There are many ways in which a Florida insurance policy can be more difficult than holding insurance in other parts of the United States. With a large number of tropical storms and hurricanes that can affect the Florida market, it’s important to work with an insurance company that covers home repairs and ensures sure that you have fast support when storm damage occurs.
It’s not uncommon for a Florida insurance company to avoid paying the full amount for coverage on your home repairs after a storm event. Most insurance companies will attempt to lowball a client with a lesser settlement amount before they come back with their maximum settlement amount. You need to be ready to provide your insurer with a series of documentation that proves your claims are valid and that proves the total cost of the insurance claim for your home.
One of the first things that you can do to prove damages to your insurance is to photograph the damage that has been done to your home. Whether your roof has suffered severe damage from fallen branches or you have accumulated flood damage, you need to make sure that you capture photographic evidence of the event.
Acquiring quotes from various contractors and ensuring that they are documented will give you the full value of the surveyed damage as well. Your insurer may underestimate how much contractors in your area are charging, especially during an emergency cleanup phase of a hurricane. Insurance companies will often quote based off of the rates of the contractor when emergency services are not involved in the cleanup effort. Getting at least three quotes from contractors in your area will prove that the settlement you have received from your insurance company could be too little to cover the costs of your damages.
Homeowners will also need to document auxiliary expenses that stem from the overall damage to a home. If you’ve experienced a flood for example, you may need to order items like new carpeting or new furniture. It’s also possible that a homeowner will need to access professional cleaning in order to get rid of mold or sewage buildup in the home. Floors and walls may also need to be completely torn out or refinished with new drywall. If you are going to be performing these actions yourself or renting equipment to do the cleaning, make sure that you are keeping all receipts associated with your cleanup effort.
Another documented expense that you can keep track of for your insurance company is the cost of living while your home is under renovation. In order to make your property safe to live in again, you may need to pay for the cost of a hotel or find alternative living arrangements.
The full range of this documentation can provide you with a case against your insurance company that will help ensure that your expenses are genuine. There are some cases in which your insurer may not budge on the overall prices affecting your insurance however. If you ever need to bring about legal action against your insurer, having access to documentation is an excellent way that you can argue your case. Insurance disputes vary greatly so it is important that you never consider legal action on your own. Contacting a professional insurance attorney is the best way to proceed and make sure that you have the ideal representation as you are moving forward. Contact us today if you are in need of an insurance attorney.
This post was written by Kelly-Ann Jenkins of Jenkins Law P.L. Kelly-Anne is a property damage attorney. She focuses on insurance claims and property damage. The information on this site is not intended to and does not offer legal advice, legal recommendations or legal representation on any matter. Hiring an attorney is an important decision, which should not be based on advertising. You need to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your individual situation.
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