PIPE LEAK OR WATER DAMAGE?
Contact Us For A Free Evaluation Of Your Cast Iron Pipe Damage Case!
CAST IRON PIPE DAMAGE CLAIMS
Most property insurance policies may provide coverage for the replacement of your leaking sewer pipes, but the cost to replace your cast iron pipe plumbing system can cost tens of thousands of dollars, so it is important to present your cast iron pipe claim correctly. As a result, the more homes have this issue, insurance companies are doing what they do best; denying and delaying current policyholder claims and quickly re-writing new policies to exclude coverage of this very problem.
Repair or Replace Under Slab Cast Iron Pipes
It is important to note that any time an under-slab cast iron sewer pipe is repaired, meaning just the spots with leaks are repaired, what was just one problem or leak will be at least 2 problems in the same spot in the future.
The cast iron on each side of the repair will go bad e.g. crumble, crack, break, leak, etc. That’s just the nature of the material. As the metal repeatedly meets the wastewater that runs through it, it deteriorates.
Full or Partial Replacement?
So, with cast iron sewer pipes, especially older pipes, it doesn’t make sense to locate or repair the leak or leaks.
Cracked pipes will also affect the environment by leaking raw sewage into groundwater, therefore, contaminating local water suppliers. Every month, more than 216 million gallons of sewage is leaked into Florida’s aquifer alone.
Why Hiring A Florida Pipe Damage Lawyer Is A Smart Decision For Your Insurance Claim?
From the first phone call you make to report your claim, the insurance company has a team of professionals working above all to underpay or totally deny your claim. We understand the frustration of a denied, delayed or underpaid pipe or water damage insurance claim. Your focus should be getting your home or business repaired, not on fighting the insurance company. We’ve seen the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying legitimate cast iron sewer claims and take every step necessary to get you the full amount that is rightfully owed to you.
Does Insurance Cover Replacing Cast Iron Sewer Pipes?
Insurance companies in Florida have consequently faced thousands of pipe lawsuits over water damage claims involving cast iron pipes. Property insurance companies have developed a number of complicated rules over the years to deal with plumbing losses. The result is often a mishmash of coverage provisions, limitations and exclusions. Therefore, even if an insurance company says “No,” there is often a “Yes!” to be found, if one knows where to look. The insurance company may send an inspector to your home to assess the damage. It’s important to file your claim as soon as the water damage becomes visible, which usually means within the first 72 hours.Remember that you can also call in your own experts for estimates, which may help if you need to take legal action.
The question of whether to replace the cast iron piping in your home is obvious – these sewer pipes must be replaced, or greater property damage awaits. The harder question is how to pay for the replacement of these pipes. Ignoring a faulty plumbing pipe system is just an accident waiting to happen.
– Between 20% and 30% of all insurance claims are for water damage. Therefore, damage from leaking pipes can sometimes cost over $100,000.00 and create a total loss of your home.
Insurance companies will often try to deny or underpay pipe damage claims for, at least, one of the following reasons:
- Ordinary Wear and Tear
- Failure of Proper Maintenance
- Damage was not “Sudden and Accidental”
- Pre-Existing Damage
- Leaks Lasting Longer than 14 Days
- No Coverage for “Flood” Losses
- No Coverage for “Plumbing” Issues Generally
Although the insurance companies often rely on these reasons to deny coverage, these exemptions many times do not “hold water” and are as faulty as the cast iron pipes sought to be repaired. Furthermore, you might receive less than the cost of repairs because the insurance company may only want to pay what is obviously damaged.
Some home insurance companies will refuse to insure homes with cast iron or galvanized steel piping or require high deductibles before a home with known problematic plumbing can be insured. Those purchasing a home with such sewer pipes may be required to have a licensed plumber to certify the system before it can be insured. It also will lower a home’s resale value and make it more difficult to find a buyer.
Your Home Is Everything. We’re here to defend it.
Our firm has litigated Florida cast iron pipe lawsuits (and other) insurance policy exclusions for over 20 years. As a result, we’ve been very successful in proving that our clients are actually entitled to full coverage for their losses. Do not accept the insurance company’s denial or underpayment of your claim without having it reviewed by a lawyer who is experienced with insurance claims.
As part of our water damage claim review, we will:
Review the language of your insurance policy
Assess the damage to your home or business
Evaluate the reason for your insurance company’s decision
Free Claim Consultation
Initial consultations with our firm are always free and without obligation. There are no out of pocket fees or costs to hire our firm for your cast iron pipe damage insurance claim in Florida, and we are only paid if we win your case
What NOT To DO If Cast Iron Pipe Leaks?
When filing an insurance pipe claim related to a burst pipe, make sure to never to use the word “flooded,” even if you are simply trying to describe the incident and damage. Insurance companies love to deny claims that have anything to do with floodwater—don’t give them the opportunity
3 THINGS YOU’LL GET WHEN YOU HIRE WILLIAMS LAW, P.A. FOR YOUR CAST IRON PIPE LAWSUIT:
We are committed to providing you not only with quality legal representation, but also with excellent, individualized service. You don’t have to navigate the complicated — and sometimes mystifying — insurance litigation process alone. If you live in Florida and think you have a case, please call us for a free claim review. There are never any costs unless awarded a settlement.