Around one in every twenty homes will need to file a homeowner’s insurance claim each year. It’s never a desirable situation, but at least you have insurance, right?
Unfortunately, many homeowners are taken aback when they realize that their insurance company is underpaying or even denying their claim.
If this has happened to you, you’re probably wondering if you need a lawyer to negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. You probably have questions about what a homeowner’s insurance lawyer costs and whether it’s even worth it to hire one.
In this article, we’ll discuss what a homeowner’s insurance lawyer costs and how they can help you.
Who Needs a Homeowner’s Insurance Lawyer?
Many people think their family lawyer can handle their homeowner’s insurance claim. But family lawyers aren’t specialists in working with insurance companies, only a homeowner’s insurance lawyer is.
A homeowner’s insurance lawyer is a specialist who helps you get a fair insurance claim after suffering significant loss. This loss might come from a number of different issues (theft, fire, etc.), but the resulting struggle with the insurance company is far from rare.
Settling an insurance claim is a lot like a business negotiation. Your insurance company will try to negotiate the lowest settlement price possible. You, on the other hand, want to receive the highest settlement price possible.
Unfortunately for you, the insurance company has a dedicated legal team whose job it is to do everything they can to help their client. Having a homeowner’s insurance attorney on your side helps to level that playing field.
Another reason someone might need a homeowner’s insurance lawyer is when the insurance company doesn’t want to pay at all. Their agents and lawyers will use any loophole they can to avoid paying out on your claim. However, there may be things they aren’t telling you. A lawyer who specializes in home insurance claims will be able to advise you of your legal rights and make sure you get every cent you are entitled to.
What Does a Homeowner’s Insurance Lawyer Cost?
Homeowners don’t file insurance claims “just for fun.”
If you’ve filed a claim for damage to your home, it’s because you’ve suffered an expensive loss that you couldn’t pay for out-of-pocket. So it’s highly unlikely that you have funds set aside to pay for a homeowner’s insurance attorney.
But there’s good news: you don’t have to!
Many home insurance attorneys work on a contingency fee, meaning you only pay your lawyer if you win your case and receive your settlement.
How Much Will My Lawyer Take?
“If my lawyer takes their fees out of my settlement money, will I still have enough leftover to fix my house?”
Absolutely!
Not only will you have enough money to cover your loss, you’ll receive the full settlement amount from the insurance company. Confused? Allow us to explain how this works.
When you begin legal proceedings against your insurance company, your case ends in one of two ways: through settlement or through trial.
Most of these cases end in settlement. At Sunshine Law, we negotiate global settlements which allow us to ask for additional funds beyond your damages.
So if you have a roofing claim valued at $10,000, we will negotiate a settlement for the insurance company to pay for the $10,000 you need to fix your roof as well as any other expenses you may have incurred as a result of your claim, including legal fees.
It’s worth noting that we will never accept a settlement offer if you are not 100% satisfied with the amount that you will be receiving. If you are not comfortable with the insurance company’s offer (minus legal fees), we will proceed with your case until you are.
So what happens if your case goes to trial?
Under Florida law, your homeowner’s insurance lawyer is entitled to recover their fees and costs if they win your case. Guess who pays for that? That’s right: the insurance company.
And if we lose your case, we don’t get paid at all. It’s a risk we’re willing to take to have the privilege of doing what we believe in.
You Can’t Afford Not to Work With an Attorney
The question you’re asking shouldn’t be “What does a homeowners’ insurance lawyer cost?” but “how quickly can I hire one?”
When a lawyer files a lawsuit against an insurance company, they argue that the insurance company is in breach of contract (i.e. your insurance policy). These types of cases are very difficult to win without a professional legal team on your side. Homeowner’s insurance attorneys give you a much better chance of winning your case and recovering the funds you deserve under your insurance policy.
Home insurance lawyers also work on a contingency fee, which will be paid by the insurance company after you win your case.
At Sunshine State Law Firm, you will never have to pay upfront to receive experienced legal guidance. Our consultations are 100% and we don’t get a penny unless you win.
Contact us today. One of our associates would be happy to answer all your questions.
