Insurance companies underpay property claims by default. Sometimes the math is wrong, sometimes the policy provision they point to does not actually cover what they say it covers, sometimes the adjuster is following a software recommendation that has nothing to do with what is actually owed. The work is reading the policy line by line, documenting the loss the way an adjuster has to take seriously, and recovering what the policy owes — not what they offered first.
What we handle
We represent homeowners and businesses in property damage and insurance dispute matters across metro Atlanta. The cases come in a few standard shapes — storm damage, fire and smoke, water and flood, vandalism, theft — and a few less standard ones, including loss-of-use, business interruption, and full denials based on policy interpretations the insurer would prefer not to litigate.
Common claim types
- Storm damage — wind, hail, fallen trees, roof and siding losses
- Fire and smoke damage
- Water damage — burst pipes, appliance leaks, sewer backup
- Hurricane and flood damage
- Vandalism and theft
- Mold remediation disputes
- Loss-of-use and business interruption claims
- Bad faith insurance practices and full denials
How property damage cases actually work in Georgia
Most property claims live or die on three documents: the policy, the loss documentation, and the adjuster's report. We read the policy first. Standard exclusions, named-perils coverage versus all-risk, depreciation versus replacement cost, the sub-limits buried four pages into the endorsements — the language that determines what is owed is often three layers deeper than the front page of the declarations.
Then we document. Photographs, contractor estimates, depreciation schedules, replacement-cost analysis, and where appropriate, building-code-upgrade analysis. The goal is a claim package the insurer cannot reasonably dispute on the documentation. Underpayment usually happens at the documentation step, which is where most homeowners are at the biggest disadvantage.
Bad faith and Georgia's 50% statute
Georgia has a bad-faith insurance statute (O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6) that allows recovery of an additional 50% of the loss, plus attorney fees, when an insurer refuses payment in bad faith and the loss is established. The procedural requirements are specific — a 60-day demand letter, particular language — and the threshold for proving bad faith is real. But it is a meaningful tool when the insurer has done something genuinely indefensible, and the threat of it changes negotiations even when it never gets filed.
Common questions.
My insurance company offered me a low settlement. Can I push back?
Yes. The first offer is almost always a starting point, not the end. We review the policy, the loss documentation, and the adjuster's report. In most cases we can identify either underpayment in the math or coverage that the insurer is treating as if it does not apply. The free consultation gives you a clear read on whether the offer is fair.
What is bad faith insurance in Georgia?
Under O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6, an insurer that refuses payment in bad faith can be required to pay an additional 50% of the loss, plus attorney fees, on top of the underlying claim. The statute requires a specific demand-letter procedure and a 60-day window. It is not the right tool for every case, but it is a real tool when the insurer's conduct is indefensible.
How long do I have to file a property damage claim in Georgia?
Most property damage claims under an insurance policy are governed by the policy itself, which typically requires suit within one to two years of the loss. The general statute of limitations for property damage in Georgia is four years. Both the contract-based and statute-based deadlines matter, and the policy deadline is often shorter.