Storm Damage Insurance Claims
Storm Damage Insurance Claims Attorney in Fort Myers
At McIntyre & Bermudez, PLLC, we are prepared to handle claims relating to all Florida storms and weather events, including hurricanes (i.e., Hurricane Ian), tornados, thunderstorms, hail and wind storms, lightning strikes, and flood insurance claims. While storm and hurricane property damage are likely included in your insurance coverage, it is not uncommon for an insurance company to refuse, delay, or undervalue your claim. If you’ve experienced storm damage to your home or business and insurance companies are refusing, unreasonably delaying, or underpaying your claim, our Fort Myers insurance claim attorneys can help you protect your investment and receive the compensation you deserve. Speak with a skilled Florida storm damage insurance claims attorney as soon as possible to get started on your claim today.
Storm Damage in Florida
In Florida, severe weather is unavoidable. The devastation that comes with storms such as hurricanes is something that those who live in this beautiful state have been forced to adapt to. Owning a house or business in this area means you must plan for the worst while praying that the storm will pass you by.
To produce major property damage, however, a storm does not always have to be categorized as a hurricane. Any type of storm or catastrophic weather event can wreak havoc on homes, companies, property, and other assets. As most Florida residents are aware, storm surges, torrential rain, and strong hurricane or tropical storm winds inflict the most damage to homes and businesses each year. On the other hand, they are also aware of the various issues that arise when filing insurance claims, such as waiting way too long for essential repairs to be reimbursed or discovering that their claims have been refused outright.
That’s what our storm damage insurance claims attorneys at McIntyre & Bermudez, PLLC are here for. Our dedicated Fort Myers property damage attorneys can assist you if your insurance company refuses your claim in bad faith.
Types of Storm Damage Claims We Cover
We have seen all sorts of storm damage at McIntyre & Bermudez, PLLC, and we have helped numerous property owners obtain the repairs and/or replacements they are entitled to from their insurance companies. We can assist you with storm damages of any kind, including things like:
- Water Damage
Floods, storm surges, and heavy rainfall can all cause significant damage to your property. However, it’s important to remember that most insurance companies only cover storm-related water damage if the water hasn’t come from the ground. To cover damage from water that enters your property from the ground, you’ll often need to file a separate Florida flood insurance claim.
- Roof Damage
Strong storms like the ones we experience in Florida are prone to cause roof damage, often pulling away shingles and tiles and creating small holes or gaps in your roofing system. This, in turn, can lead to substantial internal damage caused by roof leaks or standing water.
- Wind and Hail Damage
Hail and wind are more dangerous than one might think. These elements have the potential to cause severe damage to your home, yard, and other assets. Roofs, windows, doors, siding, trees, cars, outdoor living spaces, and more can all be affected by strong hail and wind.
- Fallen Powerlines
It is not uncommon for storms to destroy electricity and power lines, resulting in blown circuits and electronic damage. Powerlines can also fall onto structures and cause additional catastrophic damage, including fires.
- Structural Damage
All of the aforementioned problems, among others, have the potential to cause structural damage to one’s home or business. Damage to the primary structures of your home or the foundation can lead to a plethora of other serious problems if not addressed efficiently.
Does Insurance Cover Storm Damage?
Property insurance should take away some of the concern about what would happen if a storm causes damage to your home or property. After all, that is what property insurance is meant to accomplish, isn’t it? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Insurance companies often exacerbate the situation by refusing legitimate Florida storm damage claims. So while those who equip themselves with storm damage insurance should be covered in the event of a storm, that doesn’t always mean they will be. So what happens if your insurance claim is denied?
Insurance companies have been known to employ a variety of tactics to undercut or deny claims, including delaying payments in the hopes that policyholders will get impatient, eventually cave, and accept much less than they deserve. The good news is that insurance firms are well aware that our attorneys at McIntyre & Bermudez, PLLC will not be fooled or manipulated. While homeowners are seldom successful in appealing a refused claim on their own, insurance companies are more likely to adjust their decision when one of our experienced attorneys helps you navigate the claims and litigation process.
How To Get Insurance Companies to Pay for Storm Damage Claims
When a hurricane or other catastrophic storm damages your house, you may want to restore it as quickly as possible. This is only natural. However, it is not always recommended. In order to make a thorough and compelling insurance claim, you must document the extent of the damage in as much detail as possible.
We recommend taking photographs and videos of all the damage and attempting to locate invoices for damaged or missing products, as well as house repairs and upkeep. It may be in your best interest to make an inventory of all of your assets before a storm even hits. That way, you will have one less thing to worry about when it actually comes time to file a claim. We also often recommend that you hire a third-party appraiser to examine the damage during the claims process.
Contact our firm for help if your insurance carrier refuses to provide you a reasonable settlement, unjustly delays payment, or refuses to pay you at all. We’ll go over your policy and claim to see what damages you should be entitled to, then negotiate with your insurance provider to settle or bring your claim to litigation. Rest assured, we will strive to obtain fair compensation for you if your insurer does not offer you a reasonable settlement.
How Insurance Claims Work for Storm Damage
Storm damage for both residential and commercial sectors ends up costing tens of billions of dollars in damage each year in the United States. Coastal states like Florida often take the brunt of this storm damage, as hurricanes and other natural disasters can strike at any moment. This is precisely why insurance exists: to safeguard our community from the financial consequences of a calamity. But, if insurance firms refuse to compensate you for your losses, how safe are you really?
It can be difficult and time-consuming to file an insurance claim for storm damage. It takes a lot more than simply calling your insurance carrier and submitting a claim, especially when you take into consideration the fact that your insurer will most likely try to lowball or deny it. At McIntyre & Bermudez, PLLC, we understand just how stressful dealing with insurance companies can be, and we want to assist you in making sure you receive fair compensation for any property damage you may experience.
As a result, we are happy to assist you at any point during the storm insurance claims procedure. We can answer your questions regarding your policy and the claims procedure, assist you in constructing a compelling claim, represent you in negotiations with insurance claims adjusters, or even take your insurance claim to court if need be.
Storm Damage? Contact a Fort Myers Storm Damage Insurance Attorney Today
At McIntyre & Bermudez, PLLC, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of Florida homeowners and business owners in Fort Myers in insurance claim denial cases. We urge you to talk with one of our knowledgeable and experienced attorneys to learn more about how we can assist you with property damage insurance claims. When you hire us, you hire a team of professionals who will look carefully and thoroughly into your claim, submit your requests to the insurance provider, and work with you to get a better deal. Call us today at 239-935-8426 to schedule a consultation to discuss your situation and learn how we can assist you.
