Las Vegas Homeowners Insurance Dispute Lawyer

You and your homeowners insurance company don’t have the same goals. Your goal is to invest in a service that can protect you, your family, your hard-earned belongings, and your visitors from harm caused by perils like theft or fire. Your insurance company’s goal is to make money by pulling in profits and reducing payouts.

With such conflicting goals, it’s easy to see why insurance disputes happen. And when they do happen, the odds are stacked steeply in the insurance company’s favor.

As a policyholder, it’s hard to stand up and claim your rights in the face of a multi-million-dollar corporation like Farmers, Allstate, State Farm, Nationwide, Progressive, or Liberty Mutual—agencies with a lot more money, industry knowledge, and legal protection than you have as a claimant facing a financial emergency.

Unlike the big homeowners insurance companies, the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp is passionate about fighting for the rights of the individual. If your insurance carrier is not acting fairly or lawfully, a Las Vegas homeowners insurance dispute lawyer on our team can help you find justice.

We hold big businesses accountable, and we aren’t afraid of the challenges a bad faith homeowners insurance claim denial case can pose. Our legal training and experience make us uniquely qualified to handle these types of cases in Nevada.

Call us today to discuss your Las Vegas or Clark County homeowners insurance dispute with a qualified attorney.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

Homeowners insurance policies are typically taken out to protect both a home (and other valuables) and anyone who is injured on the property.

There is a good deal of variation between homeowners insurance policies. When purchasing a policy, you usually have some flexibility to choose what you want to have covered and what you want to waive.

Depending on the terms of your policy, the following types of perils and incidents may be covered. Be sure to check with your Nevada insurance carrier or your Las Vegas homeowners insurance dispute lawyer if you have questions about your policy.

• Theft
• Injuries suffered by visitors to the property
• Plumbing and water damage issues
• Fire
• Dog bites
• Mold
• Roof damage
• Weather-caused property damage
• Vandalism

What Is a Bad Faith Act by a Homeowners Insurance Company?

The term “bad faith” refers to dishonest actions that allow a company to evade its legal obligations to policyholders.

Under Nevada law, it is illegal for an insurance company to deny a policyholder’s claim without a valid reason. So if you file a claim with your homeowners insurance carrier, only to have it ignored, unreasonably delayed, or unexpectedly denied, it’s important to look into the reason behind it.

There are reasonable causes for a homeowners insurance claim to be denied. Not every denial is an act of bad faith. But there are also a host of reasons that may seem legitimate at first glance but are actually tricks used by the insurance company to save money.

Insurance companies are always profit-minded, and their actions will always reflect this fact. Never make the mistake of thinking the insurance company is on your side. When homeowners insurance companies draft policies, they purposely construct terms and language in a way that protects the company.

If you experience any of the following situations with your insurance company, it’s best to contact an experienced homeowners insurance dispute lawyer from the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp, who can review your case.

• A claim denied without a reason or with little or vague information about the reason
• Unreasonable delays in the process
• Lack of communication from insurance adjusters
• Poor investigation into the matter related to your claim
• Non-disclosure of policy provisions and exemptions
• Lowball settlement offers
• Refusal to offer a realistic settlement
• Misrepresenting facts about benefits or coverage
• Delayed payment on a claim
• Not giving you enough time to provide documentation and evidence
• Intimidating threats to settle the case
• Misinterpretation of insurance policy term language

Proving bad faith in a homeowners insurance claim is not easy.

Imagine this scenario: A burst pipe leaves you with a flooded basement and without the use of your downstairs bathroom. You call your insurance carrier, and they send an investigator to your house. After snapping a few pictures, the investigator leaves and you never hear from them again. Now it’s been several months since an update. But every time you call an insurance adjuster, you’re told that your claim is still under review.

How do you know if your homeowners insurance company is acting legally? How do you know what’s normal and what’s bad faith? And if it is bad faith, how can you prove it?

When you know you’re not being treated fairly but aren’t sure how to move forward; a Las Vegas homeowners insurance dispute lawyer is the best person to help you.

What Type of Lawyer Handles Homeowners Insurance Dispute Cases?

For such a specific type of legal case, it’s best to partner with an attorney who focuses specifically on bad faith insurance disputes.

A national, do-it-all personal injury law firm may not be qualified to handle a Las Vegas homeowners insurance case. Your legal counsel should be both highly specialized in insurance bad faith laws and locally rooted in Nevada to have a comprehensive understanding of state legislation related to insurance matters.

We invite you to learn more about the legal services we offer at the Law Office of Matthew L. Sharp. We believe our lawyers have what it takes to give your insurance dispute the best chance for a successful case resolution. Call or fill out our online contact form to get started.