St. Petersburg Insurance Claim Lawyers
Need an Insurance Claim Lawyer in St. Petersburg?
If you are a St. Petersburg policyholder who is dealing with a wrongfully denied or underpaid claim, you should get a second opinion from an experienced insurance claim lawyer. There are plenty of legitimate reasons that an insurance company may choose to deny a claim, but they can and do make the wrong call. If you find yourself in a scary situation like this, then it's time to contact our St. Petersburg insurance claim lawyers.
The insurance dispute team at Herman & Wells has decades of experience advocating for policyholders like you when their insurance company decides not to have their back. Just remember that you have the right to a second opinion in regard to your claim, and you have the right to dispute an unjust decision.
Contact our St. Petersburg insurance claim lawyers at (727) 821-3195 for a free consultation to see how we can help you.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Dispute Your Insurance Company’s Decision?
If you have been injured in an accident, or your property has been damaged, you may need to file an insurance claim. And while many insurance claims are resolved without issue, sometimes insurance companies wrongfully deny or undervalue legitimate claims. If your insurance company has denied your claim or offered a settlement that is much lower than what you believe your claim is worth, you may need to hire an insurance lawyer to help you get the compensation you're rightfully entitled to.
When Should You Hire an Attorney for an Insurance Claim?
There are many different insurance companies out there, each with its own rules and regulations. If you are not familiar with the claim process, you may end up getting less than you deserve, or even being denied your claim altogether. That's why it's important to have an experienced St. Petersburg insurance claim lawyer on your side from the very beginning.
Herman & Wells has been handling insurance claims for 30 years. We know the ins and outs of the claim process and have been able to fight the common reasons most insurance companies use to deny claims in St. Petersburg.
Case Results
See More Case ResultsUnderpaid Fire Loss
Our client’s home was burned in an accidental fire. The insurance company delayed paying and, when it finally paid, didn’t pay enough to replace the home. We fought for additional living expense, building coverage, lost rental income, and other available coverage. After going through an appraisal and then filing a lawsuit, we were able to recover over $450,000 from the insurance company.Initial Position
Underpaid
$460,000.00
Tile Roof Claim in St. Petersburg
Our clients made a claim for damage to the tile roof of their home in St. Petersburg, Florida, which they believed was caused by wind. The insurance company denied the claim, taking the position that the damage was the result of wear and tear and faulty workmanship. We filed a lawsuit on behalf of our clients and fought for them against the denied claim. In the end, we were able to settle the claim for $150,000, and our clients were able to repair their roof.
Initial Position
Claim Denied
$150,000.00
What Types of Claims can Our St. Petersburg Insurance Dispute Lawyers Help With?
Our clients trust us to handle their claims fairly and efficiently, and we always work our hardest to get the best results possible for your insurance claim. We understand what you're going through if your insurance claim has been denied, underpaid, or closed, and we're here to help. The St. Petersburg insurance lawyers at Herman & Wells have extensive experience handling all types of insurance claims, including:
Property Damage Claims
There are a variety of reasons why you may need to file an insurance claim for property damage. Some common examples include damage from a fire, a hurricane, or vandalism. If you have experienced any type of property damage, it is important to speak with a St. Petersburg insurance claim lawyer as soon as possible. The attorneys at Herman & Wells can help you file your insurance claim and get you the fair amount you're entitled to that will sufficiently cover your damaged property.
Homeowners Insurance Claims
Homeowners with insurance claims can have very frustrating experiences with their insurance companies. Sometimes an insurance company will pay for damage at one home and deny exactly the same damage for a neighbor. Adjusters go silent on homeowners and money for repairs doesn’t come when it’s needed. The insurance dispute lawyers at our firm have represented St. Petersburg homeowners against their insurance companies when claims were denied or short-paid, obtaining settlements that allowed those homeowners to put their houses back together.
Commercial Insurance Claims
As the name implies, commercial insurance provides a business with essential coverage against risks related to their commercial activities. Claims can arise for a variety of reasons, including property damage, liability, product liability, and workers' compensation. Businesses that suffer losses from any of these risks can make a claim under their commercial insurance policy. If a commercial insurance dispute comes up, our insurance claim attorneys are more than prepared to handle it.
Life Insurance Claims
A life insurance claim may be necessary if a policyholder unexpectedly passes away. The beneficiary of the life insurance policy may file a claim in order to receive the payout from the insurance company. There are often many steps involved in filing a life insurance claim, so it is important to work with an experienced lawyer who can help you through the process.
If you’re dealing with an insurance issue and want to talk about it with a lawyer, contact our St. Petersburg insurance claim lawyers. We'll go through your policy and explain your rights under it. We will pursue your claim aggressively if we feel you have a valid claim.
Common Reasons Insurance Claims are Denied in St. Petersburg
If you've been injured in an accident, or your home has been damaged or destroyed, you're likely relying on your insurance company to help you through this difficult time. Unfortunately, insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and their bottom line is often more important to them than paying out legitimate claims. As a result, insurance companies routinely deny or lowball legitimate claims in an effort to save money.
There are three common reasons insurance companies deny claims:
- The insurance company says your claim is not covered by your policy.
- The insurance company says your damages are not as extensive as you claim.
- The insurance company says you are not entitled to certain types of compensation, such as pain and suffering damages.
Do Insurance Companies Underpay Claims for Similar Reasons?
Yes, insurance companies oftentimes will underpay claims for similar reasons and other varieties of reasons. Some of the other most common reasons that insurance companies will underpay claims include:
- The policyholder did not fully understand their policy coverage
- The insurance company used outdated information to calculate the claim
- The insurance company made an error in its calculations
- The insurance company is trying to take advantage of the policyholder's lack of knowledge about the claims process
Do You Have a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in St. Petersburg?
A bad faith insurance claim is a situation where an insurance company denies a claim or pays it only a fraction of what is owed, knowing it is not in compliance with the policy. This could be due to the insurance company refusing to investigate the claim fully, refusing to pay for damages, or delaying payment. To learn whether or not you have a bad faith insurance claim, you should speak with an experienced St. Petersburg insurance claim lawyer.
How To Tell If Your Insurance Agent Acted Negligently
If you have been injured in a car accident and are considering making an insurance claim in St. Petersburg, it is important to know whether or not you have a valid case. One of the main factors that will be considered is whether or not the insurance agent acted negligently. There are several things you can look for to help you make this determination.
The first thing to consider is whether or not the insurance agent gave you all of the information you needed to make an informed decision about your policy. If the agent failed to disclose important details about the coverage, such as the fact that it did not cover certain types of accidents, then he or she may be held liable for any damages you incur as a result.
It is also important to consider whether or not the insurance agent encouraged you to take on more risk than you could afford. For example, if the agent pushed you to buy a policy with a high deductible when you could not afford it, he or she may be held responsible for any resulting financial losses.
Finally, you should also consider whether or not the insurance agent gave you sound advice about how to protect yourself in the event of an accident. If the agent failed to advise you to get additional insurance coverage or take other steps to safeguard your interests, he or she may be held liable for any resulting damages.
When Can You Sue an Insurance Company for Denying a Claim?
If an insurance company denies a claim, it can be difficult to know what to do next. You may be wondering if you have any legal options. The short answer is: yes, you may have legal options.
One option is to file a lawsuit against the insurance company. To have a strong case, you will need to show that the insurance company violated state law or its own contract when it denied your claim. There are many different laws that could be violated in this situation, so it is important to speak with a lawyer to find out if you have a valid case.
There are also time limits for filing a lawsuit against an insurance company, so it is important to act quickly if you decide to take this route. Contact a St. Petersburg insurance claim lawyer at the law offices of Herman & Wells today for more information.
How Can Our St. Petersburg Insurance Claim Lawyers Help You?
If you have an insurance claim and live in the St. Petersburg area, you need a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the system. The lawyers at Herman & Wells have years of experience dealing with insurance companies and know how to get you the best outcome possible. They will work diligently to make sure that you are fairly compensated for your losses.
If you've been injured in an accident, if your home has been damaged by a hurricane, or if any other type of disaster has struck, don't hesitate to call the St. Petersburg insurance claim lawyers at Herman & Wells. We'll help you get through this difficult time and guide you through the insurance dispute process from start to finish.
What Is Our Law Firm’s Process For Insurance Dispute Cases in St. Petersburg
We understand how stressful it may be to deal with an insurance company when they deny or underpay your claim. From the first contact with a potential client, our goal is to try to help reduce that stress and provide the best options for moving forward.
How We Work With Our Clients
When someone calls us with an insurance issue, we talk to them about what happened and get some key information like:
- What caused the loss or damage?
- What repairs have been made and what are left to be made?
- Who is the insurance company?
- What was the claim decision (denied? underpaid? no decision at all?)?
- What’s the timeline on the claim (when did the loss happen, when was it reported, and what has the insurance company done since then)?
If we think we can help get a better result, we’re hired on a contingency basis–meaning we get paid out of whatever we recover from the insurance company, not out of our client’s pocket.
We then will gather important documents and other evidence, hire any expert witnesses (like engineers and contractors) needed, and give the client our take on their case when we have all of the information, as well as our recommendations on whether and when to sue or settle.
If the case can’t be resolved without a lawsuit, we explain the litigation process to our client and, once everyone is on the same page, we file the lawsuit papers with the court. We have experience fighting insurance companies all the way through trial, but most cases settle during the course of a lawsuit short of a trial.
During the entire process, we make sure the client knows what’s going on and why, what to expect, and continue to give advice about the case.
Here's what to do next
1.
Call us. It's free.
2.
Get answers to your questions with no commitment.
3.
We will guide you through treatment, making the claim, and get you the money it takes to make up for what you have been through.
Pay NOTHING unless we get you money.
Call (727) 821-3195 now for a free consultation with no strings attached. Find out what your rights are.
Book a Free Consultation With Our St. Petersburg Insurance Claim Lawyers
If you have had an insurance claim denied, it is important to speak with a lawyer who understands the insurance industry and can help you get your claim reopened. The lawyers at our firm have experience fighting for the rights of policyholders and can review your policy to determine why your claim was denied.
We offer free consultations so that you can discuss your case with us and find out how we can help. Contact Herman & Wells today to schedule a consultation and let us start fighting for you.