Insurance Law

Pegged as the most common type of damage, water-related perils such as bursting water and sprinkler pipes or sewage backup from broken pipes affect all properties at least once in their lifetime. Most standard insurance policies exclude certain types of water damage from coverage. Our first-party practice group has represented hundreds of clients with these claims. From assisting condominiums with multi-million-dollar fire sprinkler and water pipe breaks, to helping commercial, hotel, and office buildings that have suffered severe water damage, we’ve handled it. Contact us if you have an insurance claim for a free evaluation of your claim.

Hurricanes and tornadoes can cause devastating damage to properties. Somewhat unpredictable in nature, hurricanes and tornadoes can wreak havoc on homes and businesses, such as through wind, rain, storm surges, hail and flooding. Hurricane and tornado damage claims can become complex. Our firm's insurance attorneys have extensive experience helping policyholders navigate through hurricane and tornado claims. We also assist condominium associations, hotels and commercial clients in assessing the appropriate insurance coverage and developing plans for hurricane season. To access our Hurricane Preparedness Recovery Guide, click here. We are committed to helping our clients recover, rebuild and restart after a hurricane or tornado.

While windstorm damage is a covered peril under many insurance policies, countless policyholders receive denials from their insurer on these claims. High-velocity winds can cause massive damage to roofs, fences, windows and even damage that isn’t easily detected. Often, insurance policies have exclusions or limitations that cause claim denials. At Siegfried Rivera, we handle wind damage claims to help our clients get the recovery they are rightfully due. We understand the challenges policyholders experience when a windstorm prevents them from running their condominium or business. Our goal is to help clients recover what they deserve and need to rebuild.

Fire and smoke damage ruins property and destroys other tangible valuables such as clothing, art, appliances, family heirlooms, office equipment and critical business documents. Surviving a fire or smoke inhalation is difficult enough, and having an insurer deny a valid claim only fuels the proverbial fire. Our insurance attorneys aggressively represent policyholders pursuing fire/smoke claims, helping clients hold their insurers accountable for the promises they’ve made.

With new towers constantly being erected all over South Florida, many neighboring condominiums are damaged by concrete overspray from the surrounding development. Our firm has experience assisting condominium associations with filing insurance claims for damage caused by concrete overspray and handling any subsequent lawsuits. Our goal is to obtain the appropriate compensation for our condominium clients, allowing them to begin the necessary restoration work and giving them the ability to remove the concrete and get their building back to its pre-loss state.

We resolve underlying claims and pursue bad faith lawsuits representing the insured in recovering punitive damages and interest.

We assist homeowners and renters with insurance losses in actions against their insurance companies when their claims have been underpaid or denied. In the event of an insurance loss, our firm reviews the claim and represents the policyholder in recovering losses before filing the claim or when underpaid or denied. Our firm also advises clients on the proper method of handling and reporting their claim. We advise our clients on how to properly report insurance claims and how take the appropriate actions along the way.

We assist businesses and organizations with commercial property and casualty insurance policies in actions against their insurance companies when their claims have been underpaid or denied. In the event of an insurance loss, our firm reviews the claim and represents the policyholder in recovering losses before filing the claim or when underpaid or denied. Our firm also advises clients on the proper method of handling and reporting their claim. We advise our clients on how to properly report insurance claims and how take the appropriate actions along the way.

Our firm advocates for the insured. We have skilled and experienced loss consultants who assist with claim presentation and document preparation. We also help the insured to comply with the insurance company’s demands and post-loss obligations.

Our firm analyzes clients’ insurance policies and conducts a full policy review. We advocate for the insured and represent them in disputes against insurance companies.

Our appellate certified attorneys assist in all levels of litigation. We advocate for our clients throughout all levels of the legal process.

We work to resolve claims prior to the trial level, and we assist the insured in alternative methods of claim resolution.

At times, insureds have additional losses that are not limited to direct physical damage to property. When this occurs, businesses suffer from damages that are monetary in nature. We can assist our clients in recovering losses due to business income losses.

We can assist insureds in actions against agents and brokers when policies are improperly written or are insufficient. Improperly written or insufficient coverage could be the result of agent negligence. We can help the insured in seeking a recovery from agents based on agent negligence.