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After you suffer property damage, your first instinct may be to clean up the mess as quickly as possible and get back to normal life. However, as it pertains to your property insurance claim, this might not be the best thing to do until you have gathered all the necessary evidence and proof of your losses. Your insurance company is not going to allow you to estimate your own damages, which means shortly after you report your losses, you will be required to provide proof evidence. This process begins with the Proof of Loss request. 

What is Proof of Loss?

It’s a formal document your insurance company sends you that helps facilitate the investigation that takes place after you file a property damage claim.  Usually, it requires:

• Sum of the losses claimed
• Documents that support the sum of the losses claimed
• Parties claiming the loss under the policy
• The date and cause of the loss
• Those who have an interest in the claim 

Since this is typically the first document that your insurer receives that includes specific details about your claim, it is in your best interest to comply with the Proof of Loss requirements to efficiently process your claim. 

Should I worry about being denied because I provide a Proof of Loss?

So long as you follow all directions to file an accurate claim, this should not be a concern. If you receive a POL request, it means that your insurer seeks additional information to support your claim. You should do everything you can to prove the value of your claim, even if it means working with a public claims adjuster to determine the value of the property you lost.

What information does my insurer need from me? 

Your Proof of Loss will be tailored to your specific case. If it asks direct questions, work with your property insurance lawyer so you can answer them to the best of your ability. 

What if I provide wrong information?

A Proof of Loss is essentially a sworn statement. You are legally required to include valid and accurate information to the best of your knowledge. Intentionally lying or misrepresenting damages can get you into serious legal trouble. 

What if I don’t respond to the Proof of Loss request?

You may not only give your insurance company a perfectly valid reason to deny your claim, but you may also forfeit your right to sue them for refusing to issue you a settlement. It’s crucial to respond to the POL request promptly.

At Acle Law, we only specialize in one thing – Florida property insurance claims. We’ve been doing it for decades and our attorneys understand the nuanced approach needed to maximize your claim and get the repairs done. At Acle Law, we provide a complimentary review of your insurance policy, so you understand what is and what is not protected. We will walk you through the terms of your insurance policy and provide representation in any dispute in Florida where your insurer is denying, delaying or under-paying your claim. Call our Miami property insurance claim attorneys at the Acle Law Firm today at 305-447-4667 or visit Acle Law for a free consultation.

At Acle Law, we’ve always believed that the more our South Florida neighbors know about the property insurance process, the more empowered they are to make the most informed decisions about any property insurance claim.

After a claim is filed, your property damage needs to be accurately examined in order to determine the severity and potential costs for repairs. Those inspections are carried out by an insurance adjuster, who is paid by the insurance company to evaluate your claim. While they may claim impartiality, make no mistake they work directly for the insurance company, which means they have a vested interest in potentially minimizing your possible payout. Their job is to provide a settlement that will satisfy your property damage. However, during the process, they may overlook losses that are not obvious, leading to future expenses that will not be covered by your policy.

So, what is a public adjuster or otherwise known as an independent adjuster, and what can they do for you? A licensed, certified public adjuster is truly an independent arbiter that you hire to carefully examine your insurance policy and estimate the full scope of your property damage. A good public adjuster will initiate an in-depth, independent, and comprehensive appraisal of your property damage that does not focus on the insurance company’s best interest.

Unfortunately, property damage is often accompanied by the stress of not knowing exactly what your insurance company will cover. At Acle Law, our insurance claims attorneys are some of the best in South Florida and will use their more than four decades of combined skill and experience to:

• Ensure your policy and corresponding claim align
• Help you investigate your damages to determine an accurate value of your losses
• Maximize your settlement to ensure you properly fix the damages
• Take your case to court when negotiations with your carrier are unsuccessful
• Hold your insurance carrier accountable when they are acting in bad faith

At Acle Law, we only specialize in one thing – Florida property insurance claims. We’ve been doing it for decades and our attorneys understand the nuanced approach needed to maximize your claim and get the repairs done. At Acle Law, we provide a complimentary review of your insurance policy, so you understand what is and what is not protected. We will walk you through the terms of your insurance policy and provide representation in any dispute in Florida where your insurer is denying, delaying, or under-paying your claim. Call our Miami property insurance claim attorneys at the Acle Law Firm today at 305-447-4667 or visit Acle Law for a free consultation.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season is fast approaching and if the past few years are any indication, flooding rains, high winds and the potential for catastrophic damage are possible. As we prepare for what might be an above-average hurricane season across South Florida, our legal team wants to make sure you understand the terms used by the National Weather Service and local forecasters so you can stay ahead of each storm’s progress and prepare accordingly.

Tropical weather comes in all shapes and levels of intensity and are reported in varying degrees of strength. These stages include: 

• Outlooks
• Advisories
• Watches
• Warnings

Tropical Weather Outlooks

A Tropical Weather Outlooks follows a disturbed weather pattern and its potential for development over the course of next five days.

Tropical Weather Advisories

These list all current coastal watches and warnings associated with an ongoing or potential tropical cyclone, including:

• Position
• Current Direction
• Maximum Sustained Winds
• Description of Associated Hazards

Tropical Weather Warnings

The categories for Tropical Weather Warnings can vary in Florida and can include:

• Storm Surge Warning – generally within 36 hours or less
• Tropical Storm – Tropical storm (sustained winds of 39 – 73 mph) are expected in within 36 hours or less

Hurricane Watches & Warnings

• A Hurricane Watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or greater) are possible within a specified area. A hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds in an area.
• A Hurricane Warning indicates that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected somewhere within the specified area.

During hurricane season, it is important to listen closely to all instructions issued from local officials and to follow all necessary directions to protect yourself and your loved ones. This included evacuating if told to do so.

Preparing for the 2021 hurricane season begins with a comprehensive review of your property insurance policies to ensure you are covered adequately for any potential loss.

South Florida homeowners and businesses interested in proactively managing their storm coverage should be reviewing their policies now. Call Acle Law at 305-447-4667 or visit aclelaw.com to schedule an absolutely free and private consultation to review your existing policy.

Sometimes tragedy strikes. It can be scary, and even overwhelming. If your Florida home, condo or business has been damaged by fire, flood or hurricane, or for any reason, you’re probably thinking to yourself – “thank goodness we have insurance.”

If you’ve never filed a claim before, don’t fret because there are certain steps you can take to ensure your insurance your insurance company can respond quickly to your needs, especially as it relates to severe damage that may leave your home of office uninhabitable.

These basic 3 steps below outline what absolutely needs to get done in order to file an insurance claim and also what you can do if your insurance carrier, denies, delays or undervalues your claim.

STEP ONE: NOTIFY YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY

You have to let them know that damage occurred. You can’t expect your insurance company to respond to your coverage needs if you don’t notify them. If you have an insurance agent, contact them first. The response time may be shorter and more personable. If not, simply contact the 24-hour call center and provide the necessary details to begin your claim.

STEP TWO: RECORD THE DAMAGE

Your insurance company is going to send an adjuster to survey the damage, but until they arrive, it’s your responsibility to record any damage that has occurred through photographs, video while also making an inventory list of damaged or destroyed items. DO NOT clean up any of the damage before the adjuster has a chance to see it. If you have to move an object for safety reasons or to prevent more damage, that’s ok. Just make sure to record original positions and the damage caused. All of this is important because it factors into how your claim is evaluated.

STEP THREE: GET ESTIMATES FOR DAMAGES

The adjuster is going to give you an estimate of the damages and the cost of replacement. Just remember, insurance adjusters are employed by the insurance company so it’s not always in their best interest to maximize your coverage for your loss. It’s a good idea to get an estimate for repairs on your own.

At Acle Law, we only specialize in one thing – Florida property insurance claims. We’ve been doing it for decades and our attorneys understand the nuanced approach needed to maximize your claim and get the repairs done. At Acle Law, we provide a complimentary review of your insurance policy, so you understand what is and what is not protected. We will walk you through the terms of your insurance policy and provide representation in any dispute in Florida where your insurer is denying, delaying or under-paying your claim. Call our Miami property insurance claim attorneys at the Acle Law Firm today at 305-447-4667 or visit Acle Law for a free consultation.

This latest brush with Tropical Storm ETA reminded us how vulnerable we are to strong storms and hurricanes in our region. And when a storm passes – whether a strong afternoon thunderstorm or major hurricane, dishonest fraudsters and contractors often come out and prey upon homeowners and business owners whose property was damaged. These individuals often go door-to-door looking to capitalize on people in desperate need of repairs. While most contractors are legitimate and work to the best of their ability, there are others who make false promises, demand up-front payments and never start or finish the actual work.

We’ve been lucky so far this hurricane season across South Florida, but that won’t always be the case. Did you know that recent estimates indicate the losses from Hurricane Laura are going to be between $8 and $12 billion in Louisiana alone. That means that a lot of Louisiana residents are now navigating the insurance claims process. So how exactly does that work? What happens if and when a storm hits South Florida?

Hurricane season here and it’s essential to prepare your Miami home or Miami business before potential disaster can strike – especially if you live in South Florida where we call home. Now is the time to determine your personal hurricane risk and better understand local hurricane evacuation zones while reviewing and updating your Miami property insurance policies. It’s also a good idea to make a list of hurricane emergency supplies you’ll need and to start and pull that kit together now as best you can. Keep in mind, you may need to adjust storm preparedness based on health and safety guidelines from the CDC and local and state officials. But to get you started, Acle Law has pulled together this basic Hurricane Preparedness Checklist for you.

Let’s face it – we all buy insurance hoping we will never need it, but when a situation arises and a claim needs to be filed, many are at a total loss about how to proceed. The following information from our Founding Partner Edward Acle should help answer some of your most basic questions and property damage insurance claims. If you have additional questions or need assistance filing a claim or resolving a dispute with your insurance carrier, call Acle Law at 305-447-4667 or visit aclelaw.com for an absolutely free and confidential consultation.