extreme rains. Human activities can also contribute to the development of sinkholes.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, sinkholes are especially common in Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Florida. Regardless of the risk, most property is insured without respect to the land’s price; therefore, most natural disasters on the land are not covered by homeowners insurance. This means that additional coverage is required to insure against sinkholes.

However, in recent years, some states, such as Tennessee and Florida, have begun to require insurers to offer optional sinkhole coverage.

Wildfire damage

There are so many things that can be put at risk by a wildfire, including your home, vehicle, belongings, your business, and more. Each of these things affected by a wildfire may have different stipulations in order to make a successful insurance claim. An itemized list of belongings before the disaster may be required.

Earthquake

The U.S. Geological Survey reveals that 75 million Americans in 39 states are at significant risk from earthquakes, noting that earthquakes of 4.0 magnitudes or greater were documented in 23 states from 2002 to 2012.

Standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not include coverage in the case of an earthquake, so it is important to proactively acquire additional protection. You can supplement earthquake insurance onto your homeowner/renter insurance policy or purchase it as a stand-alone policy.

Hurricane damage

Hurricanes can be devastating, bringing high winds, extreme rain, and flooding. These natural disasters can cause massive damage to your home or business. Once the storm has passed, filing a hurricane damage claim must contain specific information to lodge a successful claim.

Theft and vandalism

Being a victim of theft or vandalism can be an incredibly emotional experience. Contact your local authorities immediately if you find that your property has been stolen or vandalized, and make sure you file a police report. Most theft and vandalism cases are supported through the police reports filed at the time of the incident.

Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover theft and vandalism. You, the policyholder, are responsible for providing the authorities with all the necessary and accurate information regarding your theft and vandalism claim. If you discover more theft or vandalism later, contact the authorities and your insurance provider and inform them immediately of the new findings.

If your business is affected by theft and/or vandalism, you, as a business owner, may also qualify for a business interruption insurance claim.

Wind damage

High-velocity winds can severely damage to your property. Common windstorm claims involve roofs blowing off, trees falling on your property, fences blown down, and leaky windows. 

Wind damage can also cause hidden damages that aren’t realized upon the initial assessment of your property. Damage caused by wind is covered in most homeowners insurance policies. However, there can be ambiguous exclusions or limitations that may cause your claim to be denied.

Fire and smoke damage

Fire and smoke damage can destroy everything from clothing to appliances to irreplaceable memories. Denial of a valid insurance claim after the fact only deepens the wound left behind. This type of property damage is common after wildfires, electrical accidents, and more.

Inverse condemnation

When private property is damaged or taken for public use by the government, the property owner must be compensated for the loss. This is known as inverse condemnation, per the 5th Amendment of the Constitution.

Tornado damage

Tornados can leave complete devastation in their wake. Many insurance policies classify a tornado as a wind event, and many policies cover damage to property and personal items from a tornado. However, we recommend you read through your policy to determine if there is a separate wind deductible that could include tornado damage. This separate deductible requires policyholders to pay a sum out of pocket before their insurance pays for the claim.

In the event your home is unlivable after a tornado, relocation or temporary housing expenses may be covered under your insurance policy.

Mold damage

Mold thrives in moisture-rich environments such as high indoor humidity, flooding, or a leaky roof or dishwasher. It sometimes hides in places you can’t see. Mold can cause serious illness, destroy property, and turn your home into a hazard.

Water damage

Water damage is one of the most common reasons for filing an insurance claim with your carrier. While coverage typically excludes perils like flooding or sewage backup, a homeowners policy should cover other sudden or internal perils like a burst pipe.

Your dwelling coverage protects against structural damage if it is inside the property. Other weather-related perils causing damage can also be covered under your insurance policy.

pursuing justice through settlement or compensation

While we aim to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve quickly and without complications, it doesn’t always mean a court battle is necessary. Our accident attorneys often persuade insurance companies to provide a fair settlement without needing a trial.

However, there are instances where negotiations may not result in an agreeable resolution. In such cases, taking the matter to court becomes essential to ensure you receive the justice and compensation you’re entitled to.

Protecting yourself after property damage is the smart choice for your finances and future. That’s why it’s important to select a dynamic property damage lawyer, like one from Shunnarah, who is prepared to fight insurance companies in court.