Whether or not your homeowner’s insurance will cover hurricane damage claims depends on the policy you purchased. Homeowner’s insurance covers somehurricane damage claims in Florida.
Basic homeowner’s coverage will help you in the case of wind damage caused by hurricanes. However, it might not cover other hurricane damage such as flooding. Our Florida property damage lawyers can help you file a claim with your insurer after a hurricane damages your home.
In Florida, you can choose from a range of different homeowner’s insurance policies. Most standard policies will cover damage from hurricanes such as:
According to Florida Statutes § 627.712, insurers that provide homeowner’s insurance must provide windstorm coverage. This coverage would only be excluded if you decided to opt out of it in writing.
Typically, homeowner’s policies cover water damage caused by pipe bursts and leaking roofs. They usually don’t cover flood damage, which is the primary type of water damage caused by hurricanes. Therefore, if you only have a standard homeowner’s policy, you probably won’t be covered for flood damage.
Flood insurance policies are separate from homeowner’s insurance policies. These types of policies protect your home from flood damage caused by hurricanes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides a network of flood insurers through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The only way to know exactly what your policies cover is to review your insurance plans. If you’re struggling with the claims process, or believe that your claim was unfairly denied, consider contacting our law firm. We can explain the specifics of your policy and help you deal with claim rejections.
Homeowner’s insurance and flood insurance claims can be rejected for a variety of reasons, including:
Luckily, if your claim was rejected, you have options for getting the financial help you need. There are several ways you can dispute a rejected claim or request a higher insurance payment, including:
You’re not required by law to hire a lawyer if your homeowner’s insurance claim was rejected. However, insurance matters are often complicated. It may be difficult to prove that your insurer made a mistake if you aren’t familiar with the details of your policy. Our lawyer could assist you in several ways, including:
As outlined in Florida Statutes § 627.7142, you have several protections as an insurance consumer, including:
Similarly, Florida Statutes § 624.155 protects you against “bad faith” insurance practices. This type of behavior can include failing to resolve a case within a reasonable time frame or not acting honestly toward the insured. Conducting “bad faith” insurance practices can be grounds for legal action.
If your homeowner’s claim was denied, or you believe you deserve more than you were offered, we can help. At Ged Lawyers, we can provide legal representation when you need to deal with your insurance company. Contact our offices for a free initial consultation today. During this meeting, we can discuss the specifics of your case.
