Theft Attorney in Hialeah

Theft can leave you feeling violated, angry, and confused. If you are a victim of theft, your insurance policy can help you cover the losses. Unfortunately, many policies do not cover theft, and when they do, the insurance company may fail to support your claim sufficiently. In fact, some insurance companies may even dispute your claim and refuse to believe you really suffered a loss. Other times your insurer may make it harder for you to get compensation including undervaluing your claim even if you have already submitted valuations and receipts to demonstrate the actual value of your possessions. Insurance companies may even go so far as to deny your claim even when your losses are obvious. If you are a victim of an insurance company’s reckless, abusive, or downright bad faith conduct, call our experienced theft attorney in Hialeah for help on how to successfully submit a claim and receive the fair compensation that you deserve.

At Schlacter Law, we believe you should receive the compensation you deserve for your theft loss after you have faithfully paid your premiums each month. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not always agree. And industry-specific language on insurance policies might be hard for non-lawyers to interpret. This is almost done intentionally to make it more difficult to file a claim. Thus, it is critical to have someone on your side who is familiar with criminal or third-party losses and submitting theft insurance claims in Florida. Our experienced theft attorney in Hialeah is that experienced representative that you need who will help you file your claims properly and get fair compensation for your theft losses.

After suffering a loss, most individuals and businesses in Florida first seek a public adjuster or “PA.” A public adjuster is an insurance professional who helps evaluate, submit, and negotiate insurance claims on behalf of individuals or businesses. Public adjusters are important insurance professionals that represent policyholders and not insurance companies. This means that a public adjuster is on your side.

While a PA is an excellent option after a theft loss, some factors make a theft insurance claim attorney the better option, including:

• While PAs receive up to 20% of the claim reimbursement, theft lawyers mostly have their attorney’s fees paid by the insurance company as an addition, not a subtraction, of the reimbursement amount. For example, for a $10,000 loss the PA might take up to 20% which is $2,000 leaving a policyholder with $8,000, but our theft loss lawyers get their attorneys fees on top of the reimbursement claim, which means a policyholder would typically get more money.
• Unlike theft claim lawyers, PAs do not have law licenses and may not have the required expertise to deal with complicated insurance policies, exclusions, and exceptions.
• While lawyers can enforce your rights and seek legal remedies in court, PAs cannot initiate lawsuits. Insurance companies may take advantage of the PA’s inability to seek legal help and give you a bad deal. However, our lawyers at Schlacter Law in Hialeah are ready to enforce your rights in court.

Most standard policies include some form of coverage for theft. However, policies vary significantly, with some having built-in coverage for every stolen item and others having a limitation on the amount they cover. In essence, theft insurance can vary substantially from policy to policy.

In order to save money, a policyholder may seek lower premium rates in which an insurance company may exclude some of a policies’ coverages. Oftentimes, this is third-party criminal activity like theft or fraud. While it makes premiums more attractive and substantially lessens the insurer’s risk, excluding coverages leave policyholders at a greater risk for losses. In theft insurance, the increased risk of loss is particularly true for a property owner with a second home vacant for a better part of the year.

Although theft should be a given with a homeowners policy, it is not. Most of the time theft is a named peril and your policy should list it as such. But if your policy does not list it, it may not cover you for theft losses. Even when your policy does include theft coverage, it may exclude certain items like boats, vehicles, or high-priced jewelry. The policy only covers the excluded items as added endorsements. Therefore, a policyholder needs to understand their coverage before a theft occurs. If you are unsure whether you are covered under your policy, ask our Hialeah theft attorneys at Schlacter Law.

For theft insurance in Hialeah, it is essential to know the difference between vandalism and theft. The insurance policy should specifically set out whether it is covering theft or vandalism. Some policies cover one but not the other. Since the “cause of loss” can complicate a claim, it is important to understand the distinction and how an insurer may deny a claim.

The Florida Association of Insurance Agents, specifically addresses definitions as they apply to theft insurance. ^[1] A theft attorney’s guidance in Hialeah is critical in case of a theft versus vandalism disagreement. Generally, theft is when a possession is stolen or converted from your property to the property of another without your permission or consent. Vandalism is destruction of property that is not necessarily stealing the property, but rather affecting the value of the property by tampering or damaging it.

When it comes to theft insurance, it is crucial to support a claim carefully. First, the police report should be specific regarding losses. You should also keep track of the timing of the incident and the timing of the call to the police. You also need to compile a list of all the stolen items and their corresponding value. If a security system was activated, it is important to note when the alarm sounded and what happened afterward.

As a policyholder, you must establish some essential things to support your claim. Often, an insurer will question the ownership of the stolen items; hence having proof of purchase, such as contracts and receipts is vital. Depending on the terms of the policy, it may also be essential to verify that the property was not vacant at the time of the theft.

It is important to note that a first settlement is often insufficient and will usually require further investigation and negotiation. Since you have the option of refusing the insurance company’s first settlement offer, to get a fair resolution, you need to be ready for negotiations.

Unfortunately, many policyholders do not have a complete understanding of their coverage. They might also lack supporting documentation. An insurance company might use the lack of supporting documentation or evidence to reduce a settlement or deny a claim.

In such cases, the representation of an experienced Hialeah theft attorney might be the difference between a settlement that sufficiently covers your losses and one that does not. At Schlacter Law, we have extensive experience collaborating with and negotiating theft insurance settlements with large insurance companies, ensuring fair compensation for your losses.

If an insurance company has denied your claim, it is crucial to understand the denial reasons. The insurer may be disputing the scope of the coverage or even the value of the stolen property. In terms of value, they may argue depreciation and offer a settlement that is substantially less than the actual value. As a policyholder, you have the right to a fair settlement and even the right to litigate should it be impossible to achieve through negotiation.

Due to the fact that the insurance company pays for your theft insurance claim lawyer in most instances, there is no upfront cost to having our experienced insurance claim lawyers at Schlacter Law represent you. We can work with insurance companies to ensure that you get the fair compensation that you deserve. If the insurance company will not fairly reimburse you, we will commence a legal action against them to enforce your rights. Learn how we can help with a FREE consultation by dialing (305) 999-1111 after a theft loss in Hialeah.

How We Handle Cases

1. Investigation
   • Your attorney will aggressively investigate your case. Schlacter Law will compile all necessary evidence needed to maximize the value of your case. Which includes but is not limited to photographs, police reports, security camera footage, witness statements, medical bills and medical records.
   • You will remain in constant contact with Schlacter Law about the progression of your case.
2. Negotiation
   • Your attorney will present your case to the insurance company and will attempt to resolve your case before the case goes to court for maximum compensation.
   • Your attorney will make every effort possible to resolve the case as quickly as possible for the most amount of money you may be entitled to. You will be actively involved in the negotiation process with your attorney. Schlacter Law understands that this is your one opportunity to get justice for your loss.
3. Litigation
   • If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, Schlacter Law will be fully prepared to bring your case to court to fight for the justice you deserve.
   • At no cost to you, Schlacter Law will hire any experts and professionals needed to maximize your recovery and present your case in the strongest form possible.