One of the many benefits of living in Florida is enjoying the ocean breezes that blow in from both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. That same benefit, however, can become a destructive nightmare during storm season. A tropical storm brings powerful winds that can knock down trees and power lines, damage or destroy your roof, make dangerous projectiles out of anything in the path of the storm.

If you suffered damage or loss caused by wind you expect your Florida homeowner’s insurance policy to pay for the repairs or reimburse you for your losses. Insurance companies, however, will often find an exception, limitation, or other excuses to avoid paying a wind damage claim.

At Malik Law, our experienced Florida wind damage lawyers are familiar with the tactics used by insurance companies to deny, delay, and underpay valid claims. If your Florida property was damaged by wind, we will aggressively pursue your rights as a policyholder to ensure that you are fully compensated for all your losses.

Types of Strong Winds in Florida

Florida is well-known for its Atlantic hurricane season and for the wind damage caused by hurricanes and tropical storms that occur during the season. What you may not know, however, is that there are several other types of damaging winds, described by the National Severe Storms Laboratory, that can occur without a tropical storm or hurricane, including:

• Straight-line wind. Any thunderstorm wind that is not associated with rotation. The term “straight-line” wind is used mainly to differentiate from tornadic winds.
• Downdraft. A small-scale column of air that rapidly sinks toward the ground.
• Macroburst. An outward burst of strong winds at or near the surface with horizontal dimensions larger than 2.5 miles occurring when a strong downdraft reaches the surface. A macroburst may begin over a smaller area and then spread out over a wider area, sometimes producing damage similar to a tornado.
• Microburst. A small, concentrated downburst that produces an outward burst of strong winds at or near the surface. Although short-lived, a microburst can bring maximum wind speeds that exceed 100 mph.
• Gust front. The leading edge of rain-cooled air that clashes with warmer thunderstorm inflow and is characterized by a wind shift, temperature drop, and gusty winds out ahead of a thunderstorm.
• Derecho. A widespread, long-lived windstorm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. A derecho has a wind damage swath that extends more than 240 miles with wind gusts of at least 58 mph or greater along most of its length,

Damage Caused by Wind in Florida

According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, damage from severe thunderstorm winds account for half of all severe reports in the lower 48 states and is more common than damage from tornadoes. Florida property owners are especially vulnerable to wind damage during hurricane season (traditionally June through October) which has been increasingly active and destructive in recent years.

Originally developed in 1805, the Beaufort chart, which classifies winds from 0 to 12, is still used by the National Weather Service to estimate wind speeds and their corresponding effects. Winds that exceed 50-60 mph are considered damaging and include the following on the Beaufort chart:

• Beaufort Number 9 – Strong Gale (47 to 54 mph winds). Structural damage occurs, such as chimney covers, roofing tiles blown off, and television antennas damaged. The ground is littered with many small twigs and broken branches.
• Beaufort Number 10 – Whole Gale (55 to 63 mph winds). Considerable structural damage occurs, especially on roofs. Small trees may be blown over and uprooted.
• Beaufort Number 11 – Storm Force (64 to 75 mph winds). Widespread damage occurs with larger trees blown over and uprooted.
• Beaufort Number 12 – Hurricane Force (winds more than 75 mph). Severe and extensive damage. Roofs can be peeled off. Windows broken. Trees uprooted. RVs and small mobile homes overturned. Moving automobiles can be pushed off the roadway.

Advice on Filing a Florida Wind Damage Insurance Claim

If you suffered wind damage to your property your first step should be to file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. Before attempting to mitigate the damage or salvage personal property, document the damage by taking photographs and making notes. Once it is safe to re-enter the home or property, do what you can to prevent further damage. This may entail things such as boarding up windows, shutting off water to the property, or putting a tarp over a damaged roof. Do not, however, make repairs beyond those required to mitigate further damage. Finally, gather documentation to support the value of your claim, such as photos of the property prior to the damage, receipts for damaged property, and estimates showing what it will cost to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property.

Get Help from an Experienced Florida Wind Damage Insurance Claims Attorney

If you filed a wind damage claim that was denied, unreasonably delayed, or underpaid, the Florida wind damage insurance claim attorneys at Malik Law P.A. can help. We are familiar with the numerous and varied reasons insurance companies use to try and avoid paying claims. We also have extensive experience helping homeowners just like you through the insurance claims process and are committed to seeing that you are compensated for the full value of the wind damage your home or property suffered.

Call us at 407-500-1000 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Florida wind damage insurance claims attorneys will explain your rights to you and discuss your legal options at no cost.