The 2024 hurricane season has been devastating for many Florida residents. First, Hurricane Helene, with wind speeds up to 140 mph and storm surge up to 20 feet, was the most powerful storm ever to hit the Big Bend area. Then came Hurricane Milton. The gigantic storm plowed across Florida, with winds gusting up to more than 100 mph, as much as 18 inches of rain along the Gulf Coast, and tornadoes throughout the southern and eastern parts of the state. Entire neighborhoods were flooded, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and millions of residents were left without power for days.
If your home or business property was damaged or destroyed during this calamitous hurricane season, you’re definitely not alone. Unfortunately, however, this means that, like you, hundreds of other property owners throughout Florida are filing claims with their insurance companies, so claims adjusters and the insurance companies themselves may be entirely overwhelmed by the demand for services and payments.
Being organized and knowledgeable about the extent of damage to your property and what your insurance policy covers and does not cover can help you get through the claims process. However, many complications and problems can still arise. At Malik Law, we are all too familiar with these issues, as well as the numerous tactics and strategies insurance companies may use to avoid paying for hurricane damage claims. To help you avoid some of the pitfalls we have witnessed in our many years as Florida insurance claim attorneys, we have put together an overview of what to expect when filing an insurance claim for damage to your home or property caused by a hurricane.
If you experience a delay, denial of a claim, or the damage to your property is undervalued, it is in your best interest to get expert help from the experienced Orlando hurricane damage attorneys at Malik Law. We have successfully handled numerous insurance litigation cases and will put our experience, expertise and resources to work helping you get the full, fair insurance payment you need. For the personalized, high quality legal representation you want, call us today at 407-598-6618 or submit the FREE CASE EVALUATION form on our website.
What Type of Damage Did Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton Cause?
Current estimates of the damage from both hurricanes are staggering. Wind damage, as well as insured and uninsured storm surge and inland flooding from Hurricane Helene, could total as much as $50 billion, and damages from Milton could add up to another $50 billion. The damage to individual properties can be extensive, including:
- Water Damage: With extensive rainfall and water surges of up to 20 feet, your property may have experienced damage from floodwaters that entered your property, excessive and relentless rain that damaged your roof and other structures, and mold that can grow after floodwaters have receded.
- Roof Damage: With wind speeds up to 140 mph during Hurricane Helene and 120 mph during Hurricane Milton, roof damage was inevitable. Singles and tiles were ripped off roofs and, in some cases, the entire roof was swept off buildings. Excessive rain also caused vulnerable roofs to develop leaks that may have resulted in water entering your home or business.
- Wind Damage: Category 4 hurricane and tornado winds are strong enough to uproot trees, knock down power lines, and hurtle objects around your yard or property. Trees, outdoor furniture, or debris may have slammed into your property, causing windows to break or damaging the exterior of the property.
- Fire and Electrical Damage: Both hurricanes caused power lines to be knocked down, leaving exposed electrical wires that may have caused fire damage to your home or property.
Assessing and documenting the full extent of damage to your property is important when filing a claim for damage related to Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton. Experts recommend you do what you can safely do to prevent further damage to your property and take photos of damage to the exterior and interior of your home or business as well as all items that were damaged. You should also contact your insurance company as soon as possible to get the claims process started.
Filing an Insurance Claim for Recent Hurricane Damage
As a property owner, you have likely paid your insurance premiums as required under the terms of your policy, all the while hoping you would never actually need to file a claim. If, however, you now need to file a hurricane damage insurance claim, it helps to know what steps to take. Here’s a brief list of steps to help you get through the process:
- Rely on Officials to Declare Property Safe to Enter: In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many homes and businesses were not safe to enter because of things such as structural damage, loose tree branches, flooding, or downed electrical wires. Before re-entering your property, you need to make sure that the appropriate officials have declared the property safe.
- Contact Your Insurance Company As Soon as Possible: You should also file a Florida hurricane damage claim as soon as possible. Most insurance companies now allow you to file a claim over the internet or through an app, which can be easier and less time-consuming than trying to get through to your insurance company representative on the phone and/or using paper and mailing your claim.
- Document and Mitigate the Damage: Take photos or videos of the damage before you take steps to mitigate or repair the damage. You have a legal obligation to mitigate damages, meaning to prevent further damage, only if it is safe to do so. This may include doing things such as shutting off the water to the property, boarding up broken windows, or laying a tarp over a hole in the roof.
- Follow-Up with Your Claim: Stay on top of the claim process by checking your email for correspondence or calling your insurance company to check on the status of your claim. Gather evidence supporting the value of your losses, such as appraisals, receipts, and independent repair estimates, and be prepared to submit those if requested to do so. It could be difficult finding a contractor soon after a hurricane, but obtaining independent quotes for repairs, if possible, rather than simply accepting the amount set by your insurance company is recommended.
- Contact an Insurance Claim Lawyer: Despite following these steps, your hurricane damage insurance claim may be delayed, undervalued, or denied. If that happens, it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced Orlando hurricane damage attorney right away. While your insurance company is contractually obligated to reimburse you for losses, they are also in business to make a profit each year. Unfortunately, that can mean that they will try to claim policy exclusions or limitations that allow them to underpay or deny your claim. Insurance companies may also inundate you with requests for supporting documents to delay or ultimately deny your claim. An experienced insurance claim lawyer can protect your rights and help get your claim paid without further delays.
In our many years of experience helping clients with insurance claims, we have found that people are usually confronted with many more complications than they expect when trying to collect payment from their insurance company. Insurers often come to conclusions about damage and what is and is not covered that differ significantly from policyholders’ conclusions. If you are having problems with your insurance company, getting help from experienced Orlando hurricane damage attorneys can ease the stress of having to deal with your insurance company on your own and help you obtain the payment you need to repair or replace your damaged property.
Get Help from Our Experienced Orlando Insurance Hurricane Damage Attorneys Today
It will be months, if not years, before the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton is repaired. While no amount of money can truly erase the devastation brought on by such powerful hurricanes, you are entitled to be reimbursed for hurricane damages or loss according to the terms of your insurance policy. If you have encountered problems with a hurricane insurance claim, the team at Malik Law can help.
The insurance claims lawyers at Malik Law have the experience needed to advocate on your behalf with your insurance company when a claim has been delayed, undervalued, or denied, and we have the dedication to help get your claim paid satisfactorily without additional delays. If your property was damaged by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton, and you need help with your insurance claim, call us at 407-598-6618 or submit the FREE CASE EVALUATION form on our website. One of our experienced Florida insurance claim attorneys will explain your rights and advise you on your best course of action at no cost to you.
