Experience and Agility in a Changing World
The Specialists in Property Damage Law
Insurance carriers have every incentive to reject or undervalue your claim. Their bottom line is at stake. They can create delays in the claims process, issue wrongful denials, investigate improperly, and more. They’re also backed up by consultants and attorneys of their own.
Furtado Law will help you evaluate your options and determine whether legal action against your insurer is needed.
COVID-19 & Forced Business Interruption:
Does Your Insurance Have a Virus Exclusion?
Learn How to Protect Your Business in this Time of Civil Unrest
Find Out If You’re Covered
“Holding the trust of our clients is our primary mission.
We have passion for what we do.
Our attorneys stand out because we stand up for our clients.”
David Furtado
“Holding the trust of our clients is our primary mission.
We have passion for what we do.
Our attorneys stand out because we stand up for our clients.”
David Furtado
Wildfire Coverage:
Why it’s more important now than ever
Will your insurance provider be able to come through in a large scale disaster?
Learn why an attorney is critical for successful insurance compensation
COVID-19 & Forced Business Interruption:
Does Your Insurance Have a Virus Exclusion?
Learn How to Protect Your Business in this Time of Civil Unrest
Find Out If You’re Covered
Experience and Agility in a Changing World
Furtado Legal is a leading national law company that specializes in insurance recovery, property damage cases. We’ve fought rejection, denial, undervaluing, and bad faith practices. We’ve gone up against the leaders in the field, not only winning cases but forcing companies to change the way they do business. We’ve helped change the industry. Let us do it for you.
Contact Furtado Law for a complementary consultation.
We’ve successfully faced off against some of the largest insurers in the nation, including:
Furtado Law PC received the highest verdict awarded in Colorado for a first party property case involving hail damage to a building. The attorneys at Furtado Law PC successfully proved to the jury that the insurer breached its contract with the insured and unreasonably delayed and denied the insurance benefits owed to its policyholder.
Why Furtado Law?
Furtado Law PC is a nationally recognized law firm that specializes in property damage litigation. We help our clients fight claim denials, undervaluing of property damage claims and insurance bad faith practices. We have helped change the industry by representing policyholders in claims against the world’s largest insurance carriers, forcing carriers to change the way insurance claims are managed. We know what it takes to win a case against an insurance company.
Contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney.
Client Testimonials
I highly recommend Furtado Law!
The first lawyer that I hired to handle our property damage claim was unable to get our insurer to pay. They went back and forth for months until I decided to call Furtado law for another opinion. After speaking with them, it was clear that they had much more knowledge and expertise than my original attorney. I moved my case to Furtado Law, and they were able to get my claim paid properly within a couple months. I highly recommend Furtado Law!
S.G.
Because of their knowledge and expertise, I now use them on almost every claim
I hired Furtado Law several years ago to help me get paid for the restoration work that we do with our contracting business. Because of their knowledge and expertise, I now use them on almost every claim. They really know what they are doing and give me excellent advice.
I.T.
David Furtado is a first class attorney
David Furtado is a first class attorney. David is professional and he can handle high-end difficult cases. David is tenacious and gets results. I highly recommend Mr. Furtado.
G.C.
I would highly recommend Furtado law to any contractor
Furtado law is excellent at what they do! I have a contracting business that does property restoration and every claim for hail damage that we submit gets denied. These days you need a firm like Furtado Law on your side if you want to stay in the insurance property restoration business. I would highly recommend Furtado law to any contractor who runs a business that relies on the insurance companies to pay.
J.R.
Call this firm!
Mr Furtado and his team were the most knowledgeable attorneys that I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Most attorneys want to spend time litigating claims for years. Furtado law got my claim settled in less than 6 months. This is unheard of with other property law lawyers. If you are having trouble getting your property claim paid call this firm!
F.M.
The first call I make next time we have ANY insurance claim!
After fighting with our insurance company and our adjuster for over a year, we finally decided to contact an attorney. We were trying to avoid having to hire an attorney a much as possible, but it became obvious that no matter what we did, we weren’t going to be paid fairly. Once Mr. Furtado and his staff evaluated our case, he told us that our claim was proper and that the insurance company was acting in bad faith. He took our case, and got us paid much more than our original claim. They will be the first call I make next time we have ANY insurance claim!
C.R.
They got us another $250K on top of the original claim
I highly recommend Furtado Law. We had been fighting with our insurance carrier for over 14 months to pay a $235K claim on our building’s roof damage. After hiring Furtado Law, not only did they get our claim paid, they also got us another $250K on top of the original claim.
Thanks Furtado Law!
A.M.
Excellent work
Thank you for your excellent work and dedication to helping us.
K.T.
Increased our claim by almost 60%
I was referred to Furtado Law by another property manager after we had damage to the roofs of our multi-family home complex. Not only did they get our claim expedited and paid fairly, they were also able to inspect the damage, find additional areas that were missed by the adjuster, and increased our claim by almost 60%. Thanks Furtado Law.
R.M.
Kept fighting until we were satisfied
Mr. Furtado was instrumental in our successful resolution of a large hail damage claim against the insurance company. He was extremely knowledgeable and his advice and strategy was absolutely client focused. His main objective was to get our damages covered. Most attorneys in this field seem to be focused on getting a reasonable settlement with as little effort as possible. Others we interviewed were not as passionate or knowledgeable and were clearly focused on a quick settlement with minimal effort on their part. David understood our real need to get a new roof etc and kept this at the forefront and was willing to keep fighting until we were satisfied.
T.B.
The best insurance lawyer…in Colorado, hands down
David is the best insurance lawyer, general roofing lawyer and Construction lawyer in Colorado hands down. He took a case nobody else would touch in the state, to getting a favorable settlement. Without the settlement this issue could have cost us 100,000s of dollars. David fights for you, is honest, straightforward, and is excellent at giving you an idea of how the case will play out based on his experience. I would recommend David for any large litigation. It is worth a discussion with him.
R.M.
One of the most ethical I have met in my 15 years working with attorneys
David is an excellent lawyer. He is one of the most ethical I have met in my 15 years working with attorneys. He will appeal a case when the ruling is not correct all the way to the Supreme Court. He is versed in many aspects of law. I was bullied for years when outcomes of disputed claims went in the insureds favor. The bulling was purposely intended to cost me so much money fighting that I would have no choice but to find a new line of work. I did loose work because of published false accusations, that we’re beyond egregious and disgusting. Using slander, law, and large insurance company unlimited funds, to attack anyone who helps an insured actually resolve a disputed property claims so they can get enough money to rebuild their damaged homes should never be tolerated. Most people can’t afford to fight. David makes it work. Thank you David!
L.H.
Thank you Furtado Law for your excellent service
I have personally hired the Furtado Law firm to represent our business on several cases. There is a reason I keep going back! Thank you Furtado Law for your excellent service.
D.S.
Best in the industry In my opinion
David and his firm provided excellent service and care for me during a drawn out legal process. These guys are excellent litigators. Best in the industry In my opinion. You get what you pay for.
E.O.
The most knowledgeable staff of attorneys for insurance coverage law that I’ve ever met
Furtado Law has the most knowledgeable staff of attorneys for insurance coverage law that I’ve ever met. If you are having issues getting insurance claims paid call them.
H.B.
David said he would get a good settlement. He got more than we asked.
David said he would get a good settlement. He got more than we asked. David said he would get it done quickly. We got paid faster than we expected. The opposition folded immediately in the face of David’s bulletproof presentation of the facts and knowledge of how to get justice for us. We are so glad to have had David on our side!
J.N.
This saved a lot of time and money. Thanks to Furtado Law.
My house caught fire in 2017 and my insurer refused to pay to repair all the damage and would not agree to clean out the smoke damage to my HVAC unit. I fought with them for a year before hiring a Public adjuster who recommended that we hire Furtado Law. I could not have been more impressed. They were able to convince my insurance company to pay my claim without even suing. This saved a lot of time and money. Thanks to Furtado Law.
E.H.
David is the best bad faith lawyer I’ve ever used.
If you are a Contractor and want to get paid what you deserve, make sure you work with Furtado Law. David is the best bad faith lawyer I’ve ever used!
N.S.
I’ve been using Furtado Law on my cases for the past 3 years with much better results then if I had just worked on my own.
L.W.
Would recommend them to anyone with a property claim!
J.R.
David said he would get a good settlement. He got more than we asked. Copy
David said he would get a good settlement. He got more than we asked. David said he would get it done quickly. We got paid faster than we expected. The opposition folded immediately in the face of David’s bulletproof presentation of the facts and knowledge of how to get justice for us. We are so glad to have had David on our side!
J.N.
I could not have been more impressed. They were able to convince my insurance company to pay my claim without even suing.
My house caught fire in 2017 and my insurer refused to pay to repair all the damage and would not agree to clean out the smoke damage to my HVAC unit. I fought with them for a year before hiring a Public adjuster who recommended that we hire Furtado Law. I could not have been more impressed. They were able to convince my insurance company to pay my claim without even suing. This saved a lot of time and money. Thanks to Furtado Law.
E.H.
Client Testimonials
I highly recommend Furtado Law!
The first lawyer that I hired to handle our property damage claim was unable to get our insurer to pay. They went back and forth for months until I decided to call Furtado law for another opinion. After speaking with them, it was clear that they had much more knowledge and expertise than my original attorney. I moved my case to Furtado Law, and they were able to get my claim paid properly within a couple months. I highly recommend Furtado Law!
S.G.
Because of their knowledge and expertise, I now use them on almost every claim
I hired Furtado Law several years ago to help me get paid for the restoration work that we do with our contracting business. Because of their knowledge and expertise, I now use them on almost every claim. They really know what they are doing and give me excellent advice.
I.T.
David Furtado is a first class attorney
David Furtado is a first class attorney. David is professional and he can handle high-end difficult cases. David is tenacious and gets results. I highly recommend Mr. Furtado.
G.C.
I would highly recommend Furtado law to any contractor
Furtado law is excellent at what they do! I have a contracting business that does property restoration and every claim for hail damage that we submit gets denied. These days you need a firm like Furtado Law on your side if you want to stay in the insurance property restoration business. I would highly recommend Furtado law to any contractor who runs a business that relies on the insurance companies to pay.
J.R.
Call this firm!
Mr Furtado and his team were the most knowledgeable attorneys that I’ve had the pleasure to work with. Most attorneys want to spend time litigating claims for years. Furtado law got my claim settled in less than 6 months. This is unheard of with other property law lawyers. If you are having trouble getting your property claim paid call this firm!
F.M.
The first call I make next time we have ANY insurance claim!
After fighting with our insurance company and our adjuster for over a year, we finally decided to contact an attorney. We were trying to avoid having to hire an attorney a much as possible, but it became obvious that no matter what we did, we weren’t going to be paid fairly. Once Mr. Furtado and his staff evaluated our case, he told us that our claim was proper and that the insurance company was acting in bad faith. He took our case, and got us paid much more than our original claim. They will be the first call I make next time we have ANY insurance claim!
C.R.
They got us another $250K on top of the original claim
I highly recommend Furtado Law. We had been fighting with our insurance carrier for over 14 months to pay a $235K claim on our building’s roof damage. After hiring Furtado Law, not only did they get our claim paid, they also got us another $250K on top of the original claim.
Thanks Furtado Law!
A.M.
Excellent work
Thank you for your excellent work and dedication to helping us.
K.T.
Increased our claim by almost 60%
I was referred to Furtado Law by another property manager after we had damage to the roofs of our multi-family home complex. Not only did they get our claim expedited and paid fairly, they were also able to inspect the damage, find additional areas that were missed by the adjuster, and increased our claim by almost 60%. Thanks Furtado Law.
R.M.
Kept fighting until we were satisfied
Mr. Furtado was instrumental in our successful resolution of a large hail damage claim against the insurance company. He was extremely knowledgeable and his advice and strategy was absolutely client focused. His main objective was to get our damages covered. Most attorneys in this field seem to be focused on getting a reasonable settlement with as little effort as possible. Others we interviewed were not as passionate or knowledgeable and were clearly focused on a quick settlement with minimal effort on their part. David understood our real need to get a new roof etc and kept this at the forefront and was willing to keep fighting until we were satisfied.
T.B.
The best insurance lawyer…in Colorado, hands down
David is the best insurance lawyer, general roofing lawyer and Construction lawyer in Colorado hands down. He took a case nobody else would touch in the state, to getting a favorable settlement. Without the settlement this issue could have cost us 100,000s of dollars. David fights for you, is honest, straightforward, and is excellent at giving you an idea of how the case will play out based on his experience. I would recommend David for any large litigation. It is worth a discussion with him.
R.M.
One of the most ethical I have met in my 15 years working with attorneys
David is an excellent lawyer. He is one of the most ethical I have met in my 15 years working with attorneys. He will appeal a case when the ruling is not correct all the way to the Supreme Court. He is versed in many aspects of law. I was bullied for years when outcomes of disputed claims went in the insureds favor. The bulling was purposely intended to cost me so much money fighting that I would have no choice but to find a new line of work. I did loose work because of published false accusations, that we’re beyond egregious and disgusting. Using slander, law, and large insurance company unlimited funds, to attack anyone who helps an insured actually resolve a disputed property claims so they can get enough money to rebuild their damaged homes should never be tolerated. Most people can’t afford to fight. David makes it work. Thank you David!
L.H.
Thank you Furtado Law for your excellent service
I have personally hired the Furtado Law firm to represent our business on several cases. There is a reason I keep going back! Thank you Furtado Law for your excellent service.
D.S.
Best in the industry In my opinion
David and his firm provided excellent service and care for me during a drawn out legal process. These guys are excellent litigators. Best in the industry In my opinion. You get what you pay for.
E.O.
The most knowledgeable staff of attorneys for insurance coverage law that I’ve ever met
Furtado Law has the most knowledgeable staff of attorneys for insurance coverage law that I’ve ever met. If you are having issues getting insurance claims paid call them.
H.B.
David said he would get a good settlement. He got more than we asked.
David said he would get a good settlement. He got more than we asked. David said he would get it done quickly. We got paid faster than we expected. The opposition folded immediately in the face of David’s bulletproof presentation of the facts and knowledge of how to get justice for us. We are so glad to have had David on our side!
J.N.
This saved a lot of time and money. Thanks to Furtado Law.
My house caught fire in 2017 and my insurer refused to pay to repair all the damage and would not agree to clean out the smoke damage to my HVAC unit. I fought with them for a year before hiring a Public adjuster who recommended that we hire Furtado Law. I could not have been more impressed. They were able to convince my insurance company to pay my claim without even suing. This saved a lot of time and money. Thanks to Furtado Law.
E.H.
David is the best bad faith lawyer I’ve ever used.
If you are a Contractor and want to get paid what you deserve, make sure you work with Furtado Law. David is the best bad faith lawyer I’ve ever used!
N.S.
I’ve been using Furtado Law on my cases for the past 3 years with much better results then if I had just worked on my own.
L.W.
Would recommend them to anyone with a property claim!
J.R.
David said he would get a good settlement. He got more than we asked. Copy
David said he would get a good settlement. He got more than we asked. David said he would get it done quickly. We got paid faster than we expected. The opposition folded immediately in the face of David’s bulletproof presentation of the facts and knowledge of how to get justice for us. We are so glad to have had David on our side!
J.N.
I could not have been more impressed. They were able to convince my insurance company to pay my claim without even suing.
My house caught fire in 2017 and my insurer refused to pay to repair all the damage and would not agree to clean out the smoke damage to my HVAC unit. I fought with them for a year before hiring a Public adjuster who recommended that we hire Furtado Law. I could not have been more impressed. They were able to convince my insurance company to pay my claim without even suing. This saved a lot of time and money. Thanks to Furtado Law.
E.H.
Fire
Potential problems with coverage:
- • Brush exposure, failure to remove an adequate distance from structures
- • Neighbors or cities or counties who don’t comply with necessary standards
- • Not meeting demands of mortgage clauses
- • Insufficient supply of fire extinguishers
- • Breaches of compliance by tenants or third parties
Hail
Potential problems with coverage:
- • Hail damage is covered by standard home insurance in most states, but how that coverage is applied can vary or be excluded altogether; they can also have percent-based deductibles (based on the home’s insured value)
- • Damage can come in the immediate and long-term; for this and other reasons, what is and isn’t covered can be a source of dispute
- • No matter the weather or climate conditions in your area, carriers can hike your rates if more than one claim is made within a time period
- • Your carrier may have an option to exclude payments for cosmetic damages such as exterior surfaces, walls, roofs, doors, and windows if the storm impacts the appearance but not the function of these elements; what is and isn’t coverable can be very gray—often, if something is damaged but functional, it’s not covered
Wind
Potential problems with coverage:
- • Depending on where you live, wind damage can be subject to percentage-based deductibles—which is based on your home’s insured value—or deductibles for wind damage, rain, tornados, hurricanes, or more; these costs are another reason it’s imperative you get your best compensation
- • For disasters qualifying for FEMA relief—presidentially-declared disasters—help tends to be short on compensation and long in time coming
- • High winds can also bring other related damages—storm damage, inland flooding, falling trees, etc.; the more complicated the damages, the more cover you carrier has for denying your claim
Flood
Potential problems with coverage:
- • Your insurance policy may require you to mitigate damage once it’s discovered; such costs may be reimbursable—fixing leaks, tarping the roof, installing dehumidifiers, etc.; initial water damage can worsen with mold, fungus, wet rot, and more—these are all consequences most insurance won’t cover
- • It may be necessary to bring in an emergency services mitigation company to limit damages
- • As flood damage can be complicated, so is its coverage—e.g. sinkholes and earth movement, even as a result of flooding, may not be covered or there may be limitations given to living in a “high-risk” area
- • The particular source of water damage can be critical too as carriers may have exclusions for discharge, sewage or other water backups or overflow
Appraisers not only help determine the amount of loss, but may also help determine the cause of loss. In Auto-Owners Insurance Company v. Summit Park Townhome Association, 100 F. Supp 3d 1099 (D. Colo. 2015) the court held that the cause of loss is an essential part of determining the amount of loss. Furtdao Law PC is litigating Certain Underwriters of Lloyd’s of London v. Southwind and Eastpointe Homeowners Association, Inc. (Case No. 1:16cv01288-MJW) where this ruling has been applied.
It is important that qualified professionals assist policyholders with the appraisal process. Insurance companies often attempt to influence the process by choosing biased appraisers to assist them. Some companies undermine the process by claiming an appraiser cannot determine the scope or cause of loss, and otherwise attempt to delay the process by interfering with the appraisal.
Furtado Law PC has sucessfully navigated the appraisal process for its clients.
Indemnity and defense provisions are so common, yet can be easily misinterpreted and misapplied. The terms defense and indemnify can often appear in the same clause, but each is understood to impose different obligations. These can be further compounded due to variations in statutes as well as case law that exists state to state.
The experienced attorneys at Furtado Law PC know the difference between the duty to indemnify and the duty to defend. We also know that there are some jurisdictions in which an indemnity obligation automatically carries with it the duty to defend regardless of whether the duty to defend is expressly stated. We understand what is at stake, which is why we are committed to doing a thorough evaluation of your case to identify any ambiguities in the contract and determine how the governing law can be applied to your individual case.
To hold your insurance carrier accountable is a complex process.
Your insurer will have attorneys, and so should you.
Hiring a right lawyer to advise and represent you is essential; as a law firm, our focus is on quality, not quantity.
Making sure your insurance company pays you a prompt and fair settlement is a complex process. Hiring the right attorney to advise and represent you is essential.
Too often, life insurance companies deny claims without justifiable reasons. Not all life insurance companies are created equal, and not all life insurance claims are treated fairly. There are a number of reasons that an insurance may deny a claim, such as no beneficiary named on the policy, policy lapse due to non-payment, divorce, “incontestability clauses”, or an assortment of tactics the company believes to be misrepresentation by the insured. In some cases, the insurance company pays the claim to the wrong beneficiary, leaving the intended beneficiary from collecting payments rightfully intended for them. Life insurance companies gain a financial benefit by collecting insurance payments and then either denying or paying substantially less when the claim is filed. This conflict of interest can often result in a broken promise by the insurance company, denying loved ones the benefits to which they are entitled.
The basic concept of life insurance is simple enough. Life insurance policies and annuities promise financial security after a loved one dies. You’ve counted on this your entire life, and now when your family needs it, it’s not there.
Too often, life insurance companies deny claims without justifiable reasons. Not all life insurance companies are created equal, and not all life insurance claims are treated fairly. There are a number of reasons that an insurance may deny a claim, such as no beneficiary named on the policy, policy lapse due to non-payment, divorce, “incontestability clauses”, or an assortment of tactics the company believes to be misrepresentation by the insured. In some cases, the insurance company pays the claim to the wrong beneficiary, leaving the intended beneficiary from collecting payments rightfully intended for them.
Life insurance companies gain a financial benefit by collecting insurance payments and then either denying or paying substantially less when the claim is filed. This conflict of interest can often result in a broken promise by the insurance company, denying loved ones the benefits to which they are entitled.
COVID-19 & Forced Business Interruption: Does Your Insurance Have a Virus Exclusion?
Find out if you’re covered – now.
To better evaluate your options, let Furtado Law help you with a complimentary assessment of your policy. But don’t wait: Start protecting your business now by contacting the experts at Furtado Law.
Contact us at info@furtadolaw.com with the following information:
• A copy of your certified insurance policy
• The name of your actual insurance carrier
• The name of your insurance representative or agent
Because what you don’t know will hurt you.
How to know if your business may be eligible for compensation:
• You could call your agent - but what if they don’t provide you with the important details you need? What if they lack the experience or skills to know what those details are?
• You could try to decipher your policy yourself – but how will you know what you’re even looking at? Get any information wrong, or overlook something, and you may have much to lose.
Why you need an attorney, even before you speak to your carrier :
• If your coverage includes virus inclusion, does it cover you under current circumstances?
• Do you have Business Interruption Coverage or Civil Authority Coverage? What do you need to qualify?
• Does it cover you for State or Federal interruptions? Both? Neither?
• Do you know the carrier of your policy – precisely? Is it held by a subsidiary or another entity you’re not aware of? Because ownership and jurisdiction often change. Knowing your proper contact is crucial.
• Do you understand the language of your policy? While insurance legalese appears to be designed to confuse and obfuscate, it’s actually designed to be precisely and technically specific. Knowing exactly what you’re entitled to, or not, is crucial.
• Any mistakes made in the process – such as filing your case with the wrong carrier, being assigned to the wrong court, are among several factors that can significantly affect and even jeopardize your compensation.
• How your case is presented can also be essential for the best possible outcome. Do you have the expertise to know exactly what the court needs to hear? What strategies will best serve your circumstances?
We do this at no risk to you.
You have nothing to lose – other than everything you have worked for. Let us begin to help you protect it.
COVID-19 & Forced Business Interruption: Does Your Insurance Have a Virus Exclusion?
Find out if you’re covered – now.
To better evaluate your options, let Furtado Law help you with a complimentary assessment of your policy. But don’t wait: Start protecting your business now by contacting the experts at Furtado Law.
Contact us at info@furtadolaw.com with the following information:
• A copy of your certified insurance policy
• The name of your actual insurance carrier
• The name of your insurance representative or agent
Because what you don’t know will hurt you.
How to know if your business may be eligible for compensation:
• You could call your agent - but what if they don’t provide you with the important details you need? What if they lack the experience or skills to know what those details are?
• You could try to decipher your policy yourself – but how will you know what you’re even looking at? Get any information wrong, or overlook something, and you may have much to lose.
Why you need an attorney, even before you speak to your carrier :
• If your coverage includes virus inclusion, does it cover you under current circumstances?
• Do you have Business Interruption Coverage or Civil Authority Coverage? What do you need to qualify?
• Does it cover you for State or Federal interruptions? Both? Neither?
• Do you know the carrier of your policy – precisely? Is it held by a subsidiary or another entity you’re not aware of? Because ownership and jurisdiction often change. Knowing your proper contact is crucial.
• Do you understand the language of your policy? While insurance legalese appears to be designed to confuse and obfuscate, it’s actually designed to be precisely and technically specific. Knowing exactly what you’re entitled to, or not, is crucial.
• Any mistakes made in the process – such as filing your case with the wrong carrier, being assigned to the wrong court, are among several factors that can significantly affect and even jeopardize your compensation.
• How your case is presented can also be essential for the best possible outcome. Do you have the expertise to know exactly what the court needs to hear? What strategies will best serve your circumstances?
We do this at no risk to you.
You have nothing to lose – other than everything you have worked for. Let us begin to help you protect it.
Fire
Potential problems with coverage:
- • Brush exposure, failure to remove an adequate distance from structures
- • Neighbors or cities or counties who don’t comply with necessary standards
- • Not meeting demands of mortgage clauses
- • Insufficient supply of fire extinguishers
- • Breaches of compliance by tenants or third parties
Hail
Potential problems with coverage:
- • Hail damage is covered by standard home insurance in most states, but how that coverage is applied can vary or be excluded altogether; they can also have percent-based deductibles (based on the home’s insured value)
- • Damage can come in the immediate and long-term; for this and other reasons, what is and isn’t covered can be a source of dispute
- • No matter the weather or climate conditions in your area, carriers can hike your rates if more than one claim is made within a time period
- • Your carrier may have an option to exclude payments for cosmetic damages such as exterior surfaces, walls, roofs, doors, and windows if the storm impacts the appearance but not the function of these elements; what is and isn’t coverable can be very gray—often, if something is damaged but functional, it’s not covered
Wind
Potential problems with coverage:
- • Depending on where you live, wind damage can be subject to percentage-based deductibles—which is based on your home’s insured value—or deductibles for wind damage, rain, tornados, hurricanes, or more; these costs are another reason it’s imperative you get your best compensation
- • For disasters qualifying for FEMA relief—presidentially-declared disasters—help tends to be short on compensation and long in time coming
- • High winds can also bring other related damages—storm damage, inland flooding, falling trees, etc.; the more complicated the damages, the more cover you carrier has for denying your claim
Flood
Potential problems with coverage:
- • Your insurance policy may require you to mitigate damage once it’s discovered; such costs may be reimbursable—fixing leaks, tarping the roof, installing dehumidifiers, etc.; initial water damage can worsen with mold, fungus, wet rot, and more—these are all consequences most insurance won’t cover
- • It may be necessary to bring in an emergency services mitigation company to limit damages
- • As flood damage can be complicated, so is its coverage—e.g. sinkholes and earth movement, even as a result of flooding, may not be covered or there may be limitations given to living in a “high-risk” area
- • The particular source of water damage can be critical too as carriers may have exclusions for discharge, sewage or other water backups or overflow
Appraisers not only help determine the amount of loss, but may also help determine the cause of loss. In Auto-Owners Insurance Company v. Summit Park Townhome Association, 100 F. Supp 3d 1099 (D. Colo. 2015) the court held that the cause of loss is an essential part of determining the amount of loss. Furtdao Law PC is litigating Certain Underwriters of Lloyd’s of London v. Southwind and Eastpointe Homeowners Association, Inc. (Case No. 1:16cv01288-MJW) where this ruling has been applied.
It is important that qualified professionals assist policyholders with the appraisal process. Insurance companies often attempt to influence the process by choosing biased appraisers to assist them. Some companies undermine the process by claiming an appraiser cannot determine the scope or cause of loss, and otherwise attempt to delay the process by interfering with the appraisal.
Furtado Law PC has sucessfully navigated the appraisal process for its clients.
Indemnity and defense provisions are so common, yet can be easily misinterpreted and misapplied. The terms defense and indemnify can often appear in the same clause, but each is understood to impose different obligations. These can be further compounded due to variations in statutes as well as case law that exists state to state.
The experienced attorneys at Furtado Law PC know the difference between the duty to indemnify and the duty to defend. We also know that there are some jurisdictions in which an indemnity obligation automatically carries with it the duty to defend regardless of whether the duty to defend is expressly stated. We understand what is at stake, which is why we are committed to doing a thorough evaluation of your case to identify any ambiguities in the contract and determine how the governing law can be applied to your individual case.
To hold your insurance carrier accountable is a complex process.
Your insurer will have attorneys, and so should you.
Hiring a right lawyer to advise and represent you is essential; as a law firm, our focus is on quality, not quantity.
Making sure your insurance company pays you a prompt and fair settlement is a complex process. Hiring the right attorney to advise and represent you is essential.
Too often, life insurance companies deny claims without justifiable reasons. Not all life insurance companies are created equal, and not all life insurance claims are treated fairly. There are a number of reasons that an insurance may deny a claim, such as no beneficiary named on the policy, policy lapse due to non-payment, divorce, “incontestability clauses”, or an assortment of tactics the company believes to be misrepresentation by the insured. In some cases, the insurance company pays the claim to the wrong beneficiary, leaving the intended beneficiary from collecting payments rightfully intended for them. Life insurance companies gain a financial benefit by collecting insurance payments and then either denying or paying substantially less when the claim is filed. This conflict of interest can often result in a broken promise by the insurance company, denying loved ones the benefits to which they are entitled.
The basic concept of life insurance is simple enough. Life insurance policies and annuities promise financial security after a loved one dies. You’ve counted on this your entire life, and now when your family needs it, it’s not there.
Too often, life insurance companies deny claims without justifiable reasons. Not all life insurance companies are created equal, and not all life insurance claims are treated fairly. There are a number of reasons that an insurance may deny a claim, such as no beneficiary named on the policy, policy lapse due to non-payment, divorce, “incontestability clauses”, or an assortment of tactics the company believes to be misrepresentation by the insured. In some cases, the insurance company pays the claim to the wrong beneficiary, leaving the intended beneficiary from collecting payments rightfully intended for them.
Life insurance companies gain a financial benefit by collecting insurance payments and then either denying or paying substantially less when the claim is filed. This conflict of interest can often result in a broken promise by the insurance company, denying loved ones the benefits to which they are entitled.
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A proven track record of winning cases for our clients.
Most policyholders believe they are powerless against an insurance company, as if they have no option but to surrender or give up. The insurance industry has lobbied to have laws written in their favor. But they are also subject to regulations, including proper and timely handling of property damage claims. Policyholders may not know how to fight for their rights.
However, to take them on without either legal experience or expertise would be a mistake. One that could cost you. Case law, legal process and language are all difficult by design. The purpose is to hold the layperson at a disadvantage.
Furtado Law is your advantage. We’ve defeated these giants again and again. Let us win for you.
