Los Angeles Insurance Policy Holder Rights Lawyer

Insurance Claims & Property Damage Attorney in Los Angeles

Sawyer & Labar LLP provides legal counsel to Los Angeles individuals and business owners who are being treated unfairly by their insurance company. Regardless of the type of dispute, our goal is to provide insurance policyholders with all of the benefits that their insurance companies promised.

Our LA attorneys represent insurance policyholders in actions against their insurers for breach of contract, bad faith, misrepresentation, reformation, and other legal claims. We also represent policyholders on appeal and in class actions.

Our experienced team can also assist you with pre-litigation matters such as claim negotiation, examinations under oath (“EUO”) and appraisals. Indeed, because insurance companies know of our tenacity and willingness to take cases to trial, we are often successful in resolving disputes without litigation.

Sawyer & Labar LLP has successfully litigated against insurance companies on claims arising from:

• Business and residential property insurance
• Comprehensive general liability (“CGL”) insurance
• Directors and officers liability insurance
• Errors and omission insurance
• Disability and life insurance

Most people hope to avoid the need to collect on a property insurance policy. However, when you do need that coverage, it’s important that the insurance company adheres to the terms of your agreement. Unfortunately, that’s not always what occurs. A Los Angeles property insurance claims lawyer may be able to help if your provider is acting in “bad faith.”

These types of insurance issues are some of the serious concerns that we help our clients with at Sawyer & Labar LLP. Identifying what should be covered under your insurance policy and when a company is acting in bad faith can be complicated. However, Ivo Sabar, our talented attorney, understands the relevant laws and knows how to hold these companies accountable to their agreement. As an experienced litigator, he’s not afraid to take insurers to court to seek what you’re owed.

Why You May Need a Los Angeles Property Insurance Claims Lawyer

A Los Angeles property insurance claims lawyer will most often be needed when you are met with resistance, rejection, or delays when trying to seek the compensation that you’re owed on a property insurance policy. There are legal protections for consumers in these situations, and we can represent you as you seek compensation through those means. Typically, this means seeking a resolution by either negotiating a settlement or taking a claim to court.

Negotiation

When you negotiate a settlement, you may be able to receive fair compensation. It is also often a quicker process than litigation, and it can result in getting funds much sooner. However, you should never accept a low settlement just to receive compensation more quickly. At Sawyer & Labar LLP, we always begin preparing for litigation at the outset of your case, so we’ll never settle when it’s not appropriate to do so.

When we negotiate on your behalf, it’s clear that the possibility of litigation is a real risk, and this can often lead to a more willing negotiating partner. The hassle and expense of that process is something that insurance companies usually want to avoid. We also understand the negotiation process from extensive experience and can help you weigh your options with regard to accepting a settlement or moving forward with litigation.

Litigation

While there may be advantages to settling, it only makes sense when the offer is one that’s sufficient to cover the property damage that you’ve suffered. When this can’t be secured, litigation may be the better option to get the compensation that you’re owed. If so, it’s our job to represent you before the courts. We make your strongest case based on the law, the insurance policy that you agreed to, and the property damage that you face.

Forms of Property Insurance

Property insurance provides a range of coverage, protecting against many different types of damage. The policy will spell out specifically what is covered, and property insurance can come in several different forms, including:

• Homeowners. Damage to a person’s house and personal belongings is covered under homeowners insurance. When the home is associated with a mortgage, there is often a requirement to carry a certain level of homeowners insurance.
• Commercial. Protection for commercial property will often cover damage to buildings, equipment, materials, inventory, and other business property. It may even cover losses that are incurred as a result of interruption to business due to any of the damage.
• Renters. Renters will have policies covering property damage, loss related to their personal belongings, and possibly more, depending on their lease agreement.
• Landlord. When renting out a property, insurance may cover damage to that property, and it could also cover potential loss of rental income in the event that damage makes the property uninhabitable.
• Flood. Standard property insurance policies don’t typically cover the damage that is caused by floods. Those in areas with a higher-than-normal risk of flooding will need to carry separate flood insurance to have sufficient coverage.
• Earthquake. Similar to floods, earthquakes are not covered under most standard property insurance protections. However, in areas where there is a greater risk of an earthquake, a separate policy can provide protection.

The specifics of a policy can be complicated to understand, and a lawyer can be helpful to ensure that you know what is covered under your policy. It’s also important to follow the proper procedures, according to the agreement, when filing a claim under the policy.

Types of Los Angeles Property Damage That Can Lead to an Insurance Claim

Los Angeles properties are often built to withstand a wide range of issues, but not everything is preventable. While proper maintenance and care can help prevent some issues, a variety of different types of damage could be caused by a single, powerful natural disaster. Other types of damages could gradually occur over a long period of time. Some of the more common forms of property damage include:

• Structural Damage. The structure of a property can take on damage to components like the foundation or the roof. The damage could be the result of a single incident, such as a storm or natural disaster, or it could also be the result of time and wear.
• Storm Damage. Storms can damage a property in a variety of ways, including water damage, strong winds blowing something into or off of the property, hail impacts, lightning strikes, and other damage. We can help with Los Angeles storm damage insurance claims.
• Fire Damage. Fires, including wildfires, can cause significant damage to a house. Efforts to fight a fire could also cause additional damage as well. Sometimes, the impact of a fire itself may cause minimal damage, and the impact of the smoke may cause more issues. We can help you with Los Angeles fire damage claims.
• Water Damage. Leaks and pipe issues can create significant water damage on a property. Floods are often another source of potential water damage, but they are not typically covered under standard policies and may require additional insurance.

What May Be Considered “Bad Faith”

When you sign an insurance policy agreement, you expect that the insurance provider will meet their end of the agreement. They should provide appropriate compensation in a timely fashion should you suffer any damages that are covered under your policy.

An insurer may be acting in bad faith when unreasonably delaying addressing or paying out your claim, not providing enough funds to cover the damage despite your agreement, or possibly even unjustly rejecting your claim. Many of these kinds of bad faith actions are a violation of the law and of the contract that you signed with the insurer. Some of the more common forms of bad faith actions include:

• Unjust Denial
• Inadequate Offers
• Insufficient Communication
• Delays in Processing
• Not Investigating the Claim
• Misrepresentation of the Policy

If You Believe Your Insurance Provider Is Acting in Bad Faith, We May Be Able to Help

When you rent or own property, you can rest assured knowing that you have an insurance policy in place to protect you if something goes wrong. That can make it all the more frustrating when you finally need to rely on that insurance policy and are met with delays, resistance, or even outright rejection. A strong lawyer who is prepared to fight these bad faith issues may be able to help you get the compensation that you’re owed.

Lawyer Ivo Sabar is prepared to help clients do what it takes to pursue the compensation that they need. We understand the nuances of these contracts and the laws that hold these companies accountable.

Whether through a negotiated settlement or by way of litigation, our objective is to see that our clients are given the protection their policy promised. If you have a Los Angeles property insurance concern, contact us to discuss how we may be able to help.