If you are struggling to deal with the insurance company following a hurricane, you have the right to hire an attorney to assist with your claim. Your legal counsel could aggressively pursue your claim on your behalf, even if the insurance company refuses to act in good faith.
A Kissimmee personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine could give you the best chance at securing benefits from your carrier. In many cases, the guidance of a lawyer could make the difference between having your claim denied and securing the fair benefits you deserve. So reach out right away to learn more.
How Can an Attorney Help With a Hurricane Damage Claim?
There are plenty of reasons to hire a hurricane damage attorney. Of course, these claims are never guaranteed to be accepted, but aggressive legal counsel could improve your odds of success. Some of the ways an attorney from our law firm could help include the following:
Cataloging Your Hurricane Damages
You need to fully understand the extent of your damage before you file a claim with your insurance. This is done by inspecting your property, noting the damage, and identifying what needs to be repaired or replaced. Your hurricane attorney could help you document all of the damage to your property.
Reviewing Your Insurance Policy
It is also essential to carefully review the language of your insurance policies. Many homeowners have multiple policies that could apply to their situation. That means it is necessary to review each of them to not only understand the terms but also identify any conflicts in the language of each policy.
Filing a Claim
A lawyer could also file your hurricane damage claim for you. Leaving this task to your lawyer not only ensures the claim includes all necessary supporting documentation but also that it is filed in a timely manner.
Dealing With the Insurance Company
You will need to take steps to deal with the insurance company—especially if your claim is initially denied. Thankfully, our firm can take those steps for you. An attorney could serve as your advocate, negotiating a settlement or even pushing back against a denied hurricane damage claim.
What Hurricane Damage Can Be Covered?
Insurance claims could cover a wide range of your property losses in the aftermath of a hurricane. However, it is important to remember that not all policies are the same. The more comprehensive your coverage, the less likely you are to learn the hard way that some of your damage is not covered. Full coverage could require multiple policies, including homeowner and flood coverage.
The cost of repairing your structural damage is one of the most common aspects of hurricane coverage. However, you could be entitled to far more than the estimated cost of repairing or replacing your home. If your reconstruction faces sudden, unavoidable increases, you could also be entitled to benefits that cover those expenses. For example, in addition to repairs to your home or business, your policy could also pay to repair secondary structures like free-standing garages or storage buildings.
Insurance benefits could also pay to address the damage and mess that comes with a hurricane. This could include remediating water damage or mold due to heavy rain or flooding. It could also cover the cost of cleaning up the damaged property and hauling away any debris. A successful claim should also pay for the costs associated with living elsewhere while your property is being repaired.
You Have Rights As a Florida Property Owner
There are strict regulations on the way insurance companies are required to deal with property owners in Kissimmee. These regulations are collected under the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights in Florida. Despite the title, these rights apply to every type of property instead of just residential homes.
There are several important rights set out by law. First, any time a homeowner files a claim with their insurance company, the carrier must provide a written acknowledgment of receiving the claim within 14 days. This is designed to prevent a claim from stagnating for months, only for the insurance company to allege they never received it.
There are other deadlines the insurance companies must abide by. For example, insurers must notify you in writing, within 30 days of a status request, whether they intend to pay your claim in full, partially, or are still investigating. You should receive the final word on your claim within 90 days of filing it.
Homeowners enjoy other rights, including access to mediation and the payment of interest if the insurance company does not pay your claim when they should have. An attorney from our office could help you further evaluate your rights under the law.
Common Reasons for Denied Claims
Most homeowners go into this process hoping that after years of paying their premiums, the insurance company will do its part and honor their claim. Unfortunately, insurers constantly find new reasons to deny these claims. Some of the most common grounds for denied hurricane insurance claims include the following:
- Your policy does not cover flood damage
- You waited too long to file a claim
- Your property is not as damaged as you claim
- You made errors in your application
- Your coverage lapsed
- You did not provide the necessary documentation
- Your home was damaged before the hurricane
Insurance companies are not required to approve every claim they receive. However, they are obliged to respond to your claim in good faith. If they deny your claim without reason or refuse to offer you a settlement, you could have a viable legal case against them. Our firm could pursue a bad faith case against the insurance company on your behalf.
Talk to an Attorney About Your Hurricane Damage Claim Today
You do not have to let the aftermath of a hurricane upend your life. You have spent years paying your insurance premiums, and our firm could help you ensure your insurance company holds up its end of the deal.
Let the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine serve as your advocate as you seek the compensation you deserve. Contact a Kissimmee hurricane claims lawyer today for a free consultation.
We Can Help.
