At a young age we all learn that we have to honor our commitments. That a deal is a deal, and you shouldn’t go back one your word. An insurance Policy is no different. An insurance Policy is really nothing more than a contract, a deal. You, the homeowner agrees to pay, and the insurance company agrees to cover your property in case of a loss.
Insurance companies enter into these agreements with open eyes. It is industry practice to inspect the homes or at a minimum require you to submit a copy of a recent Home Inspection and Wind Mitigation report before agreeing to issue you a Policy. Based on those inspections and inspection reports as well as some other considerations, Insurance Companies determine their risks and determine their premiums. If your house is too damaged or too much of a risk, insurers can, as they often do, require improvements and repairs be made in order to issue a Policy. Other times, insurers straight up refuse to issue a Policy. It is safe to say that insurance companies know what they are getting themselves into.
If you are reading this, then chances are you have a homeowner’s insurance Policy. That means that your home passed inspection, and you paid your insurance premiums. You’ve held your side of the bargain. We at Cohen Law Group have dedicated teams of attorneys that focus on representing homeowners when their insurance companies don’t do the right thing. When insurers don’t hold up to their side of the deal.
A common and almost automatic excuse insurers love to use is that the “roof is too old”, that the damages are due to ordinary “wear and tear”. Essentially, they are saying that the roof is too old and the damages you are suffering are a result of that, not that terrible storm that impacted your home. Your first thought might be that, that makes some sense. But it doesn’t. You have to realize that if your roof was too delicate and old to insure, then your insurance company wouldn’t have issued your Policy. The same reason your insurance company is denying your insurance claim, is also the same reason why your insurance company raises your premiums every year. It’s unethical, if you’d ask me.
Your insurance company is trying to have it both ways. They are trying to collect increased insurance premiums without having to cover your home. If we are to believe what the insurance companies are saying then that means that your insurance company knew that your roof was too old and decided to charge your higher premiums for that old roof, with no real intention of ever actually insuring your home.
So next time something breaks or gets damaged you need to promptly inform your insurance company of the loss and get a second opinion from a professional. While we would all like to believe that your insurance company is different, that your insurance broker is nice and all. But you need to remember these insurance companies are for-profit companies and WILL do anything to save money and increase their profits.
If something like this has happened to you, you should call the Cohen Law Group at (407) 478-4878. We have over 40 attorneys who only work on homeowner’s insurance claims. Let our experienced insurance attorneys help you get what you deserve.
COHEN LAW GROUP
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