Property Insurance Attorney Miami FL
ROPERTY DAMAGE SERVICES When we buy a new home or a commercial or rental property in Florida, we buy insurance for it with the expectation that if damage or loss occurs we would be covered. Unfortunately, some insurance companies will come up with the most creative reasons to deny coverage, delay payment, or underpay claims. If you are struggling against an insurer after filing a claim, don’t do it alone. Insurance companies have the experience and resources to engage you in a long and stressful dispute. Instead, work with an experienced team that will put you on equal footing. Watson et Barnard, PLLC is not your average “property damage” law firm. We utilize top-quality resources to back your claim (such as engineers, loss consultants, and other loss experts)... PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY To answer as many of these commonly asked questions as possible, we’ve put together a library of Video FAQs full of practical information about how to protect your property as thoroughly as possible and know your rights when an insurance dispute arises. If you or someone you know has a question or issue with their property insurance company or insurance claim, do not hesitate to contact us.
MAXWELL S. BARNARD Maxwell S. Barnard is a partner at Watson, Espinal & Barnard, PLLC. He practices in all areas of civil litigation, primarily in the representation of homeowners and business owners in first-party property insurance coverage matters. Maxwell graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a minor in Geography. He continued his education at St. Thomas University School of law, where he graduated Cum Laude and earned his Juris Doctorate in 2014. He became a member of the Florida Bar in spring of 2015, and is licensed to practice before all Florida State Courts. Maxwell Barnard was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Prior to joining the legal world, Maxwell worked in the restaurant industry as a Sushi Chef for 6 years at many different restaurants while completing his undergraduate degree. Additionally, Maxwell worked as a legal assistant and law clerk with his father, Andrew C. Barnard, assisting him in several areas of law. Today, Maxwell represents homeowners and business owners in insurance disputes involving high exposure commercial and residential property losses in state court. This involves all aspects of pre-suit, trial, and appellate litigation related to first-party property insurance claims.
ERIK T. BARNARD Erik Tyler Barnard, born and raised in Miami, Florida, is passionate about Insurance Law. Prior to becoming an attorney, Erik worked as a legal assistant and law clerk for his father assisting insureds in filing insurance claims, setting up recorded statements, and preparing cases for trial. Early in his legal career, he practiced different areas of law such as criminal defense, divorces, child custody, dependency, simple breach of contracts, and bankruptcies. Erik has conducted hundreds of depositions against experts, adjusters, and defending the rights of insureds during recorded statements, examinations under oath, and depositions. Since 2015, Erik has played a critical role in several trials where he, alongside the talented trial attorneys at Watson, Espinal & Barnard, PLLC., has recovered millions of dollars for homeowners where their insurance claims have been wrongfully denied or underpaid. Occasionally, he writes blog articles related to property insurance.
WHEN WATER ENTERS YOUR HOME FROM A BROKEN PIPE, DRAIN LINE BACK UP, OR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE ISN’T ALWAYS FULLY APPARENT.
Your property insurance is likely to cover damage caused by cracked pipes, sewerage backups and air conditioning backups. It is important that you fully understand what your policies apply to. Making repairs after damaging your home with water can be very expensive. Depending on how many hours and how much water is on the property, the extent of the damage may be greater than you originally thought. If water seeps through the floorboards or through the plasterboard, the mold can start immediately in 24-48 hours. It is important to contact your water treatment company as soon as possible so that your property dries properly to prevent further damage from mold or rot. In South Florida, older homes have steel pipes that drain waste to your septic tank and also to your local sewer. These pipes will start to fail, causing rubbish and dirt to return to your home. The wires should probably be replaced completely. Many homeowners know that replacing steel pipes can be more expensive because most pipes need to be replaced by destroying the foundations of their house, which can cost thousands of dollars and weeks or months of treatment. Fortunately, most insurance policies cover the length of stay at the property, as well as the cost of scraping and replacing the cast iron pipe. Insurance companies try to avoid paying for these damages as much as possible, so hiring a knowledgeable lawyer can help ensure that your insurance company pays a reasonable amount for these repairs in accordance with the terms of the insurance policy. Unfortunately, insurance companies are not always on the side of their policyholders. They are for-profit companies whose primary obligation is their rules, and sometimes they manifest themselves in non-standard payment offers and even in the rejection of legitimate claims. At Watson et Barnard, PLLC., Our Florida attorneys will help you recover the cost of the insurance you are entitled to. Our company has the means to hire engineers, contractors, plumbers and other forensic experts to review your claim and ensure that the toys are in full standard when dealing with your insurance company.
WIND AND RAIN DAMAGE CAN COST YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS
Lawyers from Watson et Barnard, PLLC understand the damage caused by strong wind events such as hurricanes or tropical storms. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused more than $ 27 billion in damage to South Florida, forcing many Florida residents into the process. As a result, many insurance companies stopped insuring many parts of South Florida. It is recently estimated that more than $ 8 billion has been paid by various insurance companies in Florida as a result of nearly 1 million claims caused by Hurricane Irma by the owners. For some people, their insurance company pays enough to allow the owner to make repairs to their property to restore it to its original condition. However, many policyholders receive rejection letters from their insurance carrier as "lack of participation" letters, forcing them to do their best to rectify the situation. If you fall into the second category, it may be time to consider getting a second opinion on your claim. Watson et Barnard, PLLC, can help you here. Contact us and arrange a free consultation regarding your complaint or property damage. Here are some tips to ensure maximum recovery after a hurricane or tropical storm: Before the storm When preparing your land for the next big storm, take a picture of every exterior of your land. Then photograph the ceilings, walls and floors of every room in the house. These photos will help determine the condition of your property and explain any problems that have been damaged in the past by the storm. You also want to take pictures of any expensive jewelry, electronics or other personal items that can be damaged or lost in the storm. Track serial numbers as well as model numbers on devices and other electronics to help your insurance company determine the value of items. Store this information and photos on a cloud server to ensure that nothing is lost. Keep your insurance company's phone number on your phone so that you can be prepared to file an insurance event after a storm. After the storm Once you've made sure everyone is safe and wary of any dangerous situation, such as falling power lines or debris, walk through your property and take pictures of the damage you see. Then apply to your insurance company as soon as possible. Make sure you do not remove the damaged items before your insurance company can inspect them. If you need to remove damaged property, be sure to take a few detailed photos before disposing of the item. We understand that the insurance process for some people can be extremely cumbersome, time consuming and frustrating. If you would like help filing your claim or would like a second opinion as a result of a rejected, late, or underpaid claim you have made, the attorneys at Watson, Espinal & Barnard, PLLC., Ree.
WE HELP YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR
Your house or commercial property has suffered major damage as a result of fire, flood, storm, theft or other disaster and you must now file an insurance claim. Everything is simple, but what are the worries now about filing an insurance claim with your insurance company. There are good reasons for concern. You and your insurance provider do not have the same financial interest. You want the highest amount you are entitled to, while the company wants to protect your end result by paying as little as possible, even if you pay a lot of money for the coverage. In an ideal world, none of us would have to hire a lawyer to pay for our insurance claim in full and on time, but the reality is that some claims need legal advice to help them deal with insurance companies that have the art of running out of money. perfect payment or refusal of property damage. Watson et Barnard, PLLC., They can save you time and stress by managing an insurance claim in Florida from the beginning. We will analyze the damage to your property, use independent experts to determine the total amount of your claim and try to recover benefits that will help you repair your home as soon as possible. If your insurance provider refuses to settle the claim honestly, we will not hesitate to take legal action on your behalf until your case is brought to court. If you want to arrange a free consultation, contact us. We will use our experience and knowledge to help you get the full amount you are entitled to under your Florida insurance policy.
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