Ohio PropertyDamage Insurance Claim Lawyers
Experiencing property damage of any kind is a frustrating and sometimes dangerous ordeal. You may be left without a stable vehicle, home, or commercial property.
The dedicated Ohio property damage insurance claim lawyers at Lawrence & Associates can help with your case, pursuing full compensation for your losses. Do not wait to get started on your case; call our law office today at (513) 756-8605.
table of contents
- Types of Ohio Property Damage Insurance Claims We Handle
- How Do Property Insurance Claims Work in Ohio?
- What is Bad Faith Insurance?
- How To Know if Your Insurance Company Is Acting in Bad Faith
- Can You Sue Your Insurance Company in Ohio?
- What Is the Role of an Ohio Property Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer?
- Steps To Take for Property Damage Insurance Claims in Ohio
- Contact an Experienced Ohio Property Damage Lawyer
When disaster strikes, property owners in Ohio deserve fair compensation from their insurance companies. Unfortunately, many face delays, reductions, or denials of legitimate claims.
At Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, our experienced property damage attorneys help homeowners and business owners across Ohio, including Cincinnati, Montgomery, Sharonville, and Blue Ash, pursue the full benefits they are owed. We understand the stress and financial strain caused by denied claims, and we fight to hold insurers accountable.
If your property damage claim has been delayed or denied, contact us at (513) 756-8605 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.
Types of Ohio Property Damage Insurance Claims We Handle
Property damage claims arise from a wide variety of incidents. Our Cincinnati lawyers have handled property insurance claims resulting from:
- Damage from tornadoes – Tornadoes can cause severe destruction, tearing roofs off buildings, knocking down walls, and sending debris flying at high speeds.
- Damage from burst pipes – Pipes can burst due to wear and tear, improper installation, freezing temperatures, water pressure issues, and more. Water damage from burst pipes can be extensive, requiring massive cleanup and restoration efforts.
- Damage from a fire in a commercial building – Fires in commercial buildings put many lives at risk and cause massive property damage.
- Damage from hail – Large hailstones can dent facades, break windows, damage roofs, ruin siding, and lead to leaks.
- Damage from flooding – Rising floodwaters can upend cars, undermine foundations, warp floors, promote mold growth, and destroy virtually anything in their path. Extensive drying, cleaning, repair, and replacement are usually necessary.
- Damage from wind – Strong winds can tear off roofs, knock down trees and power lines, send unsecured items airborne, and cause water intrusion when flying debris breaks windows.
- Damage from ice – Heavy accumulations of ice can collapse roofs, break tree limbs, damage electrical wires, and make roads impassable. Icicles that fall from roofs and overhangs can also cause injury and property damage.
- Damage from a fallen tree – Trees that fall during storms often crash into buildings and vehicles. They can even land on power lines, creating additional electrical hazards.
Wondering how to mitigate damage from potential natural disasters? Find out more in our guide.
How Do Property Insurance Claims Work in Ohio?
It is essential to understand the steps involved in the property insurance claims process. This will give you a clear outline of what to expect and crucial actions to take.
To begin, you will need to notify your insurance provider as soon as damage occurs. Document everything, including photos, videos, and receipts. Once you begin the claims process, an insurance adjuster will visit to inspect the damage and provide an estimate. This may end up being low or incomplete, resulting in a dispute.
Timeline Expectations
While Ohio does not have strict deadlines, insurers must handle claims promptly and in good faith under Ohio’s Unfair Claims Settlement Practices rules (i.e., timely acknowledgment and a reasonable acceptance/denial after receiving necessary proofs). Delays longer than 30–60 days may indicate bad faith or stalling.
Key Legal Points
Ohio policyholders have the right to dispute claim outcomes, and bad faith insurance practices can result in legal action. Many property policies contain contractual suit-limitation clauses (often one year) that can shorten your time to sue—sometimes even below Ohio’s default statutes—so early legal review is critical.
Common Issues
Several challenges may surface during a property insurance claim, including the following:
- Denials for alleged pre-existing damage
- Underpayments based on depreciation or replacement cost disputes
- The insurance company requires excessive documentation or delays in communication
Consult a property damage lawyer in Ohio today if you feel your claim is being unfairly handled.
What is Bad Faith Insurance?
Bad faith insurance occurs in situations where an insurance company engages in unfair claim practices. This could involve delaying the claims process, denying valid claims, failing to investigate claims properly, misrepresenting policy terms, or putting their own financial interests above the policyholder’s. When insurance companies act in bad faith, they are violating the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing that is part of all insurance contracts.
Some examples of bad faith insurance practices include:
- Denying a claim based on minor technicalities or insignificant errors in the application
- Dragging out negotiations and delaying payments to wear down the policyholder
- Misrepresenting facts about the policy’s insurance coverage
- Hiring biased experts to produce reports that favor denying claims
- Ignoring clear evidence that supports approving a claim
Ohio law requires insurance companies to behave fairly toward policyholders. If you believe your insurance company is acting in bad faith regarding your property damage claim, contact our property damage attorney immediately. We have extensive experience recognizing and proving bad faith practices.
How To Know if Your Insurance Company Is Acting in Bad Faith
You can take proactive steps to identify bad-faith practices by the insurance company. Some of the red flags to look for include:
- Unreasonable delays
- Denied claims without explanation
- Undervaluation of damage
- Pressure to accept low offers
If you’re seeing these red flags, it’s time to get a second opinion. Call our law office today for more information.
Can You Sue Your Insurance Company in Ohio?
Delays, denials, low offers, and misrepresentations of valid claims can all qualify as bad faith under Ohio law. These actions are governed by regulations aimed at protecting policyholders from unfair insurance practices as outlined under Ohio Revised Code § 3901.19–26. There are generally two main avenues you can take for legal action:
- Breach of Contract – If your insurance company fails to honor the terms of your policy, you can sue for breach of contract to recover the benefits owed under your coverage.
- Bad Faith Tort – Ohio law recognizes a separate tort claim when an insurer acts in bad faith. This goes beyond just mishandling your claim—it involves knowingly or recklessly denying what you are rightfully owed.
Some potential damages you may be entitled to include coverage for the full amount of your original claim, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and legal costs.
Ohio bad-faith claims are generally subject to a 4-year statute of limitations, while breach-of-contract claims on a written insurance policy are generally 8 years—unless your policy shortens that window with a suit-limitation clause. Because policy deadlines can be much shorter than state law, contact an Ohio lawyer for a free consultation to discuss your property damage insurance claim as soon as possible.
What Is the Role of an Ohio Property Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer?
When involved in a dispute with an insurance company, you may feel the odds are stacked against you. The unfortunate reality is that this feeling points to the truth. Insurance companies do all they can to minimize any payouts they must make to a home or business owner. When you try to fight for what you deserve from property insurance on your own, your chances of success are significantly reduced.
The good news is that working with a team of experienced property damage insurance claim lawyers can give you the leverage you need to reach the favorable outcome you deserve. Our knowledgeable and skilled team can handle your claim from start to finish. We will thoroughly investigate the incident, calculate the value of your claim, and negotiate aggressively with the insurance company for the fair compensation you deserve. Trust Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC to stand up to greedy insurance companies so that you can move on with dignity.
Steps To Take for Property Damage Insurance Claims in Ohio
If your property has been damaged, there are important steps you should take right away to preserve evidence, mitigate further damage, and position yourself for the strongest possible insurance claim. These steps include the following:
- Document the damage through photographs and video.
- Make temporary repairs to prevent additional damage (cover broken windows, place tarps on damaged roofs, etc.).
- Keep samples or swatches of damaged property (carpet, drapes, etc.) for insurance inspectors.
- Save receipts for temporary repairs, cleanup supplies, services from restoration companies, and other related expenses.
- Avoid making permanent repairs until the insurance company has inspected the property.
- Report the damage promptly to your insurance agent per the terms of the homeowners’ insurance policy.
- Create an inventory of damaged or destroyed personal property, including estimated values.
- Compile proof of ownership and pre-loss condition for damaged items.
By taking these critical steps, you will demonstrate good faith to the insurance company while gathering the documentation needed to pursue your maximum claim amount.
Our compassionate and experienced trial attorneys are here to give you a measure of justice and financial relief for what you’ve been through.
Our Case Results
Contact an Experienced Ohio Property Damage Lawyer
When seeking compensation via a property damage claim, do not leave the outcome to chance. Consult with the skilled team at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC to maximize your chances of receiving the full settlement offer you deserve.
Our experienced Cincinnati property damage insurance claim lawyers are passionate about fighting for your rights, and we will use our skills and resources to deliver maximum compensation and a favorable outcome in your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you will only pay us if we win.
Contact us today at (513) 756-8605 for a free case evaluation to learn more about what our Cincinnati insurance lawyers can do for you. Lawrence & Associates can help answer all of your questions about property and casualty claims.
