Hurricanes in Florida can be devastating. Lives are changed, and homes, vehicles, and other property can be damaged or destroyed, causing much distress to many. To prepare for the inevitable, many homeowners in Florida have insurance for this very purpose. Homeowners want to ensure they can get the proper coverage for their homes, no matter how severe the damage might be.
It’s unfortunate that homeowners who buy this type of insurance are denied coverage. If you were denied your insurance claim, you should get in touch with our trusted Greenacres hurricane claims lawyer to get you the compensation you deserve. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine is ready and able to assist you with your claim and award you the money you deserve.
Types Of Hurricane Damage
Although hurricanes can damage almost anything in their path, there are a few common types of damage. Hurricanes are often comprised of strong winds and heavy rain; some of the most common types of damage include damaged roofs, fallen trees, and power lines. Oftentimes, the amount of damage depends on the strength of the wind.
The strength of the wind is measured using the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale, providing each storm with a category number based on the wind speed. The categories are as follows:
- Category 1: In a category 1 storm, the winds usually gust anywhere from 74 to 95 mph, which is enough to damage roof shingles and weaker trees in most cases.
- Category 2: In a category 2 storm, the winds can reach up to 110 mph and cause substantial damage to the roof, siding, and power lines.
- Category 3: When a hurricane is declared a category 3, gusts over 111 mph are possible and powerful enough to knock over even the most deeply rooted trees and cause significant damage to powerlines.
- Category 4: In a category 4 storm, gusts can exceed 131 mph and could cause entire roofs to be blown off, exterior walls to be destroyed, and the uprooting of many trees.
- Category 5: The most severe type of hurricane is category 5. Category 5 can exceed wind speed of 155 mph and could cause entire structures to collapse.
If you experienced damage to your property due to a hurricane or other natural disaster, our Greenacres hurricane claims lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.
What To Do After A Hurricane
Regardless of how well you’ve prepared your home for the storm, hurricanes always leave some damage behind. If you are a homeowner, you should take the following steps after a hurricane:
- Tending to any damaged property to prevent further issues
- Documenting all damage in the form of photos and videos. This could include the roof, walls, and even the interior of your home.
- Taking inventory of all the damaged property
- Filing your insurance claim.
If you do not take the aforementioned steps, you could risk the insurance company denying your claim. If you wait too long to file your claim, it could cause a delay in a decision and take longer to get your property repaired.
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Homeowners Insurance Coverage
The standard homeowners insurance in Florida covers wind but not water damage; therefore, you would be covered if you needed a new roof or siding; however, you would be left to deal with any water damage on your own. Flood damage insurance is separate. You will also have to pay a deductible for hurricane damage, which must be paid before any damages are paid.
Therefore, it’s critical for homeowners to have an idea of what is included in their claims.
Unfortunately, to avoid paying for damages, some insurance companies will state the damage was caused by water instead of flooding. For example, if the siding is damaged, they might state it was caused by rushing water instead of the wind. This could lead to the insurance company denying the claim.
Business Owners’ Insurance Claims
Suppose you are a business owner and incurred losses due to a hurricane. Dealing with insurance companies is a bit different for business owners than for homeowners.
The insurance companies will likely have to account for the income losses the business owner experienced as a result of the storm, which takes experience and expertise. Therefore, it’s best to hire our hurricane claims lawyer to represent you and help you get fair compensation.
Why Hire Our Hurricane Claims Lawyer Serving Palm Beach County
There are quite a few reasons to hire our hurricane claims lawyer. When a hurricane hits an area, the insurance company is likely getting plenty of claims from that same location; therefore, there might be a backlog of processing claims. The lawyers for homeowners can pressure the insurance company to settle their claims and provide them with the compensation they’re owed.
The term “Bad Faith” also comes into play here, as sometimes, insurance companies will try to avoid paying legitimate claims. Some of the bad-faith actions to look out for include:
- Undervaluing estimates
- Using another policy to settle a claim
- Insisting a lawyer is not necessary
- Insisting a written release of supplemental claims is provided prior to settling
Insurance companies, unfortunately, use these tactics to avoid paying their customers for legitimate claims. If you are the victim of these bad-faith actions, get in touch with the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine for the legal representation you deserve.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Today About Your Greenacres Claim
Now that you know more about filing a claim with insurance, get in touch with our Greenacres hurricane claims lawyer for representation. The dedicated lawyers at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will help you if you were denied a claim or a victim of bad faith.
Our attorneys are ready and able to get your voice heard and provide you with the compensation you deserve. We can fight the insurance companies for both your home and business.
