October 23, 2019

Concerned about Your Florida Homeowners Insurance?

In my years of experience as an insurance claim attorney, I’ve often heard clients complain about their Florida homeowners insurance companies. Many of them have complaints about legitimate claims that were denied or underpaid. Others have complaints about the long, complicated process involved in filing a claim. Still others complain about the policies themselves and how difficult it is to understand them. In this blog post I’m going to explain some of these difficulties, the thorny elements of policies such as limitations, exclusions, replacement cost versus actual cost, and assignment of benefits. These are all parts of insurance policies that […]
October 2, 2019

What to Do When Your Florida Roof Damage Claim is Denied

Strong winds and flying debris during storms can damage your home’s roof in several different ways, including leaks, missing or damaged shingles, and gutter problems. Wherever the damage occurs, it is important to get it repaired as soon as possible to avoid further damage to your home. Most homeowners expect that their insurance policies will cover the damage, and this may be true. However, far too often, Florida homeowners are unpleasantly surprised and disappointed when their roof damage claims are denied. If this has happened to you, keep in mind that you do not have to immediately accept your insurance […]
September 12, 2019

Hurricane Dorian Relief Supply Drive

Leading Orlando Insurance Claim Law Firm Helps Hurricane Dorian Relief Supply Drive and Florida Property Insurance Policyholders Malik Law P.A., a leading Orlando insurance claim law firm, helps clients throughout Florida get compensated fairly by their insurance companies when their property is damaged by wind, water, fire, hail, sink holes, and storms. The firm also helps communities in need of aid and insurance policyholders in need of advice. Presently, Malik Law, along with other Orlando businesses, is serving as a donation drop-off point for a local Hurricane Dorian relief supply drive. The Category 5 hurricane hit the Bahamas last week, […]
August 30, 2019

Last Minute Preparations for Hurricane Dorian

If you live in the Orlando area and haven’t yet boarded up your windows and stocked up on water, you still have time to prepare for Hurricane Dorian.  Here’s our list of five simple steps you can take to stay safe during the storm: 1. Store Water, Food and Other Essentials Make sure you have sufficient water and food on hand for 3 – 5 days. If bottled water is no longer available, buy juices and other drinks and as Hurricane Dorian approaches, fill pitchers, clean gallon jugs and large pots with tap water. Stock up on non-perishable food, such […]
August 29, 2019

Damage from Hurricane Dorian

Even if you’ve prepared for Hurricane Dorian, the storm and its aftermath can cause major damage to your Central Florida property. Tropical-storm-force winds can damage trees, roofs, windows, siding, lanais, patios, and items left outside. Heavy rain and storm surge can damage home interiors, furniture and other items inside your home. Knowing what kind of damage typically occurs from hurricanes and what to do immediately following a storm can make a big difference in how quickly and fully you recover from the storm.   Water Damage While weather predictions often focus on the strength and speed of the wind, water […]
July 18, 2019

Lessons from Hurricane Michael

When Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle with 160-mile-per-hour winds last October, it caused billions of dollars of damage and left hundreds of people homeless and hopeless. Now recognized as the third most intense Atlantic hurricane to ever make landfall in the U.S., Michael has given us much to think about. Although we aren’t expected to experience anything like Michael this year, it’s still well worth our time to reflect on lessons we can learn from last year’s storm. In this blog post, I’m going to suggest several takeaways from Hurricane Michael about personal safety, storm damage, and insurance claims. […]
July 5, 2019

Beware of New Florida Homeowners’ Insurance Policies That Restrict Assignment of Benefits

Insurance policies are not enjoyable reading material; they’re long, confusing, and mostly, boring. That’s why most people file their insurance documents somewhere and forget about them . . . until their property is damaged and they’re desperate for help. At Malik Law, we highly recommend you read through your policy and make sure you understand your coverage before disaster hits. This is especially important now, since Florida law has changed, and insurance companies can restrict policyholders from entering into assignment agreements with contractors to do repair work on their property. I explain a little about the new restrictive policies in […]
June 14, 2019

Preparing for the 2019 Florida Hurricane Season

The 2019 Hurricane Season officially began on June 1st, and so far, weather forecasters are predicting a “normal” season. While this sounds like good news, for those of us who live in Florida, the problem with “normal” is that it still means nine to fifteen named storms and at least two hurricanes with winds of 111 miles per hour or more. In fact, scientists caution us not to let our guard down, given the prediction of a relatively quiet season. Powerful winds, rain, and flooding can cause massive destruction during a “quiet season.” As the acting deputy administrator of the […]
May 28, 2019

Florida Storm Damage During Hurricane Season 2019

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Floridians can expect an average hurricane season this year. Compared to the 2017 and 2018 seasons, with major hurricanes taking hundreds of lives and causing billions of dollars in damage, average is good.  However, when we’re talking about hurricane season, average still means major losses and damage. An average hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 to November 30, has 12 named storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.  The predictions for this year are slightly above average, including 14 named storms, seven of which are hurricanes, with three of those being […]
May 8, 2019

What to Do When Your Florida Home Insurance Claim is Denied

No one wants to think their insurance company will refuse to pay for damage to their property from fire, wind, or water, but all too often people in Florida are dismayed when they find out that is the case. With hurricane season almost here, now is a good time to review what to do in case your Florida home insurance claim is denied.   Review Your Claim and Your Florida Homeowners Policy When communicating with insurance company representatives, knowledge is power.  So before you contact your insurance company to question, complain, and dispute their denial, thoroughly re-read your claim and […]