Sarasota First-Party Coverage Dispute Lawyer
Insurance provides protection in the event of disaster. Unfortunately, policyholders often find that an insurer is all too eager to deny a claim when it matters most.
Geyer Fuxa Tyler is a law firm committed to helping policyholders in disputes with their insurance carriers. This is a first-party coverage dispute. Each insurance contract should lay out what events and losses are covered. Unfortunately, these documents are often poorly drafted or confusing, and disagreements can arise over whether an insurer should even cover a loss. Call our office to speak with a Sarasota first-party coverage dispute lawyer for assistance.
How Should Policyholders Respond to a Coverage Dispute?
A dispute of this kind is essentially a contract dispute. The key to resolving the dispute is fully understanding the terms of the insurance contract.
Insurance companies write these insurance contracts without much input from policyholders, who are simply presented a document with a “take it or leave it” attitude. Most policyholders glance at the document, ask maybe one or two questions, and then sign.
A coverage dispute arises when the policyholder suffers some loss and submits a claim to their insurer. Suddenly, the insurer claims the loss isn’t covered—which means policyholders are left to eat the loss. No benefits are forthcoming under their insurance policy.
What should you do?
- Find your copy of the insurance agreement. Your attorney will need to review it. If you don’t have a copy, then your attorney can request it from the insurer.
- Keep your copy of your denial notice. The insurer should spell out why they denied coverage of your claim and cite specific language in the contract. Share this notice with your lawyer.
- Note any phone conversations you have had with a claims adjuster. Write down the days and times, as well as a summary of the conversation.
- Gather documentation of your loss. If you suffered property damage in a storm, then you should have pictures of the damage. You also might have received repair estimates from contractors.
Finally, reach out to Geyer Fuxa Tyler to speak with a member of our legal team. We will analyze the contract language and investigate your claim further.
Insurance companies increasingly deny claims, especially in Florida, which has suffered extreme weather over the past few years. Denying claims is a way of juicing their profits—but policyholders lose out when they thought they were covered.
Get the Legal Help You Need from Our Sarasota First-Party Coverage Dispute Lawyers
Once hired, we can negotiate a settlement and work with an insurance company, especially if there is a good faith disagreement about coverage. Not all denials are unfair or unreasonable. Nonetheless, you should never take “no” for an answer without first meeting with an experienced lawyer. Our firm can respond to an unfair denial with a lawsuit or even a claim for bad faith.
Contact Geyer Fuxa Tyler to speak with our Sarasota first-party coverage dispute lawyer in a consultation. You have paid your premiums for years. You deserve fair treatment after tragedy strikes.