Experienced Commercial Property Damage Attorneys Serving Orlando and Central Florida
When a building, storefront, or office space is damaged, the problems can spread quickly into lost sales, delayed projects, and unhappy customers. An Orlando commercial property damage claim attorney can help you press for the benefits your business policy promised, especially when the carrier questions the scope of repairs or delays a clear answer.
Pressure often rises because commercial claims are often more complex than home claims, even when the damage appears simple at first. Policy wording, tenant and landlord duties, and repair timelines can all shape what the insurer pays and when it pays. A legal professional with Kuhn Raslavich can help you deal with all of the complexities and work with the carrier to uphold the terms of your policy.
Support for Business Insurance Policies
Commercial property insurance can cover more than a broken roof or a soaked ceiling tile. Many policies also include coverage for business personal property, extra expense, and business interruption, along with specialized endorsements for signs, equipment, and certain types of water damage.
Policy language controls the claim from start to finish, which is why a lawyer will focus early on the declarations page, policy provisions, endorsements, deductibles, and the loss conditions that describe notice, inspections, and proof of loss. Clear compliance is critical because carriers often rely on technical gaps to reduce payment or deny parts of the claim.
The Kuhn Raslavich team will step in to organize the claim and keep it moving with the right paperwork, timelines, and a plan built on Florida insurance law. Our legal team will also handle communications with the carrier so your team can stay focused on running the business.
Commercial Claims Bring Different Pressure Points
Commercial losses tend to involve more people, contracts, and moving parts than residential property damage. A landlord may hold the building policy, while a tenant holds a separate policy for contents and improvements. Both policies may be crucial after a single event.
Disputes also show up in places business owners do not expect, so an attorney will look beyond the obvious damage and ask what the loss really changed. Water inside a wall can lead to removal and replacement work, a damaged electrical system can force downtime, and code upgrades can raise the cost of a repair in ways the first estimate did not include.
Leases can add another layer because they often assign responsibility for certain repairs and require specific notice between the parties. Coverage questions become harder when the carrier argues that one party should pay first, even though the policy may still owe benefits for a covered loss.
Rules and Deadlines You Must Know
Florida sets clear notice rules that can end a claim before it starts if the deadline is missed. Under state law, a policyholder cannot file a new or reopened claim unless they give notice within one year of the date of loss. In addition, they cannot file a supplemental claim unless they provide notice within 18 months after the date of loss.
Insurers also have duties after receiving notice, and a lawyer will closely track those deadlines. For certain claims, the law requires an insurer to acknowledge communications within 7 days and, for claims that meet the statute, to pay or deny the claim, or a portion of it, within 60 days after receiving notice. The only exception is when factors beyond the insurer’s control prevent them from processing the claim.
Time limits for lawsuits matter as well, even when a claim is still being argued. Florida Statute 95.11 provides a five-year limitations period for an action for breach of a property insurance contract, with the period running from the date of loss, so planning should account for both the claim timeline and the court timeline.
Documents That Carry Weight in a Commercial Property Claim
Proof drives payment, and commercial proof often needs to do two jobs at once. The file must show what happened to the property and how the loss affected operations. This is important because the carrier may treat repair costs and income loss as separate issues.
Financial records can feel sensitive, yet the numbers are crucial when the claim includes lost income or extra expense. A well-prepared package can connect the dots between the damage, the downtime, and the real cost of staying open or getting back online, which is where a lawyer will focus on clarity instead of volume.
Records that often make a commercial property claim stronger include:
- A complete copy of the policy package, including the declarations page and every endorsement.
- Photo and video files taken at different points in time, so the progression of the damage is clear.
- Professional estimates that separate materials, labor, and the specific work being proposed.
- Bills and proof of payment for mitigation steps such as water extraction, drying, board-up work, or tarping.
- A contents inventory with model numbers when available, plus pricing that supports repair or replacement value.
- Business documents that capture the loss window, including sales summaries, payroll, and other operating costs tied to the disruption.
- Written messages and letters involving the carrier, the adjuster, contractors, and other vendors, kept in order by the date you received them.
When you have thorough records and the help of an experienced legal professional, your chances of achieving a fair resolution can increase significantly. The Kuhn Raslavich team will work to help you do precisely that.
When the Insurer Disagrees, Florida Offers Tools
Disagreements usually fall into a few themes, such as causation, scope of work, pricing, or policy exclusions. Carriers may argue that some damage is wear and tear, that a portion of the work is betterment, or that the estimate includes items outside covered repairs.
Alternative dispute resolution options can be helpful under the right circumstances. An attorney will explain the differences among appraisal, mediation, and a lawsuit, based on what the policy requires and what the facts support.
Bad-faith issues require careful handling and timing, as Florida’s process includes formal notice steps. State law not only creates a civil remedy for certain insurer conduct, but it also addresses unfair claim settlement practices. A sound strategy should align with the insurer’s conduct and the evidence, rather than acting solely out of frustration.
How We Can Help You Move a Stalled Claim Forward
A commercial claim needs structure, especially when repairs, vendors, and deadlines collide. Our team will review the policy, build a claim plan, and push for a fair scope of repairs that matches the covered damage, rather than letting the carrier narrow the loss to the smallest possible number.
Communication problems often cause long delays, so a lawyer will take over the back-and-forth with the insurer and demand clear written positions that match the policy terms. That approach keeps the claim focused on facts and coverage, not shifting explanations or open-ended requests that never seem to end.
Fee structure matters to business owners who are already dealing with cash flow pressure after a loss. Kuhn Raslavich handles first party insurance dispute matters with no fees or costs owed unless we make a recovery, which lets many businesses pursue the claim without adding another major bill during a stressful time.
A Kuhn Raslavich Orlando Commercial Property Damage Claim Attorney is Ready to Tell You More
Commercial property damage can put your business in a tough spot, especially when the insurer delays decisions or pushes a narrow scope that leaves you paying out of pocket. The legal professionals with Kuhn Raslavich can bring order to the process and keep the claim tied to the policy language and the evidence.
Commercial claims can move quickly at the outset, only to stall when the carrier raises scope questions or requests more information. A clear plan, strong documentation, and consistent follow-up usually improve the odds of a clean resolution, and an attorney will help you stay organized and deadline-focused.
If your business is facing a stalled, underpaid, or denied claim, our team will review the situation. We will explain how an Orlando commercial property damage claim lawyer can pursue the benefits you purchased and press for a fair result. If you would like to schedule a free case evaluation, you can use our online contact form or call us at 407-501-4833.
How Kuhn Raslavich Builds Leverage in South Florida
Documentation wins claims. Kuhn Raslavich will gather pre-loss photos, permit histories, moisture readings, expert reports, and line-item estimates to tell a coherent story grounded in the policy’s language. Our team can convert that story into a demand that anticipates the carrier’s pushbacks.
Process control creates pressure. Our firm will calendar statutory deadlines, request claim file notes when available, and maintain written follow-ups on a predictable schedule. We will tie every delay to the statute and remind the carrier of its obligations under Florida law.
Results come from preparation. When the file provides credible support for cause, scope, and price, carriers have fewer excuses to cut or delay payment. A prepared attorney with our firm will present that support at the appraisal or in court if negotiation fails.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a commercial property insurance claim take in Florida?
Timing depends on the loss, the policy, and how fast the insurer reaches a coverage position. Florida law sets certain claim handling duties, yet disputes over scope and pricing can extend the process. A reasonable plan accounts for repairs, inspections, and the time needed to support the numbers.
What if the insurer agrees there is coverage but offers far less than the repair estimate?
A low offer often reflects a scope dispute, a pricing dispute, or both. The claim can be pushed forward with clearer estimates, supporting photos, and policy-based arguments about what the repair must include. Dispute options such as appraisal or mediation may also fit, depending on the policy and the issues.
Does business interruption coverage automatically pay out when my business slows down after a loss?
Business interruption usually requires a covered cause of loss and proof that the damage resulted in an actual suspension or slowdown, as defined by the policy. The insurer may also require records showing income history and ongoing expenses. Careful documentation helps connect the damage to the financial impact.
Reasons To Call Kuhn Raslavich
If you have suffered property damage as a result of water damage, fire, hail, or hurricane, CALL KUHN RASLAVICH FIRST…not your insurance carrier. Kuhn Raslavich charges no fees unless you get paid! We will deal with the insurance company on your behalf so you do not have to worry about setting up a claim or getting paid adequately. As an illustration of why hiring Kuhn Raslavich would be beneficial, consider this common occurrence:
- A hurricane badly damages your home.
- You call your insurance carrier who sends out one of their own adjusters to estimate the amount of damage.
- You accept the amount estimated by the insurance carrier, not knowing that it is extremely undervalued because the insurance company is trying to pay the least amount possible to settle your claim.
- As a result, you do not have enough money to repair your home properly.
We will come to your home and estimate the true value of the damage, which is often much greater than what the insurance company has determined. We will then gather all necessary paperwork and submit the claim to your insurance company. Once submitted, we help you along step by step and negotiate the claim in an effort to maximize your recovery.
Since filing a homeowner’s insurance claim is not a common occurrence, many homeowners do not know where to start. Many believe that their insurance company works for them, and is looking out for their best interest; however, insurers DO NOT represent homeowners and ARE NOT looking out for their best interest. Insurers are FOR PROFIT CORPORATIONS that are trying to pay the least amount possible to resolve claims.