Can I sue my Homeowner’s insurance if it is not paying my claim?
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Can I sue my Homeowner’s insurance if it is not paying my claim?
I filed a claim with my homeowner’s insurer after my toilet overflowed and caused major damage to 3 rooms in my downstairs area. A sewage company was called and removed an unknown source from the line. They also provided water restoration taking up floors and carpet. They also removed the lower portion of walls in each room. The insurance company is reluctant to pay stating they need to know exactly what the unknown source was before they will pay. I paid$ 211 to have drain cleaned and the water restoration bill is $6,541. I am at a loss of what to do.
Asked on April 26, 2017 under Real Estate Law, North Carolina
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
An insurance policy is a contract; it obligates the insurer to pay under certain circumstances, and, like any other contract, if the other party (the insurer) will not do what it is supposed to (i.e. pay a claim), you can sue for "breach of contract" to recover compensation. To win a lawsuit, you would need to prove in court, by credible testimony and/or documentary or photographic evidence, that under the terms of the policy and the facts of this case, the insurer should have paid; you need to prove this by a "preponderance of the evidence," or that it is more likely than not that they should have paid.
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