San Francisco Insurance Policy Holder Rights Lawyer

Insurance Claims & Property Damage Attorney in San Francisco

Sawyer & Labar LLP provides legal counsel to individuals and business owners in the San Francisco metro area, and throughout Northern California, 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 San Francisco 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

When You Need a San Francisco Property Insurance Claims Lawyer

Property insurance is something that many people rely on. While they hope to never have to make use of it, it should provide coverage when catastrophes arise. However, that’s only true if the insurance company honors their agreement and pays out the claim as promised. Unfortunately, there are times when insurance companies fail to do their part. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, a San Francisco property insurance claims lawyer may be able to help.

At Sawyer & Labar LLP, we help those who are dealing with “bad faith” insurance adjusters. Lawyer Ivo Labar understands the unique challenges that these cases can pose while also recognizing the stress and worries that you’re dealing with. We know what it takes to hold insurance companies accountable for the compensation they owe our clients. Our attorney focuses on litigation, meaning we can fight effectively for your interests in the courtroom.

What Is a “Bad Faith” Property Insurance Claim?

When an insurance policy is agreed upon, certain obligations are given to each party. The policyholder’s primary obligation is to make the required payments on time, while the insurance company is responsible for providing appropriate compensation or other elements of the agreement to the policyholder, should they have a legitimate claim under the policy.

There are times, however, when insurance companies may fail to meet their obligations in a way that is considered “bad faith.” These are usually issues of unfair treatment, dishonest tactics, or otherwise unreasonable behavior. Some of the types of bad faith actions that an insurance company could demonstrate include:

• Unjustified Denial. Claims that fit within the policy agreement need to be covered and compensated according to the agreement. While the company may be able to deny a claim on legitimate grounds, some claims are rejected without a valid reason.
• A Lack of Investigation. Before an insurance company rejects a claim, they need to investigate thoroughly enough to justify that rejection. However, some rejections are made without a thorough investigation or even without any investigation at all.
• Lowball Offers. One of the ways an insurance company may act in bad faith is by offering a compensation package that is much less than the policyholder should be given, according to the agreement.
• Poor Communication. An insurance company should provide timely updates regarding the status of a claim and the process being used to evaluate the claim.
• Processing Delays. One of the critical aspects of property insurance is that the claim be addressed, processed, and compensated in a reasonable amount of time.
• Misrepresentation. If an insurance company attempts to misrepresent its responsibility to the policyholder, this could also be an example of bad faith.

What Does a San Francisco Property Insurance Claims Lawyer Do?

Insurance can be a complex issue, as the contracts are often nuanced, complicated, and difficult to understand. Unfortunately, some insurance companies attempt to take advantage of this complexity to avoid having to provide the full compensation that they are responsible for under their agreement. A San Francisco property insurance claims lawyer can be critical to helping ensure that a policyholder receives everything they should.

One of the critical aspects of assistance that a lawyer is able to provide is guidance regarding the policy. We understand the way that these contracts are written and the steps you’ll need to take to seek the compensation you’re owed. However, a lawyer can be particularly helpful when there is a dispute regarding the appropriate payout that you should receive from the insurance company.

California has a number of laws governing insurance companies and offering avenues for consumers to seek protection and compensation when they believe an insurance company has failed to meet their end of an insurance agreement. Lawyers can use the foundation that these laws provide to help their clients seek what they’re owed.

In addressing these disputes, we can help look at the contract that you have with the insurance provider and determine whether or not you may have a legitimate claim against them. Sometimes, the claim can be settled without needing to go to court.

Negotiation and Litigation

Having us negotiate on your behalf can be critical to maximizing any potential offer that you may receive. Our experience in negotiating these kinds of disputes gives us a foundation of understanding regarding what a reasonable settlement will look like.

Insurance providers’ actions are also often impacted by the presence of a lawyer. They realize that they will be unable to get away with lowball offers. Additionally, the presence of a lawyer makes it particularly clear that if a fair settlement isn’t reached, litigation is the next step.

While many claims are settled, there are many cases in which it will be necessary to rely on the litigation process to obtain the compensation you need. Having a lawyer for this process is often critical to the success of a claim, as it is our responsibility to represent you through the process, advocate for your interests, and present the strongest argument possible before the court.

The process of litigation involves paperwork, hearings, and presenting your case to the court. As your lawyer, we ensure that these steps are handled properly. We are responsible for explaining why your interests in the matter align with and are protected by the relevant laws.

Forms of Property Insurance

Property insurance offers protection for damages that occur to many types of property. The specifics of what’s covered depend on the contract that is arranged with the insurance provider. Some common forms of property insurance include:

• Homeowners Insurance. Homeowners insurance covers damage to a person’s house and their personal belongings. Typically, a minimum level of coverage is required by mortgage providers for homes on which there is an open loan.
• Commercial Insurance. Commercial properties could be subject to damage to buildings, inventory, materials, equipment, and other business property. Commercial insurance will often cover these items and possibly business interruption losses as well, should the damage prevent the business from operating fully for a period of time.
• Landlord Insurance. Those renting out homes will have policies insuring their structure and sometimes a loss of rental income as well.
• Flood Insurance. Specific coverage that addresses damage caused by flooding is usually required in areas that are prone to floods.
• Earthquake Insurance. Like flood insurance, a policy specifically addressing earthquakes could be required in areas where there is a great risk of an earthquake, such as San Francisco. Residents of Washington, Oregon, and California often have earthquake insurance policies in place.

Types of Property Damage That Can Lead to an Insurance Claim

Properties are often built to withstand a wide range of abuses, 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 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 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.
• Mold or Mildew. One of the potential lasting impacts of water damage is mold or mildew which may need to be addressed.

Get Help With Your San Francisco Property Insurance Claim

When your insurance provider is failing to follow through with their end of your agreement, it can be particularly frustrating. You’ve already dealt with the stress and challenges that come with the property damage you’re facing, whether it be from fire damage, water damage, or some other issue. Facing resistance, rejection, or other concerns from your insurance provider can add to your stress.

At Sawyer & Labar LLP, we know how to hold insurance companies to account for failing to meet their obligations. Attorney Ivo Labar is experienced with this challenging aspect of the law. We understand how to interpret insurance policies and identify what you’re owed, apply the right legal pressure, and fight for the compensation you deserve. To discuss any insurance claim issue that you may be facing, contact us today.