May 8, 2019
No one wants to think their insurance company will refuse to pay for damage to their property from fire, wind, or water, but all too often people in Florida are dismayed when they find out that is the case. With hurricane season almost here, now is a good time to review what to do in case your Florida home insurance claim is denied. Review Your Claim and Your Florida Homeowners Policy When communicating with insurance company representatives, knowledge is power. So before you contact your insurance company to question, complain, and dispute their denial, thoroughly re-read your claim and […]
April 26, 2019
The best time to review your Florida homeowners’ policy is now – before Hurricane Season 2019 begins. Your coverage for storm damage could be a lot more complicated than you think, and you don’t want to be caught off guard if your property is damaged during a tropical storm. The exclusions and limitations for water damage from rain can be very confusing, leaving homeowners feeling shortchanged and cheated when claims they believe are legitimate are denied. To help you prepare for another Hurricane Season, we’re going to address the issue of why Florida rain damage claims are denied and what […]
April 10, 2019
Six months have passed since Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle, causing 49 deaths and more than $5.5 billion in damage. During that time, the roads have been cleared, the power has been restored, and FEMA has paid out $1.1 billion for response and recovery efforts. However, the environment, homes and people who live there are still far from back to normal. A recent Washington Post article reports that the “lingering destruction” from Hurricane Michael has, in fact, made the people living in the affected Panhandle area feel forsaken. The government has not passed a major disaster-relief supplemental-funding bill for […]
March 27, 2019
Here in Florida, we’re well aware of water damage from tropical storms and floods, but what about a pipe bursting inside your house? The damage to your floors, walls, ceilings, and personal items can be extensive, and your insurance company might not cover your repair and replacement costs. In this blog post, we’ll discuss steps you can take after a pipe bursts in your house to contain the damage and obtain the funds you need to pay for necessary repairs and replacements. Initial Steps to Take after a Pipe Bursts in Your Home When you see water gushing from […]
March 6, 2019
Most people assume the damage to their homes caused by water from storms, leaks, burst pipes, or sewer backup will be covered by their homeowners’ insurance policies. They are then very upset and disappointed when their water damage claim gets denied. At Malik Law, we generally suggest that you become familiar with your insurance policy, but we totally understand how anyone can get confused by the difficult language and ambiguities in their insurance documents. Given this situation, we thought it would be worthwhile to clarify the reasons why many water damage claims get denied. After all, knowledge is power, and […]
February 20, 2019
Water damage in homes is a leading cause of homeowners’ insurance claims, second only to wind and hail damage. In fact, in Florida the frequency of non-flood water damage claims has increased 46% since 2010. As a result, the insurance industry has found new ways to limit and deny coverage for water damage. One tactic has been to impose a time limit on covered water damage. That is, coverage is now typically limited to “sudden and accidental” damage, and any damage that occurs over a period of time greater than 14 days is excluded. Problems for Florida Policyholders This […]
January 15, 2019
When a fire damages your home, taking the steps necessary to submit an insurance claim, work out issues with your insurance company, and get repair work done can be very difficult. However, by following the steps outlined in this blog post and consulting with an experienced fire damage attorney if you have any problems, you should be able to recover payment from your insurance company and get your home repaired satisfactorily. Working with Your Insurance Company After a fire, when your family’s safety is ensured, one of the first things you should do is contact your insurance company. They […]
January 3, 2019
When your home has been damaged by a storm, fire, water or other disaster, you want to get the damage repaired as soon as possible so you can get on with your life. However, at this time of need, many people find that instead of helping them take care of the business involved in getting repair work done as efficiently as possible, their insurance companies seem to slow them down or even prevent their progress. If you’re frustrated by the way your insurance company is handling a claim for damage to your home or want expert advice before filing a […]
December 18, 2018
Nursing homes are responsible for providing care for patients and preventing injuries. Unfortunately, however, almost 90 percent of nursing homes are understaffed, a condition that often leads to neglect and abuse of vulnerable patients. A 2018 analysis of payroll data submitted to Medicare shows that most nursing homes actually had far fewer nurses and other staff available for caring for patients than they had ever reported to the government. In addition, there are significant changes in the number of care-taking staff available each day, with weekends being particularly low. On these low days, staff members have to care for twice […]
October 17, 2018
Even if you don’t live in the direct path of the latest hurricane, you’re sure to feel the effects of powerful tropical storms within the near future. With hurricanes occurring more frequently and with greater ferocity than ever before, it makes sense to be prepared to protect your family and your home from danger. Most of us already know the drill about bottled water, flashlights, batteries, window protection, and pools, but many people I talk with have not prepared adequately for dealing with their insurance companies after storm damage occurs. Once a storm has hit and damaged your property, it’s […]