After a hurricane passes, you may face devastating damage to your property. Your home may have sustained significant damage, your property may be covered with debris, or you may even be unable to enter your home or business.
In an ideal world, the insurance companies would quickly assess the damage you are entitled to and compensate you for your losses. Unfortunately, this process is rarely as quick and straightforward as we would like it to be.
You do not have to face the insurance company and their adjusters alone.
If a hurricane damaged your property, you want a hurricane property claim lawyer in Miami Beach who understands how the process works and is dedicated to recovering the compensation you deserve. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-800-747-3733 for a free review of your property damage claim.
Damages You May Recover in a Miami Beach Hurricane Property Damage Claim
Every insurance policy is different. However Florida law outlines specific rules all insurance companies must follow in relation to your deductible, the types of damages they must cover, and the amount of time you have to file.
In most cases, you may recover the following damages:
Cost to Repair or Replace Your Home
You may recover the cost to repair your home to pre-hurricane condition, including repairing or replacing your roof, installing new windows, treating mold, and replacing landscaping elements.
You may also recover the cost to replace or repair smaller structures on your property, such as a garage or in-law suite.
Personal Property Damage
Your policy may also cover personal items in your home, including clothing, couches, bedding, desks, electronic devices, toys, and appliances. Expensive items, such as art or jewelry, may not be covered without a rider.
The Cost of Securing Your Home & Property
In some cases, failure to secure your home after the storm has passed can result in additional damage. To mitigate the damage, many policies will cover the cost to secure your home. For example, they may cover the cost to board up broken windows to protect your home from additional water damage.
Relocation & Temporary Housing Fees
If your family is unable to live in your Miami Beach home after the hurricane passes, your policy may cover hotel fees, rent, and meals while away from home.
The property damages you are eligible to recover will depend on the coverage you have. A hurricane property claim lawyer in Miami Beach can review your coverage and help you understand the compensation that may be available to you.
Tactics the Insurance Companies May Use to Pay You Less
You are not required to seek legal help to file a Miami Beach property damage claim. However, if you are not careful, the insurance company may attempt to pay you less, deny your claim, or drag out the process. A hurricane property claim lawyer in Miami Beach can help ensure everything is filed in full and on time.
Our goal is to help protect your rights and ensure that your insurance company deals with you in good faith. Be aware of the following tactics that some insurance companies use to save themselves money.
Claim Your Policy Doesn’t Cover the Damage
The insurance company may insist exclusions mean your damage isn’t covered when it should be. Or, they may wrongfully claim your policy is invalid even when you have paid on time.
Try to Charge You an Additional Hurricane Deductible
Florida law requires all insurance plans that require an additional hurricane deductible to state this fact in large, 18-point font. If your coverage does not include this notification, they may not be able to charge you the additional deductible.
Delay Processing Your Claim
In some cases, the insurance company may delay sending an adjuster to your home or spend weeks “processing” your claim. They hope that vital evidence will disappear so they can try to pay you less. Our team will push for the insurance company to process your claim in a timely fashion and record the evidence we need to support your claim as early as possible.
Try to Undervalue Your Claim
Another strategy insurance companies use is undervaluing your claim. They may say your home is worth less than it is or say that renovations do not change the value of your home.
If this occurs, we may ask for an independent adjuster who can verify the actual value of your damages.
We fight the insurance company on your behalf. Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733 for a free review of your Miami Beach property damage claim.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations in Florida
According to Florida law, Miami Beach residents have three years from the date the hurricane hits land to file a hurricane damage claim. This includes filing a claim for damages you uncover later, after the initial claim is settled.
Contact a Hurricane Property Claim Lawyer in Miami Beach Today
After a hurricane damages your Miami Beach home, you may not know who to turn to for help Let our dedicated legal team go the extra mile to protect your right to recover damages.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is here for you. We can help you file your Miami Beach property damage claim and fight the insurance company on your behalf. Call today at 1-800-747-3733 for a free review of your hurricane damage claim.
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