Hurricanes can not only be terrifying to witness, but they can also leave a trail of destruction in their wake and they can cause catastrophic property damage to your home. For Florida homeowners, the threat of hurricanes is all too real, as multiple hurricanes a year can cross the state. Following the storm, devastated homeowners are left to pick up the pieces as they try to fix their homes and get back on their feet. Considering the threat hurricanes pose in Florida, it is important that homeowners know what steps to take following a hurricane should their home suffer damage.
Unfortunately, while most homeowners in Florida have at least homeowners insurance (if not flood insurance as well), insurance companies are not always eager to pay homeowners what they are owed following a storm. Oftentimes, insurance companies will look for reasons to deny or undervalue a claim, which is why it is important that homeowners contact a property damage attorney if their home is damaged in a hurricane. An experienced property damage attorney can help assess the damages your home sustained and work with your insurance company to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
The fact is that dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane can be overwhelming for homeowners, and you should not have to go through this difficult time alone. Keep reading to learn more about what you should do if your home was damaged in a hurricane, or contact our attorneys to schedule a free consultation.
What Types of Property Damage Can a Hurricane Cause?
Property damage caused by a hurricane can be extensive, and homeowners are often left wondering how they will get back on their feet. This is because high winds, flooding, and storm surges can cause various types of property damage including:
- Roof Damage
- Water Damage
- Broken Windows
- Damaged Vehicles
- Landscape Damage
- Damaged or Lost Personal Property
- Internal Damage
- Foundation Damage
- And Severe Structural Damage
As you can see, hurricanes can cause serious damage to Florida homes, and in some cases, a home may be destroyed altogether by the storm. When your home suffers severe hurricane damage, you will need to take certain steps in order to give yourself the best chance of receiving proper compensation from your insurance.
What Steps Should You Take Following a Hurricane?
Dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane can be stressful, and you may not be sure where to start if your home suffered significant damage. However, time is of the essence when filing a hurricane insurance claim, and you will want to take steps to ensure that you are properly compensated by your insurance company. After the hurricane, it is important that you:
Take Photos of The Damage
One of the most common reasons hurricane damage claims are undervalued or denied is because there is a lack of evidence that damage to a home was caused by the hurricane. Thusly, in order to ensure that you receive proper compensation, it is important that you take photos and videos of your property damage as soon as it is safe to return to your home after the storm. Having numerous photos of the extent of the damage to your home will help support your insurance claim.
Make a List of Damaged Property
While structural damage to your home may be your primary concern as you prepare your insurance claim, it is important that you also document damaged/destroyed personal property as well. It is quite possible that you have thousands of dollars in losses inside your home, and you will want to ensure that this is factored in when your claim is being valued. Make a detailed list of all of the damaged items within your home to include with your claim.
Take Steps to Protect Your Property
While you may not be able to spend much money out of pocket repairing your home prior to receiving your insurance payout, it is important that you take steps to protect your property from further damage. If you do not take steps to protect your home (such as covering damaged roofing so that your home is protected if it rains) and your home suffers additional damage, your claim may be denied, or you may not receive sufficient compensation to repair all of the damages your home has sustained. Make sure to document your efforts so that you have proof you can show the insurance company indicating that you tried to protect your home from further damage.
File an Insurance Claim
Once you have all of the documentation prepared, it is important that you contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a claim. This will ensure that your claims process gets started in a timely manner so that you can get back on your feet quickly after the storm.
When Should I Contact a Property Damage Attorney?
Of course, even if you do everything right following a hurricane, your insurance company may still try to deny or undervalue your claim. The fact is that your insurance company has their own best interests in mind, and they may look for any excuse to avoid providing you the compensation you deserve in order to save money. If this happens, it is important that you consult an experienced property damage attorney who can work with the insurance company on your behalf.
Consider consulting an experienced attorney to help you with your property damage claim if your insurer does any of the following:
- They fail to respond to your claim within a reasonable amount of time.
- They Delay the processing or payment of a valid claim
- Your claim is denied for no justifiable reason.
- They make a lowball offer that doesn’t cover all of your damages.
- Or, they try to coerce you into accepting an offer that you aren’t comfortable with.
If you encounter issues with your insurer during the claims process, it is important that you contact a property damage attorney as soon as possible to give you the best chances of receiving proper compensation.
Contact an Experienced Florida Hurricane Property Damage Attorney You Can Trust
If your home was damaged in a Florida hurricane and you believe that your insurance provider has undervalued or wrongfully denied your claim, you still have options. Working with an experienced hurricane property damage attorney can give you the best chance of receiving the compensation you deserve. Your attorney will be able to review your insurance policy, investigate the damage your home sustained, collect evidence proving the true value of your claim, and prepare a case that your policy covers the damages to your home. They will then work with the insurance company on your behalf, and take them to court if necessary, in order to ensure that you are justly compensated and can start rebuilding your home.
Whether you are facing Hurricane Damage, Residential or Commercial property damage, Fire or Mold property damage, broken pipes or denied/ unpaid insurance claims, our lawyers are experts in all aspects of Insurance claiming.
With experience working for insurance companies and our in-house adjuster, we’ll make sure you get what you deserve and defend your right in front of greedy insurance companies.
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