memphis water and mold lawyers

Memphis Water / Mold Damage Insurance Lawyers

Helping home and business owners obtain the insurance proceeds they deserve

When water and mold damage occur, you need experienced insurance dispute lawyers on your side. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we work to determine whether your homeowners or commercial liability insurance covers the damage to your home, buildings, and contents. Generally, these policies should cover water damage that is not due to floods. You need separate flood insurance for flood damage. We can assist you in making sure that any exclusions asserted by your insurance carrier are actually applicable.

Our Memphis water and mold damage lawyers help identify the damage (including hidden damage), determine the full cost and timeline for repairs, work to obtain additional living expenses, and fight to obtain all the other insurance proceeds you are owed.

Testimonials

Considerable Legal Skills
"I also want to share with you that because of the completeness of your preparation, your considerable legal skills and your force of character(s), I have no doubt that had we found it necessary to go to trial – we would have won the day."

Mary McNally

Considerable Legal Skills
"I also want to share with you that because of the completeness of your preparation, your considerable legal skills and your force of character(s), I have no doubt that had we found it necessary to go to trial – we would have won the day."

Mary McNally

What causes of water damage should my insurance policy cover?

Generally, homeowners’ and commercial policies do not cover flood damage. Policyholders must have separate flood insurance for flood damage. Homeowners’ and commercial policies likely do not provide coverage for seepage and long-term leaks. Our Memphis water damage insurance lawyer will review your policy to determine what water damage is covered.

Water damage that should be covered

Generally, your property insurance (home and commercial) should cover the following causes of water and mold damage:

  • Sudden and accidental water damage
  • Roofs that leak due to storm damage
  • Broken pipes, frozen pipes, and other plumbing problems
  • Water that is used while extinguishing fires
  • Appliances, such as washing machines that overflow or malfunction
  • Water due to the weight of snow, sleet, or ice

Mold growth that is caused by covered types of water damage may also be covered by your insurance policy.

Water damage that may not be covered

Some of the causes of water damage to homes or commercial property that may not be covered include the following:

  • Water damage due to floods, including surface water flooding
  • Water damage that is specifically excluded in your insurance policy
  • Groundwater seepage
  • Some types of sewer pipe and drainage backups
  • Water damage that was reasonably preventable
  • Any water or mold damage due to specific exclusions

What types of damage do water and mold cause in Memphis?

If you do have water damage, our Memphis insurance dispute lawyers will work with professionals to determine the cause of the water damage, the steps to take to prevent further water damage, the scope and severity of the damage, the types of repairs that are necessary to remove the water and make all the necessary structural and health safety repairs, and the cost of the repairs.

We also work with experts who can place a value on the property that you need to replace because there are no viable repairs. To the extent that you can safely do so, you should take photographs and videos of the water and mold damage.

Water damage

Professionals should review every type of damage, including structural damage, hidden damage, and visible damage. Water damage can:

  • Affect a portion of a room
  • Saturate carpets and seep into the wood, particle boards, and concrete
  • Damage ceilings, walls, and insulation
  • Damage stones, bricks, and other materials that are usually water-resistant

You may notice the above type of damage, apart from the water, if the wood begins to warp. The damage to wood and other materials may include fungi, termites, and carpenter ants that can rot the wood and affect your home or commercial building’s structure.

Generally, clean water does not have a health risk. Grey water may contain some contaminants that can cause illnesses if ingested or if the water comes into contact with your skin. Black water is highly contaminated.

Mold damage

It can be difficult to detect mold and harder to remove mold. Mold damage typically is a byproduct of water damage. According to the US FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), mold creates two types of dangers:

  • The spores can cause allergies, infections, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders. Infants, children, seniors, and anyone with a weakened immune system are especially prone to medical disorders due to mold exposure.
  • Everything that has been contaminated must be cleaned properly and dried. Items that cannot be properly cleaned and dried within 24-48 hours must be removed and thrown away, including structural and personal property.” It is possible to have mold damage despite no other visible damage.

Property owners should hire professionals to remove mold damage.

How do your Memphis water and mold damage lawyers help policyholders in Memphis?

At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we advocate for home and commercial property owners when water and mold damage occur in the following ways:

  • We have professionals investigate the damage as soon as possible and document the damage.
  • We review the specific terms of your insurance policy and examine whether any exclusions apply.
  • Our lawyers promptly file claims with your insurance carriers.
  • We determine the full scope and severity of the damage, including the cost of repairs and the timeline for repairs.
  • Our Memphis water and mold damage lawyers seek additional living expenses where your policy includes such coverage.
  • We work with appraisers to determine the cost to replace damaged appliances, furniture, the other contents of your home or buildings, and your personal possessions, or business possessions (inventory, equipment, and machines).
  • We work to show that the mold damage is due to the water damage and not other causes
  • Our lawyers work to counter the arguments made by your insurance company in an effort to deny your claim or limit the amount of payments.
  • We review the insurance repair estimates that your insurance company’s contractors make

Our lawyers negotiate settlements, based in large part on the repair estimates from the insurance company’s contractors and the contractors we recommend. If the insurance company does not make a fair settlement offer, we will argue your claim in court or before local arbitrators.

Do you have a Memphis water and mold damage insurance lawyer near me?

Our office is located at 6000 Poplar Ave, in Memphis, Tennessee. McWherter Scott & Bobbitt also consults with insurance claimants by phone and through online video software. We can make arrangements to see the damage to your home or business in person, if necessary.

We’ve helped many insurance claimants like you obtain the compensation they need to make complete repairs and start over.

Speak with McWherter Scott & Bobbitt’s insurance dispute lawyers today

Water and mold damage can be a nightmare. The damage can seep into the foundation and every part of your home. Our Memphis water and mold damage attorneys work with experts who can determine the full scope and severity of the damage. We anticipate and work to counter the many arguments insurance companies use to pay you as little as possible. Please call us or fill out our contact form today to schedule a consultation. Our insurance dispute lawyers also represent policyholders across Tennessee and in Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and Missouri.