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Did my insurance company give an accurate assessment of my claim?

On Behalf of | Apr 10, 2023 | Insurance Law and Litigation

Floridians rely on their insurance coverage to pay for damages, repairs and to compensate them accurately for what they have lost in an accident or incident. Given the recent catastrophes that have happened in the Sunshine State such as hurricanes and building collapses, people are increasingly vigilant about having sufficient coverage.

However, insurers are frequently accused of trying to find ways to limit the payouts. This directly contradicts the purpose of having insurance in the first place. Many times, it is through scrutinizing the fine print in the contract to avoid paying. In other cases, it is outright fraud. People who believe they have been victimized by an insurer’s wrongdoing need to have legal protection.

Insurance adjusters’ reports might have been changed to pay less

An investigation is moving forward to see if insurers were fraudulently changing adjusters’ reports to pay less that what they should have. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the probe. According to those who work in the industry, this does not come as a shock.

One stated that an elderly person did not receive her insurance payments due to the company’s delay tactics and eventual closure. Adjusters have been known to look at the damage to a property, write their report only for it to be changed by the company. When it gets back to the policy holder, they receive much less than what they thought they would get.

There is suspicion that the company management is unilaterally deciding to reduce the assessment. Some of the payments were cut by 45% to 97%. The investigation will be conducted by the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services.

Pursuing insurance companies to live up to their obligations may require legal help

Property owners purchase insurance in good faith expecting the company to pay for what was lost when the unexpected happens. If there is a major weather event like a hurricane, it becomes even more imperative for insurance companies to live up to their end of the bargain.

Unfortunately, as these allegations show, many do not. They search for loopholes in the coverage or fraudulently change the adjusters’ reports. As the state investigates what happened and plans to hold these companies accountable, it is still important for people to be protected if they find themselves in this situation. Calling experienced professionals who know the ins and outs of insurance litigation can be crucial to receiving the maximum payout based on the agreement.

 

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