Property Damage Insurance Claim Attorney in Minneapolis
For many of us, our homes represent significant investments. When homes are damaged, the resulting financial burden can be very heavy. Insurance is supposed to mitigate those losses, but sometimes insurance companies do not deliver. If you are a Minneapolis-area homeowner facing an unpaid or underpaid property damage insurance claim, you could benefit from the help of a Minneapolis property damage insurance claim lawyer.
Minnesota Construction Law Services keeps the simple simple
About Minnesota Construction Law Services
At Minnesota Construction Law Services, we represent clients facing a wide variety of construction-related problems, from contract disputes to planning snags. With every case we take, our approach prioritizes reducing stress as much as possible for our clients. We are located on Centre Point Drive in Roseville, making us conveniently located for property owners in the Minneapolis metropolitan area.
What Causes Property Damage in Minneapolis?
Life is unpredictable, so naturally, there are many potential causes of property damage. However, the five leading causes homeowners should be aware of include:
- Wind. When people think about severe weather, lightning, tornadoes, and rain often come to mind. However, wind is the leading cause of property damage. Strong winds can cause damage to buildings by knocking over tree limbs (or entire trees if the wind is strong enough), blowing chimneys over, and damaging roofs. Wind speeds of 47-54 miles per hour can result in this kind of destruction.
- Non-weather flooding. Water leaks that are not related to rain frequently cause damage to homes. These can arise from broken pipes, leaky appliances, or a faucet accidentally left on. Standing water is always a bad thing, and is more commonly caused by flooding from inside the house than by flooding from outside of it.
- Hail and weather-related flooding. Hail is truly a force of nature. It can quickly damage a roof or crack windows. Rain can be just as dangerous, if not more. A heavy downpour can overwhelm drainage systems, leading to flooding inside the house.
- Burglary. Having your home burglarized can be a scary and destabilizing experience. Shattered windows and broken locks are costly to repair. Not to mention any damage to the property you have inside the house. Burglary is a relatively common occurrence. In Minneapolis, the yearly burglary rate is 1.943 per 1,000 residents.
Why Might You Need to Hire a Property Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer?
As a homeowner, you want to make sure your property is covered if any of these damaging events occur. Unfortunately, insurance companies generally do everything they can to pay as little as possible in claims. Because of this tendency, sometimes claims are wrongfully denied, or compensation is significantly less than what should be covered. Sometimes insurance companies also delay payment of claims.
You should also hire a property damage insurance claim lawyer if the damage to your property is so significant that it requires an extensive assessment to determine the magnitude of the loss. For example, if you had the roof torn off your home in a storm, an insurance company would likely send a claims adjuster to assess the damage. Having an attorney present through that process adds an extra layer of oversight to make sure the findings are fair and consistent with reality.
If you hire an attorney, they can help you communicate with your insurance company regarding your claim. Sometimes, all it takes to encourage an insurance company to honor its own policies is a strongly worded letter on a lawyer’s letterhead. In other cases, you may need your lawyer to research your case, gather information, and submit a claim through the court system. If your case ultimately goes to trial, your attorney can represent you in the courtroom, as well.
FAQs
The cost of a property damage attorney in Minneapolis can vary significantly based on the complexity of the case and individual lawyers’ fees and fee structures. Many attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means they do not charge an up-front fee and instead take a percentage of whatever settlement they secure for you.
According to Minnesota Statutes Section 541.05, the statute of limitations for filing a property damage claim is within six years of the incident. After that time has elapsed, the situation becomes legally inactionable, meaning you cannot pursue compensation through the legal system. It’s imperative that you adhere to these deadlines to receive the compensation you need for damages.
No, many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover damage due to flooding. This is important to verify, especially in flood-prone areas or areas where winters become very cold, and there is increased potential for burst pipes. Homeowners who wish to have coverage for floods must usually add an additional policy, which may incur an additional monthly premium. Every homeowner should know the particulars of their individual policy.
When it comes to the length of time it takes to settle a property damage claim, there is no easy answer. Each case is different. The extent of the damage, the particulars of the policy, and the posture of the insurance company all make a difference in how long it takes to finalize a settlement. Your attorney can give you an educated guess for your situation.
Contact Minnesota Construction Law Services Today
Damage to your property can result in a significant financial burden. An uncooperative insurance company can make the situation even more stressful. Insurance companies often try to avoid paying fairly for claims, but you don’t have to go up against the large corporations on your own.
Contact Minnesota Construction Law Services to discuss your case with a Minneapolis property damage insurance claim lawyer and find out how we can help you. Our team can take care of communication with insurers to give you some peace of mind and work toward getting you the compensation you need to cover property damage needs.
