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Water Damage v. Flood Damage: Two Key Differences

There are two key differences between water and flood damage. One difference lies in the origin of the water. Flood waters generally enter a building from the outside and originate from natural sources, like heavy rain or overflowing bodies of water. Water damage usually originates inside a building, such as with a broken pipe, backed-up toilet, leaking water heater, or other similar situations.

The second key difference between water and flood damage is the type of insurance that covers each. While a standard homeowners insurance policy will often cover water damage, you generally need a separate flood insurance policy to receive compensation for flood-related damage. A Boca Raton property damage lawyer can help you achieve fair compensation.

There are very important differences between water and flood damage, particularly when determining which insurance policy should cover your losses. Your property damage lawyer will be familiar with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) definition of flood and other distinctions relevant to your claim.

Your lawyer will also know:

  • Common indications that a flood has occurred
  • How to geographically determine the source of a flood (thereby proving that damage is flood-related)
  • How to prove the source of non-flood-related water damage
  • The various differences between flood and water damage and what these differences mean for your claim

Water or flood damage claims can get technical fast. Having a knowledgeable, experienced property claim lawyer on your side can spare you headaches, confusion, and the potential loss of compensation you deserve.

Whether pursuing a hurricane damage claim, seeking compensation for a household emergency, or responding to other circumstances resulting in flood or water damage, you may face costly expenses. Whether you’re reeling from a flood or water damage, you may:

  • Need to clean up the damage as soon as possible while documenting the full extent of the damage
  • Be balancing professional and personal responsibilities with unexpected property damage
  • Be totally unfamiliar with flood or water damage claims
  • Not understand the technical differences between water and flood damage (which can be very consequential to your case)
  • Face large damage-related expenses and need compensation from your insurer as soon as possible

You may also face immense stress because of the water damage and its disruptive effect on your life. These are all reasons to hire a property damage attorney to lead your claim while you focus on your many other responsibilities.

The similarities between water and flood damage are just as important as the differences. One of the key similarities is that both flood and water damage are often grounds to hire a property claim attorney.

You may hire a property damage lawyer from our law firm because:

  • We have resolved many water and flood damage claims successfully: While each water or flood damage claim is unique, experience is always a plus when seeking an insurance settlement. Our experience with both claim types allows us to diagnose the damage accurately, identify the responsible insurer, and resolve the claims process efficiently.
  • We know how insurance companies operate: A water or flood insurance company may hold the power to cover damage or leave you high and dry. Our attorneys hold insurance companies accountable for their policies, including flood and homeowners policies. Our extensive history dealing with insurers prepares us to lead your case.
  • We have dealt with bad-faith insurance tactics: More specifically, we are familiar with unjust claim denials, preventable delays, lowball settlement offers, and the many other bad-faith tactics insurers employ. We rely on our experience, the evidence, and policy details to combat such tactics.
  • We have resources to invest in your water or flood insurance claim: Our legal team spares no expense when seeking compensation for property damage. Whether we need to hire experts, commission tests, or take other measures to strengthen your claim, we’ll do it.
  • You have plenty else to worry about: Merely thinking about substantial water damage can be distressing. You may not have the mental fortitude, time, or energy to handle the many demands of a complex insurance claim. Let us take this high-stakes responsibility off your hands.

We understand the technical differences between water damage and flood damage. We won’t waste any time conducting research, as we have handled many claims like yours before.

Our team will take the entire claims process off your hands by:

Our team will:

  • Photograph visible damage
  • Bring in remediation experts to survey the extent of the damage and provide repair estimates
  • Bring in electricians, plumbers, and other qualified experts to document other damage
  • Take any other necessary measures to illustrate the nature and cost of the water or flood damage

Extensive documentation will leave no doubt about how water or flood damage has affected your property.

Working with qualified experts, we will document the exact cause of the damage. This will include determining whether the damage resulted from a flood or another water-related hazard.

Our attorneys will determine the total cost of:

  • Removing hazardous items and structural components
  • Replacing damaged appliances, furniture, electronics, and other property
  • Repairing structural damage to your home
  • Securing temporary housing

We will consider all your covered losses and construct precise settlement demands for the insurance company.

Let our experienced, negotiation-tested lawyers represent you. We will come prepared and demand all the compensation your insurance policy entitles you to.

If the insurance company will not offer fair compensation, we will explain any legal options available to you. We intend to obtain all the compensation you are entitled to, and we will fight for the fair financial outcome.

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