Storm Damage

Florida Storm Damage Attorney Can Help Explain Your Insurance Benefits

Storms in Florida can be particularly destructive, and if your home has been damaged by a storm, you could have a property damage insurance claim. The claims process can be complex, and to recover what you are owed it can be helpful to work with a Florida storm damage attorney. Read on to learn more about insurance claims for storm damage in Florida and how a lawyer can help.

Types of Storm Damage Oftentimes Covered By Insurance

Generally, Florida homeowners experience the following types of property damage caused by storms:

Water damage
Mold damage as a result of flooding and moisture
Roof damage
Broken windows and siding
Damage to the interior and flooring
Damage that results from flying debris

While these are general types of damages that your homeowners’ policy can cover, each policy will be unique. To determine exactly what damages are covered and to what extent, it is helpful to work with a Florida storm damage lawyer to carefully assess your policy and property damage claim.

While you might not fully understand the scope and limits of your insurance policy, a storm damage attorney who understands the insurance company’s obligations under your policy and Florida law can put this to work in your favor to help you navigate your insurance claim.

Filing an Insurance Claim and the Claims Process

When it comes time to file a claim for your insurance coverage, it is essential that all details are covered to avoid a time-consuming and costly denial or delay in your coverage. In order to collect the insurance benefits that you are entitled to pursuant to the insurance policy, the process begins with collecting evidence to accurately measure your damages. This can include receiving estimates from contractors for repairs and evaluating the overall impact of the storm on your property.

Collecting Your Own Evidence Ensures Accuracy and Completeness

The evidence that determines the amount of your claim will impact how much you are paid. The insurance company may have their own claims adjuster, experts and contractors assist to identify damages and the amount they believe you are owed. Your Florida storm damage lawyer can help you arrange for expert evaluations as well to collect accurate and complete evidence in support of your damages to ensure you establish the amount necessary to repair and restore your property.

Filing Your Claim

Both insurance policies and state laws and statutes will limit the amount of time that you have to file your claim. Your individual insurance policy may state a specific period of time during which you can submit a claim after a property-damaging occurrence or event like a storm. Additionally, Florida’s statute of limitations for property damage claims will also apply.

What this means is that if you fail to file your claim within the time required, your right to do so can expire, and you no longer have a right to pursue compensation for the damages sustained thereafter. The best way to ensure that you receive coverage and compensation for your storm damage is by working with an experienced and knowledgeable local Florida storm damage attorney.

Common Reasons for Storm Damage Insurance Claim Denials

There are many reasons that an insurance company might cite when denying your claim or offering a low settlement amount. The following are some examples:

Pre-existing damage – the insurance company may try to claim that the damage you are seeking coverage for happened prior to the storm, for example, in relation to mold damage.
Post-storm water damage – if you are seeking coverage for water damage that happened during a particular storm, the insurance company may try to claim that the damage happened after the storm or is classified as flood damage.
Multiple causes of storm damage – in Florida, the insurance company may deny coverage if the damage resulted from multiple causes, but if the insurance policy is an all-risk policy covering direct physical loss, for example, coverage may exist when a covered cause is a concurrent cause even if the covered cause is not the prime or efficient cause.

How can a Florida Storm Damage Attorney help if your claim has been wrongfully denied or underpaid? Read on to find out.

How Does a Florida Storm Damage Attorney Help?

As an insured homeowner, you do not have to go against the insurance company alone when seeking coverage and payment for your damages. Rather, you can make the wise decision to work with experienced legal counsel with a track record of success in winning cases against the insurance company. A Florida storm damage attorney will assist with recovering the full amount in compensation you need to cover your storm-related damages.

Your storm damage attorney will assist by:

Proving the cause of your damages – your attorney will consult with and hire the experts necessary to collect evidence to both prove the cause of the damages that you have experienced in addition to the full amount required to fix the property
Taking over the claims process for you – with a storm damage lawyer on your case, your lawyer will handle every step of the process from collecting evidence to negotiating and communicating with the insurance company to come to a fair settlement
Filing a lawsuit – if the insurance company is unwilling to come to a fair offer of settlement for your claim, your storm damage attorney will determine whether a lawsuit is necessary to force them to cover your damages and issue the payments owed

With an attorney by your side, your claim will be taken seriously from the start, and STRUBLE, P.A. will fight for the best possible outcome.

Discuss Your Storm Damage with a Local Florida Storm Damage Attorney

There are times when insurance companies have failed to provide payment for covered damages. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, consider speaking with an experienced Florida storm damage attorney in your area. STRUBLE, P.A. has many years of experience representing clients just like you in their insurance property damage claims.

Florida Lightning Damage Attorney

Florida is referred to as the lightning capital of the United States, with storms occurring approximately 100 days out of the year. Lightning causes billions of dollars of property damage yearly and can cause significant damage if it strikes your home or business. The damage can include damage to a dwelling and to personal property such as electronics or other items. As such, it is important that damage caused by lightning is properly evaluated. STRUBLE attorneys have successfully represented insureds in claims for lightning damage and are prepared to force your insurance company to honor your claim.

The following are examples of some of the results we have obtained while representing policyholders in claims for damage caused by lightning:

Lightning Damage – Coverage Obtained

The insurance company failed to acknowledge the damage that lightning caused to our client’s home. Shortly before the trial, the insurance company acknowledged the damage and issued payment for our client’s claim. Thereafter, the insurance company was required to pay our attorney’s fees and costs incurred. Additional damages are being pursued in a subsequent bad faith lawsuit.