Theft Attorney in Pembroke Pines

If you are one of those people who have been the victim of a theft and are now feeling stressed, violated, and worried, then you may have more questions than answers at this juncture. Our experienced Pembroke Pines theft insurance claim lawyer knows that after experiencing theft, everyone feels confused about who they should turn to in order to get reimbursed. The first thing that you should do is report to the police and then check out your insurance policy to cover any losses. However, most of the time people find out that their insurance policies do not cover theft. Sometimes it will even feel like your own insurance company does not believe you. Insurance companies also sometimes deny claims even after it is clear that the person has suffered a loss. If this has ever happened to you, then make sure to contact our experienced theft lawyers to learn how to fight an insurance claim for theft cases.

At Schlacter Law, we understand that the insurance companies will try their best to lower the reimbursement claim to ensure that it will save them money but will not cover your losses after you have been paying your premium for years diligently. A lot of times, what happens is that the industry-specific language used in insurance policies is not clear to the laymen, which leads to confusion, mistakes submitting a claim, and exceptions to policies that leave homeowners or business owners without the reimbursement that they deserve for their theft claim. This is why homeowners and business owners need experienced theft lawyers in Pembroke Pines to give them the right advice so that all their losses get fairly recovered by the insurance company under their policy.

We know that a lot of individuals and businesses seek out the help of a public adjuster (PA) whenever they suffer any type of loss that might be covered by an insurance policy. A public adjuster is an insurance professional who helps individuals and businesses in evaluating and submitting a claim to the insurance company so that they can help a policyholder maximize their recovery for their losses. Yes, we understand that a PA sounds like a great option, but a theft claim attorney will prove to be a better option than a PA. The following are some of the reasons why you should hire a theft insurance claim attorney in Florida:

• A PA does not have a law license, whereas a theft lawyer has a law license after attending a rigorous law school curriculum and passing the bar examination, which will help them in arguing a case of complex insurance policies, exceptions, and exclusions
• While a lawyer can file a lawsuit to help enforce your rights and get legal remedies from the court, a PA cannot file a lawsuit. Insurance companies know this. Oftentimes this means that insurance companies will not play fair with a public adjuster
• PAs tend to get paid up to 20% of the claim reimbursement, whereas a theft lawyer is generally paid legal fees by the insurance company that is added to the reimbursement amount. Therefore, a policyholder will generally receive more money from a theft loss by using a theft lawyer instead of a PA

Almost all insurance policies cover some form of insurance for theft, but the nature of coverage may differ. While some insurance policies may have built-in coverage for items that are getting stolen, others may have a limitation in the coverage amount. Therefore, the terms of theft insurance vary from policy-to-policy and may not necessarily apply in all policies.

When it comes to Florida, the insurance premiums are high, which is why insurers tend to exclude some coverage from policies to offer lower rates to the policyholders. Doing so will leave the policyholder at a risk for losses. For example, if a policyholder was bargaining or trying to reduce premiums with the insurance company, the insurance company may reduce theft insurance in order to lower the premium but also limit an insurer’s coverage.

Even if your insurance policy includes theft coverage, it may still be limited to certain things and exclude others from an insurance claim. This is particularly true if you run a business out of your home and something from the home office was stolen. This is the reason why it is important for policyholders to understand their coverage when signing an insurance policy.

It is important to know the difference between vandalism and theft when it comes to theft insurance in Pembroke Pines. The Florida Association of Insurance Agents provides specific definitions for these two types of criminal actions for good reason. ^[1] Some insurance companies may cover for either vandalism or theft or neither of them. The reason behind a loss or “cause of loss” tends to make a case complicated, which is why it is crucial to understand the difference between both of them and how an insurer can deny both. If you do not know the difference between theft and vandalism, then a theft lawyer will help you understand it.

Generally, theft is when personal property or chattel (an object not real property) is taken by a person or entity without permission or consent, and the person who took it intends to convert that possession into their own. Vandalism is generally where an individual intends to destroy, diminish, or otherwise devalue something of another person. This could be to personal property or real property, and the object defiled is still present.

Just like any other claim, it is important to support your theft insurance claim with evidence. Now you must be wondering what evidence is required to prove a theft claim. You will need to submit a police report that mentions all the losses you suffered. A policyholder must keep a record of the time of the incident which is what a police report will do for a policyholder. Furthermore, a list of all the stolen items with their corresponding values will be required. In case a security system was activated, then the time the alarm went off should also be noted.

There are some points that a policyholder must establish to make the claim strong. Most of the time, insurers question the ownership of the stolen items, therefore, having a proof such as contracts and receipts regarding the ownership of the properties will help in supporting your theft claim. Other times the insurance company may argue over the valuation of the item. This includes depreciation of an item such as a TV. Lastly, for some insurance policies, a policyholder might also have to prove that the property was not vacant at the time the theft took place.

Our theft lawyers at Schlacter Law know from their experience that most of the time the first settlement offered by insurers are not sufficient, which is why further investigation and negotiation becomes necessary. Therefore, as a policyholder, it is better not to accept the first settlement offered by the insurance company. Please note that policyholders are not under any obligation to accept the first offer or any offer unless a policyholder is satisfied with the reimbursement. Policyholders have to negotiate with the insurance companies to come to a fair settlement; however, due to a lack of complete understanding of the coverage and documentation recovered to make the insurance claim strong, policyholders are often offered low settlements or denial of claims.

In such cases, hiring a theft lawyer in Pembroke Pines can prove to be beneficial for the policyholder to achieve a fair settlement to cover the theft losses. Our theft lawyers at Schlacter Law have the necessary experience and knowledge that allows them to negotiate with large insurance companies to get a fair insurance settlement to compensate for the losses suffered by their clients.

A lot of times insurance claims get denied or undervalued. It is incredibly important to understand the reason behind your claim getting denied. The insurer might be arguing against the scope of the coverage or the value of the stolen property. They tend to offer a settlement that is less than the actual value of the items that got stolen. As a policyholder, it is your right to get a fair settlement and file a lawsuit if the insurer is not cooperating with you in the negotiations.

If you have ever been denied a theft claim or if the insurance company has offered you a very low reimbursement claim, it is time to hire a theft insurance claim lawyer in Pembroke Pines. Our theft lawyers at Schlacter Law have the experience and knowledge in dealing with such cases that allow them to fight for the rights of policyholders. Our experienced lawyers and award-winning law firm understand insurance terminology, the legal rights of policyholders, and the burden of proof to support an insurance claim. If you, your family, or your business have been the victims of theft in Florida, do not be victimized a second time by the bad faith conduct of an insurance company. Call Schlacter Law by dialing (305) 999-1111 for a FREE consultation.

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.