One of the many benefits of living in the Orlando area is the year-round warm weather. Unfortunately, Orlando residents must also deal with powerful storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June through November. While Orlando’s central location protects against direct hurricane hits, it still faces the destructive force and aftermath of storms from both coastlines, as Hurricane Ian showed us. 

As an Orlando area property owner, you expect your homeowner or business insurance to cover damages when a storm hits Central Florida. Instead, you may face delays, underpayments, or outright denials of your claims.

The Orlando storm damage attorneys at Malik Law understand the devastation these storms can cause to residential and commercial property owners. We also know the various tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying for storm damage claims. If your Orlando property has suffered storm damage and your insurance claim was denied, underpaid, or delayed, an experienced storm damage attorney at Malik Law can help you get paid fairly for your losses. 

Call us today at 407-500-1000 or submit the Free Case Evaluation form on our website. The Orlando storm damage attorneys at Malik Law have the expertise, resources, and commitment to successfully advocate on your behalf for full payment of your property damage claim. 

When Should I File an Orlando Storm Damage Claim?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th and averages 14.4 named storms, with 7.2 of those becoming hurricanes and 3.2 becoming major hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Recent years, however, have seen longer and more intense storm activity in the Atlantic Ocean. A powerful tropical storm or hurricane can cause a variety of damage to your home or business, such as:

• Roof Damage: During a storm, strong winds and heavy rain can cause damage to your roof. Shingles or tiles may be torn off, or holes may develop, allowing water to leak into your home.
• Wind Damage: Even tropical storm winds can break branches, blow away outdoor furniture, and shatter windows while hurricane-force winds can uproot trees, break power lines, and tear off parts of your roof. 
• Water Damage: A tropical storm can lead to water damage from heavy rainfall or standing water that does not drain properly. Hurricanes often include significant storm surges along the coast, leading to devastating flood waters.
• Hail Damage: While often associated with colder regions, hail can accompany a Florida storm. These ice pellets can damage roofs, siding, windows, and outdoor furniture, as well as landscaping.
• Fire and Electrical Damage: A fire on or near your property may start because of a downed power line while lightning strikes can result in damage to trees or your home, potentially starting a fire. 

If your home or commercial property has been damaged in one of these ways, you should file a claim with your insurance company. If you encounter problems during the process, an experienced insurance claim attorney from Malik Law can help. We’ve helped many families throughout Central Florida get the full payment they need to repair and/or replace their storm-damaged property and will put that experience and our legal expertise to work aggressively advocating for the full payment you deserve.

What Should I Do If My Property Has Been Damaged by a Florida Storm?

If your home or business has suffered damage from an Orlando storm, you undoubtedly want to protect your family as well as your financial investment. To accomplish those goals, take the following steps:

1. Make Sure the Property Is Safe Before Entering: Storm damage can cause your property to be unsafe. Do not attempt to enter the property until the proper authorities have established that the structure is safe to enter.
2. Document the Damage: Start documenting the damage as soon as possible. Take pictures or videos, locate receipts or appraisals, and make a detailed list of everything that suffered damage during the storm. You may also wish to obtain two or three independent estimates for repairing or replacing big-ticket items, such as your roof.
3. File a Claim: Contact your homeowner or business insurance company as soon as possible after the storm and get the claims process started. Pay very close attention to all requests for documentation or forms that you might receive from your insurance company.
4. Contact an Orlando Insurance Claim Lawyer: If your storm damage claim is not paid in full within a timely manner, or you receive an underpayment or outright denial of your claim, contact an experienced Orlando insurance claim lawyer at Malik Law immediately to discuss your legal options. 

Contact us at 407-500-1000 or submit the Free Case Evaluation form on our website to get the help you need with your Orlando storm damage claim. 

Why Your Orlando Storm Damage Claim Could Be Delayed, Underpaid, or Denied

Orlando storms often bring high winds, lightning, and heavy rain, causing significant property damage. When your residential or commercial property is damaged by a storm and you file a claim, you expect your insurance company to reimburse you promptly and fairly. However, insurance companies aim to minimize payouts to maximize profitability, so you may encounter problems.

Here are common tactics insurance companies may use to delay, deny, or underpay your storm damage claim:

• Citing Policy Exclusions: Exclusions are commonly found in an insurance policy. Exclusions allow the insurance company to deny coverage. In Florida, for instance, your homeowner’s insurance policy probably excludes coverage for flood damage. Insurance companies frequently claim that damage falls under a policy exclusion, even if it does not, as an easy way to deny a claim.
• Undervaluing Repair Costs: Your insurance company may send out an adjuster who prepares an estimate reflecting the cost to repair or replace your damaged property. If that estimate undervalues the true extent (and cost) of the damage, you end up with an underpaid claim.
• Blaming Third Parties: Third-party fault is a common tactic used by insurance companies when an insured files a roof damage claim. Your insurance company may try to blame a third-party manufacturer, installer, or repair company for the damage to your roof, thereby shifting the liability away from the insurance company.
• Reclassifying Damage: When a claim is filed, your insurance company categorizes the damage. That categorization can directly impact the approval of your claim if the damage is improperly categorized. For example, if your insurance company categorizes water damage from a leaking roof as “flood damage,” they might then deny coverage because flood damage is excluded in your policy. Additionally, damage may be labeled as “cosmetic” to downplay its severity.
• Excessive Documentation Requests: Throughout the claims process, your insurer may bombard you with numerous requests for additional forms, evidence, and documents. This tactic aims to frustrate you into giving up or, in the alternative, provide your insurance company with a reason to reject your claim due to missing paperwork.

If you encounter any of these issues, or other difficulties, with a property damage insurance claim, the experienced Malik Law storm damage attorneys can help cut through the red tape and communicate aggressively with insurance company representatives on your behalf. We have the experience and skill to overcome insurance companies’ tactics to underpay or deny payment and will work tirelessly for you.

Call us at 407-500-1000 or submit the Free Case Evaluation form on our website today so we can get started working on getting your storm damage claim paid.

Get Help from An Experienced Orlando Storm Damage Attorney

Having to deal with the aftermath of an Orlando storm can be stressful and overwhelming. Filing a claim with your property insurance carrier should be a simple, quick, and straightforward process, but instead, the process often adds to the stress and confusion following a storm. 

If your insurance company is trying to underpay, delay, or deny your storm damage claim, contact an experienced insurance claim lawyer at Malik Law for the experienced, aggressive help you need. We are all too familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to try and avoid paying claims in full and have the experience and resources to help you navigate the unfamiliar, and often challenging, insurance claims process. 

At Malik Law, we are committed to aggressively advocating on your behalf to make sure you are compensated fairly for your losses following an Orlando storm.

Call us today at 407-500-1000 or fill in the Free Case Evaluation form on our website today to protect your rights and get free advice from an experienced Orlando storm damage attorney.