Flood Damage Insurance Claims NJ

With all of the recent flooding throughout NJ, many people are filing flood damage insurance claims in NJ for home repairs. How do you know if your insurance covers the damage done by the floods? This is where Levine Lawyers comes in. Our professional legal group specializes in residential real estate legal services in NJ.

Knowing whether or not your home owner's insurance covers the damage incurred is important, as insurance companies differentiate between what caused the damage. For example, your insurance may cover water damage if the water entered your home due to winds. However, if your home flooded, your insurance may not cover this. The difference is that if water rises or seeps into your home, it’s a flood. Navigating through legal insurance documents is something better off left to professionals. Call Levine Lawyers today if you need help with flood damage insurance claims in NJ.

Windblown Water Damage Insurance Claims in NJ

Insurance has the potential to help reduce future losses, as well as provide compensation, following a disaster.  But what kind of water damage is insured?  Did you even know there were different types of water damage?  What's the difference between flood water damage and windblown water damage?  Understanding residential and commercial hazard insurance is not a task one can take on alone.  After such a disaster, photos and videos should be taken as soon as possible to document the damage, and a personal or commercial attorney should be called in to guide a residential or commercial property owner in recouping losses through an windblown water damage insurance claim.  Catastrophe risks present a set of special problems for both insurers and reinsurers.  Standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover flooding.  Protecting your property from flooding associated with hurricanes and heavy rain is a precautionary task.  Contacting the right real estate lawyer is something that can be done before or after a disaster, but the sooner the better.  

Windblown water damage - Are you insured?
If rain enters a building as a result of wind damage, any water damage should be covered under a homeowner's insurance policy or a separate windstorm policy.  If the water damage is the result of a flood, however, homeowners will need flood insurance, which typically is sold separately through a federal insurance pool.

When is water damage the result of a flood?
When water enters from the ground in the form of a storm surge, a swollen river or heavy rain from the likes of Hurricane Irene.  If water rises or seeps into your home, it’s a flood.  People who have an endorsement on their insurance policy might have coverage if a sump pump stopped working when the power went out and water seeps into the basement.  When it comes time to file an insurance claim, this can be a murky area.  Following Hurricane Katrina, many disputes arose about whether water intrusion was the result of windblown water damage or flooding.  With a flood insurance policy, there is no dispute over the origins of water damage.  We can't go back in time and buy ourselves an insurance package that includes flood damage now if we don't already have one.  Flood damage is extremely costly, thought.  For future references, flood insurance is available from the government funded National Flood Insurance Program.  For more information, see FloodSmart.gov and FEMA.gov.

Cutting through the legal terminology is not something that every average homeowner or business owner can do easily.  After documenting the damage, gather your questions and concerns and have an objective in mind when contacting a legal firm about windblown water damage v flood damage, about the processess of filing a claim now rather than waiting for an inspection from an insurance officer, and what you can do in the meantime to ensure your claim goes through.

The importance of an attorney rider review

Contract Law in NJ


Contract law can be complex and confusing – but with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney on your side, entering into a contract for any type of reason can be easy, worry-free and beneficial for you.

Because of it’s a very existence, a written contract encompasses the entirety of an agreement. After two parties enter into a contract, they send it to their respective attorneys. The attorneys then usually have three business days to review the contract and find additional provisions that need to be included, and further clarify the contract – this part of contract law is called a rider, or letter addendum to a contract.

During this period of entering into a contract, its important to have an experienced, skilled and knowledgeable attorney on your side to make sure that the terms of the contract are favorable for your side, and that any issues not addressed in the initial contract are covered in the letter addendum.

After the letter addendum is drafted, both parties negotiate and agree to the new terms and sign the letter addendum and the attorney review period is concluded.

When entering into a contract, make sure that you have an attorney on your side that will help you get the most benefits from your contract.

Business litigation in NJ

Going through a business litigation in order to solve a dispute is tough, but with the right lawyer on your side, much of the stress and anxiety that can be felt throughout a company going through a business litigation can be alleviated.

The attorneys at the Levine Law Firm are experienced in helping companies in New Jersey through commercial litigation.

At Levine Law Firm when we are helping a client through a business litigation we:
     Help you figure out what your options are
     Help you make decisions that are consistent with the goals of your business
     Keep your legal expenses to a minimum

We have represented and helped companies through litigation and resolution in many types of business litigation like:
     Contracts
     Insurance coverage
     Construction
     Real estate
     Collections
     Consumer fraud
     Unfair competition
     Dissolution
     Minority shareholders
     Partnership disputes
     Foreclosure
     Business disputes

Don't let your business litigation get out of hand. Trust the lawyers at Levin Lawyers help you settle your dispute in a timely manner.

Residential Real Estate Legal Services in New Jersey

Whether you are a first-time home buyer or are an  experienced property purchaser, The Levine Law Firm,  LLC has represented buyers and sellers in thousands of  transactions over the last 30+ years. The result of  this extensive experience is the knowledge of the  attention necessary to ensure a smooth transaction  and transition. We recognize that buying a home is  one of the most significant financial and life-changing  endeavors you will undertake in your lifetime. It is a time,  filled with so many different emotions and considerations.  For this reason, our real estate law firm makes sure  that our attorneys and staff are always available to assist  you with any concerns or questions. We have the  knowledge and expertise necessary to  ensure that your purchase or sale goes smoothly with  no surprises.  Click here to read more about the Residential Real Estate Legal  Services we provide in NJ.

How to Start a Business
Taking your idea or concept and transforming it into a living, breathing business is challenging and to many, is an overwhelming process. The attorneys at The Levine Law Firm, LLC take you through each step along the way, making it more manageable and efficient. Contact us for experienced advice and representation concerning your business. You can trust the business law and litigation attorneys at The Levine Law Firm.

The First Step - Money
Before you can even consider a new business, you must know the costs involved in purchasing an existing business or launching a start-up. In addition, You must consider the ongoing costs of running and financing a business. Once you know how much you will need, you will then be able to consider your financing options. You may want to take a bank loan. You may consider seeking venture capital or other lending and financing options, which may require you to include as collateral any property already owned by you.

Planning is Everything
Most investors will expect you to have a detailed business plan. A well-crafted business plan will answer these questions:

• What is the nature of the business?
• How is this product or service different from the competition?
• Does research show that there is a need for this business?
• How and to whom will you market your products or services?
• How will you staff the business?
• Who will manage the business?
• How will the business operations be financed?

For legal help in starting a business, contact a business attorney at The Levine Law Firm, LLC, in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

Business disputes and commercial disputes in New Jersey

A business dispute has the potential to disrupt daily business operations, as well as adversely affect the business's reputation. If you are a business owner involved in a dispute, Levine Lawyers of Bergen County can help. We take the time to listen to our clients, to clearly understand their concerns, and to ultimately help them resolve their dilemma. A fair amount of business disputes are contract driven, meaning one party is not living up to its terms of an agreement. Often, there may be a great deal of money at stake. Our firm represents clients in the following business disputes: Breach of contract Breach of lease Disputes involving the death or incapacity of a business partner Shareholder, partner, or member disputes Insurance disputes Trade secret violations Violation of non-compete agreements Employment matters Liability disputes Collections Real estate disputes Our firm thoroughly analyzes all potentials costs and risks for clients. When possible, we will also seek to utilize alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation or arbitration, in an attempt to save you both time and money. We always look at the individual needs of our clients and suggest methods that are advisable for their particular situation. When litigation is required, we are readily able to represent clients at all levels of the state and federal courts. Contact our firm today to arrange your consultation.