Lee County
Sunny and beautiful Lee County can be found along the southwest coast of Florida. The county is home to Cape Coral and has a population of around 700,000 people. Many of these residents are from Cape Coral, which is the largest city between Tampa and Miami. The area is known for its scenery, marinas, parks, and bustling night life.
However, the county is also infamous for being a target for natural disasters. Since the region borders the Gulf of Mexico, it’s very susceptible to hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and other water-related disasters. Wildfires, sink holes, and tropical storms are also a common occurrence in the area. For these reasons and more, Lee County residents turn to their insurers in times of need.
But what happens if your insurance company refuses to provide full and fair coverage? Insurance companies will sometimes dispute to deny viable claims in an effort to save money. Thankfully, you have options. You can turn to an experienced insurance claims and disputes lawyer for assistance.
Fort Myers Insurance Claims Attorney in Florida
It’s almost impossible to recover from property damage when your insurance company refuses to provide full and fair coverage. If you are having issues receiving the compensation you were promised, consult with Michael Germain of Germain Law Group, P.A.. Attorney Germain has over 10 years of experience assisting policyholders and helping them recover completely from their losses.
You can set up your first consultation with Germain Law Group, P.A. by calling our office at (813) 835-8888. Germain Law Group, P.A. accepts clients throughout the greater Lee County area including Fort Meyers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, North Fort Myers, Pine Manor, Harlem Heights, Alva, Captiva, and Cypress Lake.
Information Center:
- What Constitutes a Bad Faith Insurance Claim?
- Lee County Insurance Resources
- Average Homeowners Insurance Rate in Lee County
- Other Civil Matters We Handle
- Lee County Cities We Serve
What Constitutes a Bad Faith Insurance Claim?
Insurance companies have quite a bit of power over their policyholders. The reason for this is there is a gap of knowledge about insurance between agent and policyholder. The policyholder does not have nearly enough knowledge on insurance law, and since it’s a complicated subject they trust their agent to provide honest and accurate information. However, this isn’t always the case.
An insurance company acts in bad faith if they aren’t attempting to settle viable claims in a fair and equitable manner. They must follow proper state and federal procedures when investigating a claim, processing said claim, and sending a settlement check. Insurance companies who intentionally violate these rules are engaging in bad faith practices.
Some examples of bad faith practices under section 624.155 of the Florida Statutes include:
- Failing to send a settlement check in a timely manner
- Denying claim without a justifiable reason
- Not adopting and implementing proper standards for a claim investigation
- Giving only low-ball offers knowing they are well below standard market price
- Not communicating properly in respect to claims
- Misrepresent facts about the claim or policy it’s under
- Altering a settlement amount without the policyholder’s knowledge
If your insurer is engaging in bad faith practices, you have every right to file a lawsuit against them. The lawsuit would address not only their refusal to pay the claim, but also their dishonest actions that lead to further losses for you. If you and your attorney are successful, then you’ll receive compensation for the claim as well as a monetary award for damages.
Having an experienced attorney on your side during this process makes all the difference. Their years of insurance law experience will give them the edge when presenting evidence as to why your claim is valid. They also can identify bad faith practices and then find supporting information to prove the insurer committed these actions.
Insurance Resources in Lee County, FL
20th Judicial Circuit Court | Lee County Court – Visit the official website for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court to learn how they have jurisdiction over Lee County civil matters. Access the site to look at the court calendar, directions to the Lee County courthouse, programs for civil cases, and other valuable information.
Lee County Clerk – Visit the official website for the Lee County Clerk, Linda Doggett, to learn more about the services they offer. Access the site to read the self-help resources, download forms you may need, search up court records, or schedule an appointment with the clerk.
Insurance Code in Florida – Visit the official website for Florida’s laws and legislation to learn more about insurance compliance laws and penalties for violating them. Access the site to learn more about civil remedies that may be helpful for your claim, your rights as a policyholder, and other valuable information.
Office of Insurance Regulation in Florida – Visit the official website for the Office of Insurance Regulation, a department solely dedicated to monitoring insurance companies for compliance and to enforce insurance-related statutes when needed. Access the site to look at their consumer resources, read their industry reports, and their rate comparison tools.
Florida Recovery Resources | III – Visit the official website for the Insurance Information Institute (III), the largest online source on insurance for policyholders in the nation. Access the site to peruse their recovery resources for Florida policyholders, look at Florida insurance data reports, and read articles about insurance matters in Florida.
Lee County Average Homeowners Insurance Rate
| Home Value in Lee County, FL | Percentage of Total | Avg. Rate |
| Less than $50,000 | 11.0% | $175 |
| $50,000 to $59,999 | 4.0% | $373 |
| $60,000 to $69,999 | 4.0% | $466 |
| $70,000 to $79,999 | 4.0% | $536 |
| $80,000 to $89,999 | 5.0% | $606 |
| $90,000 to $99,999 | 4.0% | $676 |
| $100,000 to $124,999 | 10.0% | $793 |
| $125,000 to $149,999 | 7.0% | $991 |
| $150,000 to $174,999 | 10.0% | $1167 |
| $175,000 to $199,999 | 6.0% | $1353 |
| $200,000 to $249,999 | 11.0% | $1622 |
| $250,000 to $299,999 | 8.0% | $1983 |
| $300,000 to $399,999 | 9.0% | $2520 |
Other Civil Matters We Handle
- Real Property Disputes
- Construction Defect Litigation
- Fraudulent Inducement
- Unfair Business Practices
- Personal Injury
- Invasion of Property
- Debt Collection
- Levying Property
- Small Business Litigation
- Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
- Deceptive Trade Practices
- General Business Disputes
- Contractual Disputes
- UCC – Sales of Goods
Lee County Cities We Serve
- Sanibel
- Cape Coral
- Fort Myers
- Bonita Springs
- Estero
- Alva
- Olga
- Page Park
- Tice
- Villas
- Whiskey Creek
- McGregor
- Iona
- Captiva
- Charleston Park
Lee County Insurance Lawyer in Florida
Get in contact with Michael Germain of Germain Law Group, P.A. to start a plan on how to recover the compensation you were owed today. Attorney Germain has spent over a decade handling insurance law matters. He can utilize his past experiences to help you successfully file your claim today.
Call Germain Law Group, P.A. at (813) 835-8888 to set up your first consultation free of charge. Germain Law Group, P.A. accepts clients throughout the greater Lee County area and surrounding counties including Charlotte County, Collier County, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Sarasota County and Sumter County.