Theft can be costly for families and businesses who are targeted. A thief’s primary objective is to take your valuables, but damage to your property can occur in the process. Electronics, jewelry, and vehicles are the top pickings, with police reports stating the first two are the most targeted. Property owners can lose valuables amounting to thousands of dollars.
Homeowner’s insurance offers a safety net for families, cushioning them against losses and damages associated with theft. Victims can get financial relief from their insurance policy. However, filing a theft claim and following the required processes is challenging for many. The compensation claim involves criminal investigations, which can be time-consuming.
Hiring an experienced, reputable, and reliable Florida theft lawyer when pursuing compensation for valuables stolen from your home. The attorneys at Klotzman Property Damage Law will ensure that the theft claim process has little to no hurdles. We are committed to ensuring that all clients who come to us after being theft victims can recover damages.
Get in touch with our Florida property damage lawyers at 954-915-7405 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help.
The Types of Property Theft
Under Florida law, theft is a criminal act of taking another person’s or entity’s property without their consent with the intention to permanently deprive them of it. The term “theft” is broad and covers different levels of offenses. These range from shoplifting, pickpocketing, and other low-level offenses to high-level offenses like armed robbery.
Below are the levels of theft offenses under Florida law.
Petty Theft
Florida laws classify petty theft as an act where an offender takes another person’s property valued below $750. Furthermore, the offender risks being charged with a misdemeanor and faces jail time, probation, and community service if found guilty.
Grand Theft
The law states that grand theft is an act where stolen property or valuables are worth more than a certain amount. This is determined by the market value when the said items were stolen. Florida laws consider grand theft a felony. Thus, the crime attracts severe punishment and penalties.
Additional Categories of Theft
A state may create an additional category or type of theft to fight against a rising offense at that time. “Grand Theft Auto” or motor vehicle theft is charged as a third-degree felony under Florida law. Carjacking in Florida is a first-degree felony.
Theft can translate into huge dollar amounts lost, especially when it comes to items like family heirlooms. If you or a family member is a victim of theft, you understand the fear, anxiety, and stress that come with the experience.
Our attorneys are here to help you navigate the insurance claims process and recover the money you need to get your life back to normal.
What Should I Do After a Theft?
Hiring a seasoned and committed Florida theft lawyer is a step in the right direction when you seek legal advice and guidance on recovering your stolen property. The attorney will take you through what you must do to file a successful insurance claim.
Call the Police and Report the Theft
Call the police and inform them about the theft soon after it happens so the cops can investigate and compile a report. Insurance companies won’t accept a theft claim as valid without a police report as proof.
Don’t Touch Anything
If the theft was a break-in while you were away, it is best not to enter your premises and touch anything before the police arrive and analyze the crime scene. They will take photos and check for evidence like DNA, fingerprints, and footprints.
Make a List of What Was Stolen
List the stolen items and hand the list to the police to ensure they include this information in their report.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance provider about the theft and let them know you also informed the police. Give the insurer the same list of stolen items, damage to your property, and the crime reference number the police give, which is also reflected in their report.
Call a Property Damage Attorney
Call an experienced property damage attorney to ensure that you have the best legal counsel and representation as you take the necessary measures when pursuing your insurance claim. It is a move that ensures you have a professional with knowledge of the different laws regarding such claims. Hence, you need not worry about things becoming too complicated for you to handle.
Do Insurance Policies Protect My Property Against Theft?
If you have homeowner’s insurance, you are protected against property loss and damage from theft. The insurance company will compensate you for stolen or damaged items. Overall, a homeowner’s insurance covers three types of damage in the event of theft.
- Personal Property Coverage: Your insurance company pays to repair or replace any items stolen or damaged in the incident.
- Dwelling Coverage: Your insurance will pay for damage to your home or property, such as a broken door or window.
- Other Structure Coverage: This covers the cost of repairs to structures such as sheds that are not attached to your home but are on your property and were damaged during the theft.
It is crucial to know if your policy covers the ACV (Actual Cash Value) or RCV (Replacement Cost Value) of stolen goods.
Actual Cash Value (ACV) means the insurance company will reimburse you for damaged or stolen items based on the items’ current market rates or worth. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) means the insurance company will pay for however much it costs to replace the item in the current market.
What If My Insurance Denies My Theft Claim?
Insurance providers are keen on ensuring there are running a profit-making business. Therefore, they will take measures to ensure they lower expenses associated with compensation claims. That is why they are never quick to reimburse their clients and will search for anything that allows them to deny your claim or pay less than what you deserve.
We have dealt with insurance companies who refused to pay clients who filed theft claims. The law requires insurance companies to explain why they deny a claim, which must be in writing. However, not all insurers will give their clients a written justification and often try to intimidate people who don’t know their rights.
At Klotzman Property Damage Law, we call out insurance providers for bad faith actions. Our seasoned Florida theft lawyers will fight back if your claim is denied or you are offered a low settlement. We promise to fight aggressively to ensure that you get fair compensation for your stolen and damaged property.
How Can a Theft Claim Attorney Help Me?
Things will be very different when dealing with your insurance provider when you have a lawyer overseeing the negotiations. Suppose your insurer denies your compensation claim. In that case, your attorney will present evidence to challenge the claim denial and fight to make sure that they reimburse you.
Here are some of the benefits of hiring Klotzman Property Damage Law for your theft case.
- We have a team of seasoned attorneys who will fight to ensure you get full compensation.
- We can evaluate your insurance policy to determine exactly what is covered.
- We conduct a full investigation into the value of all your stolen/damaged property.
- The investigations will help us calculate the amount you can recover.
- We handle negotiations with your insurance provider to secure a favorable settlement.
- We prepare the claim case for trial if the negotiations go south.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation, call us today.
Call Us Today and Hire a Seasoned Florida Theft Lawyer!
Victims of theft or burglary can get financial relief from the compensation their insurance policy provides. However, filing a theft claim and following the required processes is challenging for many homeowners. The compensation claim involves comprehensive criminal investigations, which can be time-consuming.
Hiring an experienced, reputable, and reliable property damage lawyer is best if you need legal advice and guidance when pursuing compensation for valuables stolen from your home. The attorneys at Klotzman Property Damage Law will ensure that the theft claim process has little to no hurdles.
We handle all communications and negotiations with your insurance provider as we represent you in your quest to get compensation. We will fight back if your claim is denied or the insurance company tries to pay you less than what you deserve. We will be ready to proceed to court if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement amount.
We are committed to ensuring that all clients who come to us after being theft victims can recover the compensation they deserve. Get in touch with our top theft lawyers in Florida at 954-915-7405 to learn more about our services and how we can help. Your initial consultation is free.
