Most homeowners do not know exactly what their insurance covers until the time comes to file a hurricane damage claim. These contracts with the insurance company are often complicated and hard to understand. This leaves homeowners unsure about what they can recover after a hurricane or other storm causes significant property damage.
Our Florida property claim lawyers can fight for the full payout you deserve.
Our Firm is Prepared to Take on All the Tasks of Your Hurricane Property Claim
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we can:
- Review your insurance policy
- Offer advice on getting the coverage you need and deserve
- Help you dispute a denial or solve a disagreement
- Search for and organize evidence that supports your claim
- Recover the money you need to repair or rebuild your home
- Protect your rights under the Florida Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights
Your lawyer can help you understand the true range of your expenses and losses related to your hurricane property damage. It is probably more than you realize, and your insurance company likely owes you more than it is offering.
Our Lawyers Will Negotiate with the Insurance Company for Covered Losses
We can help you understand your options if the insurance company:
- Attempted to undervalue your claim
- Unfairly denied your claim
- Did not pay you what you believe you deserve
Your lawyer may be able to appeal the denial, negotiate a better settlement, or file a bad faith lawsuit against the insurance company to recover the full payout. We will not allow the insurance company to mislead you or cheat you out of the coverage you paid for.
Compensation Available from a Hurricane Property Damages Claim
It is never easy to rebuild after the devastation of a hurricane. For many families, it feels like starting over with nothing. Our team will strive to make this process easier for you by explaining your rights and advocating for you.
Your lawyer will fight to get you the full compensation you deserve. We will argue for covered losses based on your insurance policy and your damages. It is difficult to say what the average settlement for hurricane damage is. In general, though, your insurance policy may cover:
- Repair or replacement of your home
- Repair or replacement of detached garages, sunrooms, out buildings, etc.
- Repair or replacement of fences, decks, pools, and other structures
- Replacement of the contents of your home
- The cost of a hotel or other arrangements while you are unable to live at home
- The removal of storm-related debris around your home
- Homes destroyed by hurricanes
If flooding damages your home, you might require another policy to protect against this specific circumstance. Your lawyer can inform you whether you have this coverage.
The Complexities of the Florida Hurricane Property Claims Process
Most people take their homeowners’ insurance for granted until a hurricane strikes and they need to make a claim. Then, they all too often face an uphill battle to get the money they need to rebuild their home.
They need money quickly, especially if the damage forces them to live somewhere else during repairs. However, the claims process can take weeks or even months to get them the money they deserve—if they get the full amount at all. And in many cases, they find their homeowners’ insurance policy does not cover all types of damage that a hurricane might cause.
The Trouble Hurricane Losses Property Claims Pose to Claimants
Understanding your homeowners’ insurance policy and your legal rights outlined in the policy is key to getting the payout you deserve. Of course, even then, it can be difficult to get the insurance company to approve your claim. They might not want to pay you the full amount of compensation available.
It is not unusual for an insurance company to attempt to pay out only a fraction of the money a policyholder needs and deserves. If you settle for this amount, you may be left paying for the rest of the repairs out of your own pocket.
Know What to do After a Hurricane to Protect Your Right to Compensation
By following a few best practices in the hours and days after a hurricane, you can help protect your right to full compensation. Try these tips:
Contact Your Insurance Company
You should let your insurance company know your home suffered damage as soon as possible following the hurricane. You do not have to file a claim immediately, but let your insurer know to expect one.
It will likely offer advice on repairs and how long it may take to reach an adjuster. There could be a delay if the hurricane caused widespread damage.
Document Your Losses
Note destroyed personal property. Take pictures of every piece of damaged material before you begin hurricane damage cleanup or repairs. Walk-through videos may also help you take inventory and observe the extent of the damage.
Prevent Further Damage
You should take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home and possessions. The insurance company may try to deny expenses caused by weather or other factors after the initial storm.
Be sure to use a tarp to cover holes in the roof, board up broken windows, and make other efforts to prevent further damages as soon as possible.
Keep All Receipts
Keep the receipts from all your evacuation expenses, as well as any expenses incurred because you cannot stay in your home. This may include gas, hotel rooms, meals, and even clothing. If possible, note each expenditure and file your records with the receipts.
Evidence to Support a Florida Hurricane Property Claim
When a hurricane destroys your home and you have very little left, it can be difficult to prove with a claim your losses that resulted from the storm. Your Florida lawyer can help you with this process, collecting any available evidence to show the value of:
- Your items
- What you lost
- The cost to replace your possessions
The evidence to support a hurricane property claim might include:
- A copy of your homeowners’ insurance policy
- A comprehensive list of damaged items
- Any estimates for repair or replacement of your home
- Receipts for out-of-pocket costs to replace damaged personal property
- Photographs or video of the property before and after the hurricane
- Receipts for temporary repair needs, such as tarps for a damaged roof or plywood for broken windows
- Receipts for any alternative living arrangements, such as hotel rooms
What Our Team Offers to Our Hurricane Losses Clients
Our firm operates on a contingency-fee basis to reduce the stress on our clients. We do not want you to worry about paying our fee. So, your lawyer will take it out of the award we win. Many of our clients have walked away pleased with their experience.
- “I have been in the extremely capable hands of this law firm… Their reputation is well deserved. Thanks guys!” – Rudy D.
- “Most of the stress was taken off of my shoulders… They took care of everything.” – Tyler R.
- “These guys are amazing attorneys, they are the BEST!!! If I could give them 100 stars here they would get that and more. Highly recommend this office.” – Erika C.
Contact the Firm of a Hurricane Property Claim Lawyer in Florida Today
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our team of attorneys, investigators, and support staff are not afraid to take on any insurance company. We will do what it takes to get our clients the payouts they deserve.
Your insurance company could have unfairly delayed, undervalued, or denied your claim after a Florida hurricane. Our team can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us for a free hurricane damage claim consultation.
We Can Help.
