Hurricane Debby Damage Lawyer/ Property Damage Claims Lawyer
Watching your home suffer after Hurricane Debby is devastating, but you don’t have to face this alone. At Kennon Law, we understand the stress and uncertainty you’re feeling.
Seeing your home suffer damage as a result of a hurricane is a devastating experience. When Hurricane Debby tore through Florida, it left some homeowners with uninhabitable homes, forcing them to live elsewhere during the hurricane insurance claims process.
As you might already have learned, insurance providers try to avoid paying out claims — and that often means unfairly denying compensation to policyholders whose homes have suffered extensive storm damage.
If you need to appeal a denied claim or are in the process of putting together a claim for the first time, a property damage insurance claim lawyer can maximize your chances of success. The team at Kennon Law Group is here to help you. Get in touch to schedule your free case evaluation today!
How Can A Hurricane Damage Lawyer Help You?
Many people know that working with a lawyer to file an insurance claim is a good idea, but they don’t always understand the many different ways a skilled attorney can help.
Here’s a brief overview of how a property damage claim attorney may be able to assist you after your home has been damaged by Hurricane Debby or other storms like Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene.
Getting an Accurate Damage Assessment
When considering whether to approve your claim, insurers will almost always send an insurance adjuster to evaluate the damage done to your home.
Sometimes, these adjusters will come to a conclusion that benefits the insurance company more than it benefits you — meaning they may say it will cost far less to make necessary repairs than you’ve claimed.
An experienced hurricane damage attorney may arrange for an independent expert to visit your home and estimate the cost of repairing all damage. That information can be extremely useful when it comes to appealing a denied claim or filing your claim in the first place.
Filing Your Claim for You
A hurricane property damage claim attorney can help you challenge a denied insurance claim. But did you know an attorney can help you assemble and file your initial claim as well?
There’s no guarantee that an insurer will pay out your claim fairly, but when an experienced attorney helps you assemble your claim in the first place, you greatly reduce your chances of a claim denial.
Negotiating Your Insurance Claim
Insurance companies will send homeowners lowball offers after they file claims. Many homeowners, especially those who have had to pay to live elsewhere while their home is uninhabitable, are so grateful to receive any payment at all that they accept the insurance company’s first offer.
When you work with a lawyer, you gain an experienced advocate who understands the art of negotiating with insurers. Insurance companies are more likely to negotiate with a lawyer than with homeowners.
Appealing Denied Claims
After a natural disaster, many property insurance providers underpay claims or deny them altogether. Fortunately, you have an opportunity to appeal. Having the assistance of an attorney is essential when filing appeals.
Attorneys with extensive experience with hurricane damage claims know what kind of evidence is most likely to result in your claim being approved.
Arranging for Advance Payment of Funds
If your claim is approved and the insurance company has agreed to pay you enough compensation, you’ll probably feel tremendous relief. However, this is where another issue sometimes arises.
Payouts don’t happen instantly, and if you’re struggling financially in the wake of the disaster, even small delays in compensation can cause big problems. In many cases, your lawyer can arrange for an advance transfer of funds. They may even be able to help you find contractors who can perform the repairs on your home.
What Are Your Options if Your Home Is Affected by Hurricane Debby?
If your home has suffered roof damage, broken windows, and other major damage after the storm, you might be unsure of what to do. Filing a homeowners insurance claim is obviously important, but claims take time.
If you can’t live in your home after the hurricane, you may need a new place to live and assistance with everyday essentials. You might want to try the following.
File Your Home Insurance Claim by the Deadline
You only have a limited period to file hurricane insurance claims. In most cases, that limit is one year from the day the storm makes landfall. However, you should file a claim as soon as possible after the storm to increase your chances of receiving an efficient payout.
Insurance companies often become very overwhelmed after a major storm, so if you get your claim in early, the insurer might be able to resolve it before it is inundated by other claims.
Apply for FEMA Displacement Assistance
This is a one-time payment to help with immediate housing costs — like staying in a hotel — until you find longer-term housing. FEMA also offers several other kinds of aid. It might be able to offer you rental assistance once you find temporary housing or fund temporary repairs to your home to make it habitable in the short term.
Contact Your Mortgage Servicer
If you are still paying off your home, the hurricane might make it difficult for you to continue to make mortgage payments. Most mortgage companies will allow homeowners to temporarily suspend payments. However, before you stop paying, make sure to reach out to your mortgage loan company directly.
Apply for Food Assistance
If you are unable to work because of the hurricane, you might be eligible for the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, even if you are not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This program helps you pay for groceries in the time immediately following a disaster.
Common Insurance Claims Issues After a Hurricane
Insurers often don’t make it easy for homeowners to have their claims paid out after a disaster. Most homeowners hope to be able to file a claim and quickly receive a fair payout, but that rarely happens. These are some of the most common issues you may run into:
- Denial of your claim
- Mistakenly believing you have more coverage than you do
- Failing to document damage adequately
- Making significant repairs before an adjuster sees your property
- Claims from the insurer that you failed to protect your property
- Proving that certain kinds of damage were not pre-existing
One of the most important steps in the process is contacting a hurricane insurance claims lawyer. The right attorney can help you put together a thorough claim and avoid some of the common pitfalls many homeowners run into.
What to Do if Your Insurance Claim Is Denied After a Hurricane
The first step to take after an insurance denial is to appeal. Your appeal may have additional documentation showing why you deserve a certain amount of compensation. Insurers tend to scrutinize appeals very closely, so it’s a good idea to have a knowledgeable attorney help you put together an appeal.
If the appeal is unsuccessful and you and your attorney believe your claim denial was unfair, you may have additional recourse. You may be able to file a bad-faith lawsuit. This lawsuit alleges that by not paying out your claim, your insurer failed to hold up its end of the contract with you.
Types of Property Damage Caused by Hurricane Debby
From downed power lines to destroyed roofs, Hurricane Debby caused a tremendous amount of property damage. The exact kind of damage can vary based on your property, but these are some of the most common damages people have called in claims for:
- Roof damage
- Various kinds of wind damage
- Broken windows
- Damaged siding
- Flood damage (including damage to personal belongings)
The damage caused by the storm is an illustration of why flood insurance and contents insurance are so critical in a state like Florida.
Most standard homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. They also don’t cover damage to the contents of your home. If you want to keep yourself protected from both kinds of damage, choosing the right insurance is essential.
Does Your Insurance Policy Include Hurricane Coverage?
In Florida, your homeowner’s insurance policy will likely cover some of the damage from the hurricane but not all of it. Your policy will generally cover “windstorm” damage, and that category includes wind damage from hurricanes.
However, your standard policy likely will not cover flooding damage from storm surges and heavy rains. To keep yourself protected from all possible hurricane damage, it’s wise to make sure you have flood insurance in addition to your standard policy.
Let Our Property Damage Lawyers File Your Hurricane Debby Claim
The claims process can be confusing. And when you’re filing a claim for hurricane damage, there’s a lot at stake — if your claim is denied, it can mean you’ll be stuck paying astronomical repair costs on your own. There’s no way to guarantee your insurer will give you a fair settlement after you file, but an experienced attorney can give you your best shot. At Kennon Law Group, we’re dedicated to helping hurricane victims get the financial support they need to rebuild their lives. Call us today to set up a free consultation and case review!
Questions To Ask A Property Damage Claims Lawyer
How Long After the Hurricane Can I Make a Claim?
Florida law gives you up to a year from the day the storm makes landfall to file your claim. However, you should get in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible after the storm has ended. The sooner you start the claims process, the sooner you’re likely to get relief.
How to File an Insurance Claim After a Hurricane
To file an insurance claim, you will need to contact your insurance company. Your insurer will need details of the structural damage to your home, so you should also send photos of the damaged areas. The insurer will send an adjuster to assess your home in person.
If your claim is approved, the insurance company will likely offer you a certain amount. Before accepting, you should get in touch with an insurance claim lawyer. Property damage payout offers are often artificially low, and your attorney may be able to negotiate a fair settlement.
Can I Claim Hurricane Damage 1 Year Later?
Usually, no. If your home suffers flood damage or wind damage in a hurricane or tropical storm, Florida law allows you up to one year to file a claim.
However, it’s best to file your claim as soon as you can. If you need to file a breach of contract lawsuit because your insurance company unfairly denied your claim, the Florida statute of limitations to do so is five years.
How to Hire the Best Lawyer for Hurricane Damage Claims?
The right hurricane property damage claim attorney can make a big difference when it comes to securing compensation. When choosing a lawyer, look for a law firm with substantial experience handling hurricane-related cases.
How Long Do Hurricane Damage Cases Take?
If your home has been damaged by a hurricane, you understandably want to receive compensation as quickly as possible. In Florida, insurance companies have 90 days to either pay or deny your claim. If your claim is denied, you will need to file an appeal. That can significantly delay any compensation you receive.
How Can I Prove My Hurricane Damage Claim?
To prove that your home suffered structural damage, you should send photos of the damaged areas to the insurance company. It also may be helpful to hire an independent adjuster or appraiser to assess the damage, especially if your claim has been denied unfairly.
Your hurricane claims lawyer may be able to offer suggestions for additional documentation that will help your case.
Do Insurance Companies Pay for Hurricane Damage in Florida?
Usually, yes — but there’s a caveat. Standard home insurance policies will usually cover wind damage from Florida hurricanes, but water damage from flooding might be a different story. In most cases, you need a separate flood insurance policy.
Is It Worth Claiming Home Insurance for Hurricane Damage?
Usually, yes. However, filing a claim will likely increase your insurance premiums. If the cost to repair the damage is very close to your deductible, it may be worth it to pay out of pocket to avoid having to pay more in premiums over time.
Can an Insurance Company Drop You After a Hurricane Claim?
Under Florida law, your insurance company may not drop your policy within 90 days of completed repairs. However, they may choose to cancel your policy after that. If they determine that your home is at high risk for further damage, they also might decide not to renew your policy.
Can I Claim Hurricane Damage 1 Year Later in Florida?
Under Florida law, you have up to one year after a hurricane makes landfall to file property insurance claims. However, you should file your claim as soon as possible in case you run into insurance disputes.