Insurance companies do not make their enormous profits by paying what they owe but rather denying what they owe. Therefore it is necessary anytime you have property damage you have counsel fighting for your rights. Whether you own a single family home, or you happen to be on the Board of a community managed association, if the insurance company is giving you a hard time about insurance coverage for your property damage claim, call us at 813-258-4998 to help you get the claim resolved.

Here are a few inconvenient truths all property owners – whether you are a commercial/business owner, a member of a Board of Directors for your condo, or a homeowner – should know:

1. Insurance companies are more focused on their bottom line rather than covering the costs of your property damage as they save the less they pay.
2. You paid your insurance premiums, so you deserve fair compensation for property damage incurred through no fault of your own but oftentimes that isn’t the way adjusters and insurance companies see it.
3. Insurance companies deny compensation for property damage that should have been covered by your policy.
4. Insurance adjusters have one primary objective – minimize the monies paid to policyholders on behalf of their employers.
5. The insurance company is going to give you the “lowball” offer to repair or replace your property damage, and usually that compensation won’t be enough to fix the damage.
6. Without help from a qualified property damage lawyer, you are often at the mercy of your agent, who may deny all or part of your claim.

While the above situations are common, there is a way to fight back. Corless Barfield Trial Group is a tested trial team of Florida Property Damage Attorneys well-versed in the tactics used by insurance companies to limit their own liability. We will aggressively fight to maximize your insurance coverage. As a policyholder, you are entitled to a full and fair investigation of your loss, and you deserve to obtain all appropriate coverage for your claim.

Our team of litigators specialize in advocating for property owner rights. If you want to hear what others say about our experience, just ask Google. Our team of seasoned, expert litigators focuses on getting you the means by which to rebuild your home or business.

In Florida, property insurance disputes include hurricane damage, storm damage, high winds, sinkholes, catastrophic ground cover collapse, fire loss, and water damage. As damages can cost thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars, you need a property damage litigator who can fight back and win.

Corless Barfield Trial Group has handled hundreds of property damage cases and collected hundreds of millions of dollars for insureds, and are familiar with the devious maneuvers used by insurance companies to protect their own bottom line. You don’t have to do battle with your insurance company alone.

Don’t let your insurance company force you into paying for something they are legally required to cover. We take your claim with the objective of getting it paid, or making the insurer test their meddle in front of a jury.

The Florida Property Damage Attorneys from Corless Barfield Trial Group will help you maximize your insurance claim and coverage. Corless Barfield Trial Group is located in Tampa, Florida and serves clients throughout the state of Florida. For a free consultation, call us at 813-258-4998.

Whether big or small, sinkholes remain geological phenomena that regularly occurs in Florida.  Did a sinkhole loss occur or how do we repair sinkholes when they do occur are questions we get asked all the time.  Corless Barfield Trial Group brings our extensive experience, which includes a comprehensive understanding of the legal and engineering issues associated with sinkholes, to our client’s cases.  

Below are important sinkhole warning signs. If you are experiencing a number of the signs described below, please contact a professional. If you have questions about sinkhole activity, insurance, or property damage call Corless Barfield Trial Group at 813-258-4998.

Fall Between the Cracks:  In the event you have sinkhole activity, you could see cracks forming in your walls, especially where walls and ceilings meet as well as around doors and windows.  You may notice cracks in tile grout, laminate, linoleum, or flooring. Be aware of new or growing cracks. If you live in a community managed association, each building on your property should be annually inspected for the common signs of sinkhole loss.

Mind the Gap: Walls and ceilings with gaps or separation could indicate a sinkhole.  Specifically, look for cracks in your interior walls and on the ceilings. Trim and molding that’s pulling away is another sign of sinkhole activity. If you notice slanting or see warping, these issues may be sinkhole related.

Nature Calls:  There are numerous sinkhole warning signs to look for around the outside of your house, too.  Inspect your fence posts and trees for sagging or slanting. Small ponds of water are a sign of sinkhole activity, especially if water has never collected there before.  

Love Thy Neighbor:  If you see any of the signs mentioned above, ask your neighbors if they’ve had sinkhole activity.  Additionally, check with your emergency management office and weather offices about sinkhole activity in the area. In Florida, the Geological Survey office records and tracks sinkhole events.  

Corless Barfield Trial Group brings a unique, valuable perspective of representing policyholders against some of the nation’s most powerful insurance companies.  

Our property damage insurance lawyers, Ted Corless, Morgan Barfield, and Mary Catherine Lamoureux are leaders in the legal community on these issues. We represent insureds in sinkhole damage claims but also in claims arising from hurricane and other windstorm activity (e.g. tornado, microburst, hail, etc.). Corless Barfield represents clients at all levels of insurance issues, from claim management through value appraisal and arbitration.  

For denied claims, Corless, Barfield, and Lamoureux can document record-setting verdicts against the largest insurers, from discovery through verdict and appeals. To learn more about how we can help you with sinkhole and windstorm losses, please contact our law firm today at 813-258-4998.