EXPERIENCED AND TRIAL TESTED INSURANCE ATTORNEY IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Dealing with large insurance companies can be difficult, stressful and time consuming without the proper legal representation. If you or a family member has been injured in an accident caused by an act of negligence, malpractice or wrongful conduct on the part of another party, then under Florida Law you may be eligible for compensation. The difficulty is that many insurance companies have teams of professionals whose goal is reduce or eliminate payments to their clients in order to protect their profits. You will need an experienced Orlando insurance attorney on your side, fighting for your rights and getting you the compensations that you deserve for both yourself and your family. Give us a call today for a consultation: (321) 537-3175.
Many times injuries can cause not only physical damage, but also emotional and psychological stress. They can create difficult financial situations for victims and possible lost wages due to not being able to work. A qualified Orlando insurance attorney can help their client receive prompt reimbursement for any medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering or any other damages that may have been caused by another’s negligence. Insurance companies are relentless in limiting or preventing fair compensation to clients, and you will need an attorney who will fight just as aggressively for your rights. When you work with a qualified firm, you will receive the representation that you deserve along with professionals who understand your needs and will address your concerns.
What is Insurance Law?
As its name implies, insurance law includes insurance policies, claims, regulations, rates and newly enacted laws such as the Affordable Care Act. Insurance law can generally be broken down into the business of insurance, content of insurance policies and the processing of claims. Insurance is a legally binding contract between one party, the insured, who pays money in the form of a premium to another party that agrees to reimburse them for certain types of injuries or losses. This includes property damage, personal injury or death.
If an insurance company gets sued, they will have defense attorneys to represent them in a case related to an insurance contract. An example being an auto insurer will hire an attorney to represent their insured driver in the case where they are sued by another party that they have caused an accident with. It is their objective to win the case, thus the person who was injured would not receive the compensation they deserve. In these cases an Orlando insurance attorney can help that person make their case to the court, and prove that they deserve fair compensations for their suffering caused by the negligence of others.
Auto Insurance Claims
In the state of Florida in 2015 there were 374,302 Affordable Care Act resulting in 243,296 injuries. Orange County alone accounted for 19,744 of those injuries. These unfortunate statistics means that people are being put at risk on a daily basis every time they get behind the wheel of their vehicle. Sometimes these accidents and resulting injuries are caused by the negligence of another driver, and series injury can occur that will change a person’s life in an instant.
Florida has what is called a No-Fault Law in reference to motor vehicle accidents. In a no-fault state, drivers must carry auto-insurance that will cover personal injuries caused in an accident. These benefits may pay for medical expenses and lost wages. The benefits will be valid regardless who was at fault in the accident, and drivers may choose whether to file claims with their own insurers, file claims with another driver’s insurer, or take the other driver to court to prove that they were the one at fault.
Injuries resulting from auto accidents can be devastating enough, but the long-term financial and psychological impact can be even greater. If an accident has resulted in the loss of life, family members may have a case for a wrongful death lawsuit. Accidents may be so severe that drivers may face vehicular manslaughter charges. Whether you are a driver, passenger or a pedestrian, being involved in an auto accident is a traumatic, life altering event. In an instant, victims are presented with the fear of injury, medical bills and their long term future. Having an Orlando insurance attorney who knows the law to represent you can make the legal process run much more smoothly.
If you are in an accident, once you and anyone else involved are safe, here are some tips that can make a significant difference if your case ends up in court.
- Attempt to get the contact information of all parties involved in the accident, as well as any witnesses to the accident.
- Collect the insurance company names and policy numbers from all parties involved in the accident. If you have suffered injury or property damage, do not let yourself be taken advantage of by one party convincing you that the accident can be resolved without getting their insurance company involved.
- Collect the vehicle information of all the vehicles involved in the accident, including make, model and license plate numbers.
- Take photographs with your phone or camera of the accident scene, and try to jot down a description of what happened while it’s fresh in your mind.
- Regardless of what other parties involved in the accident may say it’s always best to call the police. Make sure to get the name of the officer who arrives at the scene and later get a copy of the police report.
Bad Faith Insurance Claims
Every insurance company is required to take actions that align with the best interests of their clients. Sometimes an insurance company will fail to act with integrity and honesty towards their policy holders or those who have been involved in an accident with their holders.
Typically a case of Bad Faith will occur involving auto, health, life, medical or disability insurance. Some examples of Bad Faith insurance practices include:
- Denying benefits without a viable cause.
- Delaying the payment of benefits for claims for an unreasonable length of time.
- Refusing to settle or reimburse legitimate claims.
- Wrongly canceling a client’s insurance policy without proper cause.
- Underpaying claims of a policy holder.
- Not investigating a claim in the correct manner.
Any individual, including insurance policy holders, can bring a civil action against an insurance company when the individual suffers damage due to an insurance company’s actions. When entering into this type of claim it’s recommended to have an experienced Orlando insurance attorney who can represent you and prevent an insurance company from unfairly taking advantage of your situation.
Medical & Disability Insurance
Florida, like most states, enacted Health Insurance Reforms in the 1990’s to ensure access to coverage for individuals without companies imposing unreasonable rates and premiums. Most people can’t afford to simply pay cash for their medical needs, or excessive premiums/deductibles. Whether you have purchased insurance on your own or through your employer, it’s reasonable to assume that if you are injured then your medical costs will be fairly compensated. If a medical insurance company denies your claim, however, you may end up with medical bills that are impossible to pay. Some individuals can even be forced to declare bankruptcy because of overwhelming medical costs.
Insurance companies often release policies with fine print that is purposefully confusing and difficult to understand. Medical insurance companies will include language, terms and conditions that can impact your health benefits. If your claim for medical insurance benefits is denied, an experienced Orlando insurance attorney, who is well versed in these types of policies, can ensure that you receive a fair chance for coverage for a particular medical procedure.
Medical insurance can also include disability insurance claims that result in disputes over the severity of the injury and can lead to denial or delay of fair payments. Just as with any insurance policy, when you are entitled to collect benefits due to a disability, the insurance company has a legal obligation to pay your claim. If a dispute happens, it will often be required of you to present medical evidence for your condition and a court will make a decision based off of that evidence. Your insurance company may request additional tests from different doctors, and this can delay the payment of your claim for an unbearable amount of time. If the insurance company refuses to pay your claim, you will need a capable Orlando insurance attorney to fight for your rights and ensure you are paid a fair amount for your disability.
Homeowner’s & Property Insurance
Whether commercial or residential, denials of property insurance claims can cause unnecessary complications in your everyday life. Especially with the unpredictable weather of Florida and the arrival of hurricanes, insurance policy holders can possibly find themselves homeless following a disaster if their insurance company does not act within a reasonable timeframe. Homeowner’s insurance policy holders deserve access to benefits from the policy which they have consistently paid into, especially when their living conditions have been compromised
According to the Insurance Information Institute, Florida accounted for 14 percent of all U.S. insured catastrophe losses from 1985 to 2014.
Sometimes, especially in a large disaster situation requiring huge payouts, insurance companies will delay or deny disbursements of payments and try to dispute claims due to fine print in your policy. Policyholders are entitled to efficient claim processes after a disaster and will need access to their funds as soon as possible. If your insurance company is delaying or denying disbursement of payments as a result of a hurricane or other event, a qualified Orlando insurance attorney can help you receive the benefits that are owed.
You should never have to negotiate with an insurance company and their team of insurance defense attorneys alone or be forced into accepting an unacceptable offer. Individuals often accept incorrect, or even illegal, decisions by insurance companies and insufficient settlement offers because they believe they have no chance at a greater imbursement or are in desperate needs of funds. Don’t let yourself be intimidated in the face of legal jargon and fine policy print. An Orlando insurance attorney can help fight for your rights and allow you to rest easy, knowing that your insurance company will follow the legal standards set before them and within their policies.