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Hurricane Claims

Anybody who’s lived in Florida for a while is probably aware that hurricanes are some of the most destructive natural disasters that can strike a family or home. This is why many Florida homeowners protect themselves by buying storm insurance so that if a storm does hit, they can cover the cost of repairing severe damage. However, even if you pay your insurance premiums faithfully, you could be left hanging following a destructive hurricane if your insurer unfairly denies a claim due to a minor technicality or bad faith. This is why we recommend consulting with an experienced Floridahurricane insurance claim lawyer to ensure that your insurer lives up to their word during such a traumatic time. The Law Office of Charles H. Cohen is a top Florida insurance claim lawyer who can fight on your side to make sure you get the compensation you pay your insurance premimums for.

Common Hurricane Damage Types

Hurricanes are characterized by strong winds and heavy rains that can uproot trees, topple power lines, and tear off roofs. The hurricane’s wind speed- calculated using the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale-largely determines the amount of damage a home sustains. Under the Saffir-Simpson Wind scale, hurricanes are rated by category number from one to five.

Category 1

Wind gusts over 74 mph, strong enough to damage siding, shingles, gutters, and shallowly rooted trees.

Category 2

Wind gusts over 96 mph and can cause significant siding, roof, and powr line damage.

Category 3

Wind gusts over 111 mph, can topple deeply rooted trees and knock out both water and power. Category 3storms can topple deeply rooted trees and knock out water and power.

Category 4

Wind gusts over 131 mph, extremely dangerous, can totally destroy exterior walls and roofs and uproot most power lines and trees.

Category 5

These are the most dangerous storms with wind gusts over 155 mph and can completely destroy roofs and walls.
Along with extremey strong winds, hurricanes are also known for being accompanied by heavy rains that often result in severe water damage in homes and potentially crack building foundations.

What Homeowner’s Insurance Covers

Generally, Florida homeowner’s insurance policies will cover wind but not flooding. This means that your homeowner’s insurance policy covers the expense of replacing siding or roofing that hurricane winds would damage, but not any water damage from rising water levels and rain. There’s also a deductible for damage from hurricanes set at a predetermined percentage based on the overall policy coverage. This deductible needs to be met before the insurer pays for any damage, so homeowners should have a thorough comprehension of how their policy works and what it covers when filing a claim.

Often, claims adjusters will deny that damage from a hurricane was due to wind but rather due to flooding.

Insurer Tactics

Some common bad faith tactics insurance companies often employ include:
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Forcing settlement of a claim under another policy

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Undervalued estimates
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Convincing the homeowner they don’t need legal representation
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Mandating a written release of supplemental claims as a condition of settlement or payment

Contact Us Today

When your home is struck by a hurricane, you and your family may be disoriented and traumatized. If your home was damaged during a hurricane and you want to ensure you get the coverage you pay your premiums for, you should consult with an expert hurricane insurance claim lawyer. Call The Law Firm of Charles Cohen in Sunrise, FL to consult with an expert insurance claim attorney today.