August 29, 2019
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
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
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
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
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
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 […]
April 26, 2019
The best time to review your Florida homeowners’ policy is now – before Hurricane Season 2019 begins. Your coverage for storm damage could be a lot more complicated than you think, and you don’t want to be caught off guard if your property is damaged during a tropical storm. The exclusions and limitations for water damage from rain can be very confusing, leaving homeowners feeling shortchanged and cheated when claims they believe are legitimate are denied. To help you prepare for another Hurricane Season, we’re going to address the issue of why Florida rain damage claims are denied and what […]
April 10, 2019
Six months have passed since Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle, causing 49 deaths and more than $5.5 billion in damage. During that time, the roads have been cleared, the power has been restored, and FEMA has paid out $1.1 billion for response and recovery efforts. However, the environment, homes and people who live there are still far from back to normal. A recent Washington Post article reports that the “lingering destruction” from Hurricane Michael has, in fact, made the people living in the affected Panhandle area feel forsaken. The government has not passed a major disaster-relief supplemental-funding bill for […]
March 27, 2019
Here in Florida, we’re well aware of water damage from tropical storms and floods, but what about a pipe bursting inside your house? The damage to your floors, walls, ceilings, and personal items can be extensive, and your insurance company might not cover your repair and replacement costs. In this blog post, we’ll discuss steps you can take after a pipe bursts in your house to contain the damage and obtain the funds you need to pay for necessary repairs and replacements. Initial Steps to Take after a Pipe Bursts in Your Home When you see water gushing from […]
March 6, 2019
Most people assume the damage to their homes caused by water from storms, leaks, burst pipes, or sewer backup will be covered by their homeowners’ insurance policies. They are then very upset and disappointed when their water damage claim gets denied. At Malik Law, we generally suggest that you become familiar with your insurance policy, but we totally understand how anyone can get confused by the difficult language and ambiguities in their insurance documents. Given this situation, we thought it would be worthwhile to clarify the reasons why many water damage claims get denied. After all, knowledge is power, and […]