Fighting for Fair Treatment from Insurance Companies
You pay insurance premiums year after year with the expectation that your insurance company will be there when disaster strikes. But when you file a legitimate claim for property damage, auto accident injuries, or other covered losses, insurance companies often respond with denials, delays, or unreasonably low settlement offers. These practices can leave you struggling to repair your home, replace your vehicle, or cover medical expenses after an accident.
The Law Office of Frederic N. Ornitz represents policyholders in disputes with insurance companies over denied or underpaid property and auto insurance claims. We hold insurers accountable for their obligations under your policy, challenge improper claim denials, and fight for the full compensation you deserve. Whether your homeowners insurance denied coverage for storm damage, your auto insurer disputes liability for an accident, or your property claim was undervalued by an adjuster, we provide experienced legal representation to protect your rights.
Homeowners, renters, and commercial property insurance policies provide coverage for damage caused by fire, storms, water, theft, vandalism, and other perils. When your property is damaged, you expect your insurance company to honor its commitment and pay for repairs or replacement. Unfortunately, insurers often look for reasons to deny claims or minimize payouts, leaving policyholders without the resources needed to restore their property.
Denials or undervaluation of claims for damage from hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, wind, or severe weather events. Insurers may claim damage is pre-existing or not covered under policy exclusions.
Disputes over coverage for burst pipes, roof leaks, sewer backups, or water infiltration. Insurers often invoke flood exclusions even when damage is clearly from covered sources.
Disagreements over the extent of fire damage, smoke damage, or necessary repairs. Insurers may dispute whether damage requires full replacement or only cosmetic repairs.
Denial of claims for stolen property or vandalism damage, often based on alleged insufficient proof of loss or policy exclusions.
Coverage disputes for mold remediation or structural damage from ongoing water problems. Insurers frequently claim mold is excluded or resulted from maintenance issues.
Claims for foundation issues, roof damage, or structural problems. Insurers may attribute damage to wear and tear rather than covered perils.
Even when insurers acknowledge coverage, disputes often arise over the value of the claim. Insurance companies may send adjusters who minimize damage, fail to account for all necessary repairs, or use depreciation to reduce payouts. Replacement cost coverage disputes, actual cash value calculations, and disagreements over repair estimates are common sources of conflict.
When you disagree with your insurance company's damage assessment, you have the right to obtain an independent appraisal. Many policies include appraisal clauses that allow disputes over the amount of loss to be resolved by neutral appraisers. We can help you invoke appraisal provisions and represent your interests throughout the process.
Auto insurance claims arise from vehicle accidents, theft, vandalism, and other covered events. Whether you're dealing with your own insurer under collision or comprehensive coverage, or pursuing a claim against another driver's liability insurance, disputes frequently occur over coverage, fault, and the value of damages.
First-party claims involve your own insurance company under collision, comprehensive, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Third-party claims are made against another driver's liability insurance. Each type of claim involves different legal standards and remedies. Our firm handles both first-party and third-party auto insurance disputes, ensuring you receive fair treatment regardless of which insurer is involved.
Insurance companies have teams of adjusters, investigators, and attorneys working to minimize what they pay on claims. You need experienced legal representation to level the playing field. Our approach to insurance claim disputes includes:
Insurance policies and state law impose deadlines for filing claims and lawsuits. Failure to act within these time limits can result in permanent loss of your right to recover. Contact our office promptly after your claim is denied or if your insurer is delaying or undervaluing your claim.
Insurance companies have a duty of good faith and fair dealing toward their policyholders. When insurers violate this duty through unreasonable claim denials, excessive delays, failure to investigate properly, or lowball settlement offers, they may be liable for bad faith. Bad faith claims can result in recovery of consequential damages beyond the policy limits and, in some cases, punitive damages designed to punish egregious insurer conduct.
Examples of bad faith include denying claims without reasonable investigation, refusing to settle claims within policy limits when liability is clear, misrepresenting policy provisions to deny coverage, failing to respond to communications, and forcing policyholders to litigation when coverage is obvious.
Insurance claim disputes require knowledge of insurance law, contract interpretation, and the tactics insurers use to minimize payouts. Our firm brings decades of legal experience to insurance claim representation, including:
We handle property and auto insurance claim disputes on a case-by-case basis, carefully evaluating the policy, the facts of your claim, and the best strategy to achieve a favorable outcome. Whether through negotiation, appraisal, or litigation, we are committed to obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Don't accept the insurer's decision. Contact us to explore your options.
Schedule a Consultation