Hurricane Ian has caused devastation throughout Florida, and your Jupiter home may not have come out untouched. If you have hurricane damage or damage from another storm, you are looking at some potentially expensive repairs. Roof damage, window damage, and flood damage are common after hurricanes have passed through.
Obtaining compensation for the damage your home has sustained is possible through a homeowners’ insurance claim. Although, filing a claim can be complicated as well as worrisome wondering whether your claim will be denied. A Jupiter hurricane attorney can help you explore your legal options after a storm.
Damage Caused by Hurricanes and Storms in Jupiter
When a hurricane or storm comes to town, the damage can be extreme. Homes aren’t always able to withstand the extreme winds and heavy rains from severe weather. Even the most durable homes can still sustain some damage, and even minor damage can be expensive to repair.
It doesn’t take much to cause significant damage. A ruined roof, for instance, can lead to water damage throughout your entire home. Roof repairs and water remediation can be extremely pricey. In addition, you could face broken windows caused by debris striking your house during a storm.
You could also deal with flooding and all the damage that comes with it. Here’s a list of home damage that could be caused by a storm or hurricane in Jupiter:
- Flood damage
- Damage to walls and foundation
- Roof damage and leaks
- Property damage (property inside your home as well as damage to your lawn and exterior)
- Broken windows and doors
- Damaged floors, drywall, and ceilings
Hurricane Damage Repairs Can Be Expensive
You already know that hurricanes and forceful storms can bring a torrent of rain and destructive winds. When your home has been damaged, the damage can be expensive to repair. In some cases, an entire home can be destroyed.
Roof repairs can be in the thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. If an entire home is destroyed, it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to rebuild. Additionally, if your home’s repairs require you to vacate the house, you could have to pay for hotel costs or other expenses.
The cost of repairing or rebuilding a hurricane-damaged home is probably more than you can afford. That’s why homeowners’ insurance was created. Homeowners’ insurance allows you to pay for unexpected damage to your home; costs that you likely can’t afford at a moment’s notice. First, you have to file an insurance claim and get it approved by your insurance company.
Dealing With Homeowners’ Insurance Claims
You pay for homeowners’ insurance every month, but have you ever had to file a claim? If not, you may not understand how the process works.
Assessing and Documenting the Damage
The first step in an insurance claim is to assess and document the damage to your home. Jupiter hurricane damage could have caused minor damage, such as a few roof shingles blowing off the roof. Or it could have caused major damage, such as flooding, structural damage, leaks, and broken windows.
You need to document all of the damage to your home. There is nothing too small to be noted in your claim because you may be eligible for compensation for even the smallest issue caused by storm damage. All of this documentation is used as evidence when filing your claim.
Filing and Proving Your Claim
When you file an insurance claim, you have a lot of paperwork that must be completed. You must also submit all of the evidence you have gathered, such as evidence of the damage to your home as well as evidence of the expenses you are incurring as a result of the damage to your home.
For instance, if you are unable to reside in your home due to the damage, you could be eligible for compensation for these expenses depending on your insurance policy.
Obtaining Compensation for the Damage to Your Home
Once your claim and all of your evidence is submitted, you could be compensated up to the limits of your insurance policy. If you have proved your case using evidence and descriptions of the storm and the damage, you could receive a check allowing you to pay service people to repair your home.
It’s important to note that some insurance companies do not always operate in good faith. Insurance companies can be a challenge to deal with, and a claim denial could be stressful for you on top of everything you have already been dealing with. However, a hurricane claims lawyer could help you file a claim.
How Can a Jupiter Hurricane Claims Lawyer Help?
Legal help is an option when filing a hurricane claim for storm damage to your Jupiter home. A lawyer can walk you through the entire insurance claims process from beginning to end, helping you explore all your financial options after storm damage.
Your lawyer can help you file the claim and gather the evidence needed to prove your claim. They can help you deal with the insurance company, protecting your rights and best interests. They can review your insurance policy to see that all available coverage has been utilized.
Finally, a lawyer can explore other financial avenues after your home has been damaged in a storm, such as looking into government programs that may have funding available to help hurricane victims. They can also explore property claims against those who may have caused or worsened damage to your home.
Get Legal Help With an Insurance Claim Now
Filing an insurance claim for hurricane or storm damage is not always easy. Sometimes, insurance companies will make you jump through hoops to receive funds, and some even operate in bad faith (Florida Statutes § 624). You don’t have to handle the insurance claim process on your own.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine have years of experience helping clients with legal matters including property claims. When we take your case, we make ourselves available to you 24 hours a day. A Jupiter hurricane claims lawyer can help you understand your options after storm damage. Call us today for a free consultation.
We Can Help.
