When someone breaks into your house, they steal more than just your property. They also steal your peace of mind. Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance includes burglary coverage. But insurance claims can be complicated and stressful.
Our Miami property damage attorneys meet with clients every week whose house has been burglarized. They have a hard time dealing with the fact that a stranger came into their home in the first place. The last thing they want to do is fight with their insurance company.
That’s why they call our property damage lawyers in Florida. They understand that we will handle the insurance adjuster and make sure they are compensated for their loss. This leaves our clients free to deal with the emotional trauma of being robbed.
Here, we will talk about what types of property are covered in the event of a theft or robbery. We will also explain what your options are if your homeowner’s policy doesn’t fully cover your valuables and other personal belongings. If you have questions about your own property loss, contact our office right away. You can schedule your free, initial consultation with one of our Miami property damage attorneys right away.
You Need Homeowner’s Insurance or Renter’s Insurance for Burglary Coverage
When you buy your home, you will usually be required to carry homeowner’s insurance. If there is still a mortgage on your property, you don’t have a choice in the matter. If you happen to rent your home or apartment, then you should purchase renter’s insurance. This type of policy will protect you if you are the victim of a burglary.
When you purchase your insurance policy, it’s important that you read the fine print. You need to know what your policy limits are. Most insurance policies will spell out exactly what your coverage limits are for the various categories of property. These categories are usually broken up as follows:
- Dwelling
- Other structures on your property
- Personal property on the premises or temporarily away from your premises
- Personal property that you have in storage away from your dwelling
- Other peoples’ property that you are holding for them on your property.
The important thing you need to remember is that you are covered for two different types of property damage or loss. The first type is physical damage done to your property. This includes your dwelling, doors, windows, and other structures. The second type of coverage is for your personal possessions. When you suffer a break-in, you may need to file a claim for both types of losses.
You Need to Make a List of Any Damage Caused to Your Property
When people are burglarized, they assume that they only need to submit a claim for stolen items. However, there is a good chance the person who robbed you also damaged your property. For example, they may have smashed your windows out in order to get into the house. Or they may break down your doors. These things need to be replaced.
There is also the chance that the robbers can cause other damage inside your dwelling. They may toss your dresser drawers around in their search for valuables. They could rip apart your paintings looking for a safe or a hiding place.
It’s critical that you and your Miami property damage attorney include these things in your homeowner’s claim. You won’t be able to go back and include these things later. You should also check your policy to make sure these things are covered. You can look under the clause in your policy regarding theft and see what your policy limits are.
Your Miami Property Damage Attorney Needs a List of Personal Property Lost During the Burglary
One thing your Miami property damage attorney will tell you is to make sure you maintain sufficient property insurance to cover you in case there is a theft. Your other option is to purchase a separate, supplementary policy to cover the remainder of your personal property. This way, your attorney can file a claim against both policies. This will give you a better chance of having all your losses covered.
When you meet with your property damage lawyer in Florida, make sure you give them a copy of both insurance policies. You also need to write a list of any personal property that was stolen or damaged.
Even if you aren’t sure if a particular item is covered, you still want to include it. The insurance adjuster could deny part of your claim. However, you don’t want to exclude it from the list knowing that there was a chance it may be covered.
Contact a Property Damage Lawyer in Florida if Your Claim Is Denied
Even if the police catch the person who committed the burglary, you may not get the money you need to cover the damage. You can file a lawsuit against them demanding compensation for the damage they caused. The problem is that the kind of person who will break into a stranger’s house and steal their property is not the kind of person who is going to pay a legal judgment.
This is why we recommend that you call and speak with one of our property damage lawyers in Florida as soon as possible. This will give them plenty of time to go over your lists of items that were damaged or stolen. It also allows them to hire an appraiser to help determine how much your total claim should be.
Once you’ve retained your Miami property damage attorney, they will be there to help with your insurance claim. Your attorney can help you take legal action if the insurance company tries to deny or underpay your claim. Hopefully, it won’t come to this. But it is nice to know that someone is in your corner.
Since we offer new clients a free, initial consultation, you have nothing to lose. You don’t want to look back later and wish you had retained a property damage lawyer in Florida.
