Importance of Hiring a Property Damage Lawyer
Property damage is a serious matter that can significantly impact your life. To recover for the damages, you need a knowledgeable lawyer who is familiar with all the following.
Insurance companies
A property damage lawyer can help protect policyholders’ rights in various situations. These cases include instances where the insurance company denies claims, fails to mediate, or acts in bad faith. A lawyer can also help ensure the insured receives the maximum benefit from their insurance claim.
The property damage attorneys at Killian Law have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies. They know that insurance adjusters have a team of experts, investigators, and professionals hired to defend their “bottom line” through low-balling and delaying tactics. An experienced attorney can help balance negotiations and ensure the insured receives the full benefits.
Insurance coverage is a good idea if a person owns valuable property. Unfortunately, natural disasters and human-caused accidents can cause severe damage to buildings, cars, furniture, art pieces, and other possessions. In addition to preventing loss of belongings, this type of insurance can cover medical expenses after an accident, even if the person is not at fault. So while they’re not always the best to work with, they are recommended in many cases, and legally required in others.
Damage assessment
There are many benefits to hiring a property damage attorney. For one, they can help you determine liability, prepare an inventory of the damages, file a claim, communicate with insurance companies, and assess settlement offers. Moreover, they can assist you in obtaining the compensation that you rightly deserve should the insurance company do as we detail above.
Whether natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, or willful acts damage your property, if insurance isn’t helping or giving you something far too low for your coverage or what you believe deserve, then get the lawyer on the line.
As insurance company employees, insurance adjusters may have a conflict of interest when handling your claim and may be incentivized to deny or minimize it. This can make the process frustrating and time-consuming for homeowners.
Settlement negotiations
Although property damage cases can go to court, most reach resolution outside the trial process. A good lawyer can help you determine liability, prepare an inventory of damages, file a claim, communicate with insurance companies, and assess settlement offers. They can also provide you with a better understanding of your rights and the legal process.
A reputable property damage lawyer can improve your odds of recovering the maximum damages you are owed. They are familiar with insurance companies’ negotiation tactics and have the experience to deal effectively. In addition, they can help you calculate the total cost of your damages and injuries. These include medical expenses, loss of income or earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Performing these calculations can be complicated and demand a great deal of expertise. A reasonable attorney can also ensure you are not underpaid by requesting an explanation of the insurance adjuster’s estimate of your damages.
Courtroom proceedings
A property damage lawyer can assist you in filing a lawsuit in the proper court, handling all paperwork, and ensuring critical deadlines are met. They can also help you with the cost of hiring medical experts for your case. This will give you the best chance of receiving a decent settlement.
If you want compensation for a property damage claim, you must prove that the defendants breached their duty to protect your property. Your attorney can help you with this by presenting evidence that shows the defendants’ negligence or recklessness caused the injury to your land, home, or personal possessions. While some property damage cases go to trial, most are settled outside the courtroom. Your attorney will be able to negotiate a fair amount for you and advise you whether or not to accept the settlement offer. This will improve your chances of getting better compensation for the damage to your property.
One last thing, be aware of lawyers that are happy to take your insurance case only to recommend the settlement anyways. These ‘settlement firms’ almost never take cases to court, they’re happy to take their cut of a too-low settlement, leaving you further in the weeds. Second opinions are more of a medical thing, but if you think your lawyer isn’t holding your best interest at heart, same as the adjustors they’re supposedly fighting, then maybe talk to a different attorney to see if they agree or would take another path.
