In the aftermath of a hurricane, most people rely on their insurance company to help them pick up the pieces and rebuild their damaged property. After years of paying insurance premiums, most homeowners expect their insurer to keep their end of the bargain and provide coverage for hurricane-related losses. Unfortunately, this process is not always successful.
Insurance companies are known for aggressively pushing back on these coverage claims. In some situations, they will even act in bad faith when rejecting hurricane damage claims. The good news is you have legal options to hold them accountable. Reach out to a Melbourne personal injury lawyer from the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine immediately to get started.
We Can Deal With Your Insurance Company
The terms require your insurance carrier of your contract to compensate you for hurricane-related damages so long as your coverage is in effect. Unfortunately, insurance companies often stand between property owners and their path to recovery despite this obligation. Insurance companies are successful financially because they aggressively work to avoid paying these obligations. Our hurricane attorneys could help you hold your insurer accountable while ensuring they act in good faith.
Insurance Challenges You Might Face
Insurance adjusters could use any number of excuses to deny or delay your damage claim following a hurricane. So even though you need support immediately, your insurance company could throw up roadblocks that prevent you from getting the benefits you need promptly.
Sometimes, insurance companies will drag their feet before paying a claim. This could result from a lack of documentation, which could also be due to the carrier’s lax recordkeeping or poor response time. In other cases, insurers might offer unreasonably low benefits or reject a claim outright. Some of the issues that can arise in these cases include:
- Undervaluing your property
- Claiming you did not file your claim on time
- Request for additional documentation
- Claiming your coverage has expired
- Alleging your damage was an uncovered loss
How Our Hurricane Insurance Lawyers Help Resolve Those Challenges
Dealing with the insurance company during a time of crisis can be difficult. The good news is that you will not have to deal with the adjuster directly when you hire an attorney. Instead, our firm could serve as your advocate while ensuring that you are treated fairly by your insurance company.
Leaving the negotiations to your attorney could remove much of the stress from the process. Moreover, your attorney could provide additional documents the insurer requests to move the process along.
An Attorney Could Simplify the Hurricane Claims Process
Many people are tempted to take on the challenge of a hurricane damage claim on their own. Instead of paying for an attorney, some believe they can deal with the insurance company on their own and receive the fair amount of benefits they deserve. Unfortunately, these homeowners often face unfair treatment that leaves them wondering if they should have hired a hurricane damage attorney.
Your attorney can do more than contact the insurance company on your behalf. An attorney who understands the insurance claims process can manage your case at every step. This includes preparing the claim, identifying the extent of your damage, and securing a fair outcome for your case.
Understanding Your Policy
Before you ever file a claim with your insurer, your lawyer can help you understand the terms of your policy. The reality is that insurance policies are not universal. You might have multiple policies that could cover aspects of your hurricane damage. Your lawyer could review the following types of policies and advise if they apply to your current circumstances:
- Homeowner’s insurance
- Flood insurance
- Windstorm coverage
- Sewer back-up insurance
Some of these policies could overlap, while others might cover specific areas of loss that most policies do not. For example, flood insurance could cover much of the water damage caused by a hurricane that a homeowner’s policy will not cover.
Determine the Value of Your Hurricane Damages
A common point of contention is the amount of damage you have sustained. Even if the insurance company does not dispute that your damage is covered, the adjuster could claim that it is not nearly as severe as you believe. An attorney could carefully document the extent of your damage to help you secure the benefits you deserve. For example, your attorney could identify the following:
- The cost of repairing the home
- The cost of hauling away debris
- Hotel and meal costs while your home is unlivable
- Costs related to preventing further damage
- Water remediation
- The value of lost property
- The cost of repairing secondary structures
Submitting Your Hurricane Insurance Claim
Once you have all the essential information and documents, our attorneys can help you file your claim for benefits. The application process is important, as any mistakes in your paperwork could upend your claim entirely. Our law firm could not only ensure your claim is correct, but we could also ensure that all necessary supporting documentation is attached. With our help, you could also file your insurance claim before the deadline.
Handling Insurance Denials
Your pursuit of benefits is not over following a denial of your claim. The insurance company will often reconsider its denial based on new evidence. However, if they failed to act in good faith when considering your claim, our firm could also pursue legal action against them to hold them accountable.
Discuss Your Insurance Claim for Hurricane Damage With Our Law Firm Today
Dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane is stressful. From repairing your home to finding lost possessions, any ability to reduce some of that stress is welcome. An attorney could take control of the hurricane claims process, allowing you to focus on more important things like getting your home back in order.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine are prepared to help you pursue the benefits you deserve. If the insurance company unfairly stands in your way, we can help hold them accountable. Contact a Melbourne hurricane claims lawyer today for your free consultation.
We Can Help.
