In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, many Floridians will be waking up to property damage to their home or business.
Tropical wind storms are a hazard we are all too familiar with living in the Sunshine State, and our recent encounter with Hurricane Irma has been yet another reminder Mother Nature will have her say whenever she wants.
Ideally, you have protected your home and personal belongings by purchasing insurance to cover them in the event of a loss, whether due to a wind storm, or other peril.
You pay your premiums dutifully, hoping never to have to make a claim. But once you have to use your insurance, the process can be confusing, drawn out, and sometimes falls well short of making you whole.
In fact, one pitfall you should be wary of is the low ball offer from your carrier that comes with a “requirement” that you sign a release.
A release is a document that says if you take the payment on offer by the insurance company, you do so in exchange for forever discharging the insurance company for any further liability or payments.
Do not be lulled into signing any such document without consulting an attorney first!
The insurance company owes what it owes on your claim, and you are under no obligation to sign any release in order to obtain the money that is rightfully owed to you.
If you are asked to sign one, take it as a red flag that the claims decision on offer by the insurance company may not be full value for what coverage you are entitled to under the policy.
And if you sign it, and find out later the money you were paid does not cover all of your damages, it may prevent you from recovering anything further. So keep your head up for this trick, and know your rights.
If you are given an offer and are told by your insurance company you should sign a release as a requirement for getting the payment, please click here or call 1-800-984-9951 for a free consultation.