How to Navigate a Denied Insurance Claim During Hurricane Season

About 40% of the hurricanes that have hit America made landfall in Florida.

If you're a Florida property owner, you know the looming threat of tropical storms and hurricanes every hurricane season.  As a property owner with property insurance in place, you probably assume that your property insurance covers fire, water, or wind damage and being in Florida, especially Hurricane damages. That's not always the case.

When your insurance claim is denied after hurricane damage, you're left with a feeling of helplessness. In this post, we're going to tell you how to navigate a denied insurance claim so that you can confidently take on hurricane season.

What Should Your Hurricane Insurance Include?

Reviewing your homeowners' insurance policy NOW is a critical first step toward dealing with hurricane damage. Most insurance policies in Florida do include damages resulting from wind and rain and other events brought on by hurricane damage, however you should know what coverages you have in place.

You should be covered for wind damage, flooding, and storm surges for the proper amounts to repair or replace your property if damages occur. In coastal areas, you may have to purchase separate flood insurance.

Florida insurance companies offer deductibles of $500, 2%, 5%, and 10% of the policy dwelling or structure limits. It's the only state that has a single-season hurricane deductible, so you should be protected if the unfortunate events occur.

What to Do After a Denied Insurance Claim

Once a storm hits and you've suffered damages, you'll expect that the losses will be covered. As long as you've paid your premiums on time and properly documented your losses, why wouldn't they be?

Sadly, this is an all-too-common occurrence in our state. Insurance companies are well-known for denying, delaying, and undervaluing hurricane damage claims.

After Hurricane Irma, for example, nearly 300,000 claims were deemed by the carriers as closed; however they were closed without payment despite about $20 billion in residential property damage state-wide. If you are in a similar situation, you need to know what to do.

You must file your claim as soon as you become aware of your damages.  Attempt to negotiate with your insurance company’s adjuster assigned to the claim.  Try to speak with a supervisor to understand a decision, if you disagree with it. Unless your carrier will rectify the situation, your next move will be to hire a property damage attorney to help you navigate this situation.

Work With the Best Property Damage Lawyers in Florida

You can bet that your insurer is going to try and exploit every loophole available in order to avoid paying your insurance claim in full. At Knoerr Law Group, we'll prevent this from happening. We've been helping Floridians with their first-party claims for a combined 50 years.

With one of our experienced attorneys backing you, you'll be able to stand up to the insurance company and fight for what's yours. You'll know when to refuse a lowball settlement and when to go on the offensive if your claim is denied. We don't make money unless you do.

After a hurricane is when you're left most vulnerable. Insurance companies know this, which is why so many denied insurance claims are out there. What you need to know is that they're bound by law to pay out your claim and we can make sure this happens.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start to experience some calm after the storm.