Even though homeowners purchase insurance to protect their property when it becomes damaged, not all home insurance claims are paid. While the unique facts of your policy and your situation play a role in understanding the reason for a home insurance claim denial, it is important to understand that you have rights as a consumer, and that you can exercise these rights following a denied claim.
Schimmel & Parks, APLC has earned a reputation as a proven Southern California civil litigation law firm that advocates aggressively for consumers and their rights. Over the years, we have helped many policyholders understand their rights and navigate the legal pathways needed to obtain the financial payouts they were entitled to under their policy, as well as many clients after they were mistreated by their insurance providers.
If your home insurance claim was denied, we encourage you to contact our team so that we can review your case, free of charge, and discuss your options. Because receiving a denial can be a frustrating experience, we’ve put together a few simple steps about what you can do.
- Find Out Why – First and most importantly, you need to figure out why the insurance company denied your claim. You can do so by reviewing the letter you should have received from the insurance adjuster, which is supposed to state a reason for a denial. Did the adjuster say that the claim is not covered under your policy? Are they noting that there was a lapse in coverage? Once you determine the reason, you may be able to correct simple mistakes that led to the denial, such as not providing the correct documentation, or take further steps to exercise your rights.
- File an Appeal – If your claim was denied, or even if you were paid a partial amount, and you do not agree with the decision, you have the ability to file an appeal with the insurance company. In order to file an effective appeal, it is important to know the reason for a denial, and take the steps to address those reasons fully. Appealing a claim can be challenging, especially when insurance company’s aggressively fight them. To assist you in the appeals process, you can work with a member of our firm.
- File a Bad Faith Insurance – Insurance companies have a duty to properly and promptly handle your home insurance claim, and a duty to treat you fairly during the claim or appeal process. If your attempts to resolve a claim have resulted in denials, or if you feel that the insurance company has breached their contractual obligation or violated laws that require them to treat you fairly, you may be able to file a bad faith insurance claim. These claims can allow you to pursue the payout you are rightfully entitled to, as well as any other damages denials or the insurance company’s actions created for you, including attorney fees. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling bad faith insurance claims, and can discuss if you may have a valid case.
When you have property damage and an insurance company denies your claim, you can face considerable setbacks and frustration. At Schimmel & Parks, APLC, we want you to know that you are not alone. Insurance companies commonly deny claims when they should not. After all, they are businesses and they want to protect their bottom line. However, they should never put profits above people. Bad faith insurance claims are one way to hold insurance companies accountable when they do just that.
If you have had your home insurance claim denied and would like more information about your rights and available options, contact us today for a free consultation.