The Acreage, while not directly on the coast, still faces considerable hurricane risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that storm surges can travel 25 miles inland during a hurricane. In this worst-case scenario, The Acreage is in harm’s way.
Should storm surges and windstorms strike, victims may be left without a safe place to live for weeks or even months, making repairing their homes a priority. To do so, most rely on hurricane claims. However, securing homeowners’ compensation can be more difficult than it initially seems. Our hurricane claims lawyers serving The Acreage can pursue a claim on your behalf.
What Are Hurricane Claims Worth?
There’s no “one size fits all” approach to hurricane claims. Some claims are small, and some are large. Generally, though, these factors will impact your claim’s value:
- The outcome of insurance negotiations
- The type of insurance you carry
- The severity of damage to your home
- The amount of documentation you provide to insurers
Know Your Insurance Policies
Hurricane claims are complicated, as no policy provides complete hurricane coverage. Typically, there are two types of policies that will apply to your claim:
- Hurricane insurance: In hurricane-prone areas, hurricane insurance is typically bundled with standard homeowners insurance. This type of insurance only covers wind damage caused by hurricanes.
- Flood insurance: Flood insurance is usually purchased separately. This type of policy will apply if your home was damaged in a storm surge. If you do not have flood insurance, it may be difficult to receive coverage for water damage your home sustained.
Remember this is general insurance information and may not apply to your unique case. If you are unsure of the coverage you have, our The Acreage personal injury lawyers would happily answer your questions.
What do Hurricane Claims Lawyers Do?
Hurricanes can throw your life into a tailspin. The central challenge of losing your home is often compounded by other problems. You may be forced to seek contractors to repair your home and find temporary housing, all while keeping track of your bank account. On top of this, you’ll likely need to deal with insurers, who may or may not be cooperative.
Our team of lawyers serving The Acreage understands what you’re going through. Through our legal services, we aim to give you peace of mind. You have the right to a lawyer during your hurricane claim – you don’t have to stand up to insurers alone. This is how we can help:
- Handle your hurricane claims, so you don’t have to – this could offer you more time to deal with getting your life back on track
- Communicate with insurers on your behalf
- Negotiate a fair compensation offer
- Dispute unfair insurance offers
- Gather evidence to bolster the validity of your claim
- Pursue legal action, if needed
Why Would I Hire a Hurricane Claims Lawyer?
There are several situations where hiring a hurricane claims lawyer could prove beneficial, including:
- Your insurer refuses to provide you compensation
- Your insurer doesn’t provide you adequate compensation
- You don’t understand the limits of your insurance policies
- Your case is complicated
When you hire a lawyer, you’re getting two things:
- A legal representative
- A legal guide
Our lawyers can occupy both roles. We’ll be there if you need support filing your claim, and we’ll stand by you during a claim dispute. Our goal is to ensure you receive a fair settlement to get on with your life.
Can I Afford to Work With a Lawyer?
You don’t need a law firm to tell you that hurricanes aren’t cheap. They cause catastrophic damage across all sectors, from businesses to municipalities. Caught in the middle are homeowners, often left with serious water and wind damage.
We know you might be on a financial pitch. As a law firm, we vow not to worsen your money worries. To do so, we work on a contingency-fee basis. This means that:
- You don’t pay us anything upfront
- We only get paid if we secure you compensation
- Our fees come from your compensation, not your bank account
Insurers May Complicate Your Hurricane Claim
To secure hurricane claims, you’ll need to go through your insurer. In a perfect world, this process would be simple. You’d inform your insurer your home was damaged in a hurricane, they’d review your claim, and they’d offer compensation that completely covers your losses.
However, reality doesn’t always match up with fantasy. After a hurricane, insurers must deal with thousands, if not millions, of homeowners’ claims. To maintain their operating costs, they may try to reduce or deny many of their claims. These are some of the techniques insurers may use:
- Suggest your home was damaged before the hurricane
- Use your recorded statements to suggest you don’t have a valid claim
- Review your social media presence to find evidence that disputes your claim
We Know How to Deal With Insurers
At our firm, we have a variety of practice areas, from personal injury to medical malpractice. Many of these practice areas entail dealing with insurers. As your hurricane claims lawyer, we can act as your representative during the insurance claims process. With our support, you can take a “hands-off” approach to your case.
These are some things to keep in mind when dealing with hurricane claim insurers:
- Be aware of your social media presence: Your social media presence is fair game for insurers to use during the claim evaluation process. Keep your eyes peeled for unfamiliar friend requests, and avoid posting any information that might be relevant to your claim.
- You don’t always have to provide a recorded statement: Insurers may ask you to provide them with a recorded statement – this is a risky proposition, as a recorded statement could hurt your case. If you have a lawyer, you can usually request that insurers speak with them instead.
Your Rights Are Protected Under Law
The Acreage is subject to Florida insurance law. Under this section of the law, those pursuing insurance claims are protected from “bad faith” insurance practices.
Our lawyers can evaluate your case if you believe your insurer is behaving in bad faith. If your insurer is operating in bad faith, you may be eligible for a civil lawsuit.
Hire Our Hurricane Claims Insurer Serving Palm Beach County Today
If you’re a resident of The Acreage, you may be eligible for a hurricane insurance claim. We offer free consultations. Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine to get started now. Our attorneys can put our years of experience to work for you.
We Can Help.
