There’s an open, but unspoken secret amongst homeowners in Florida: that hurricanes will come and leave destruction in their trail. It’s almost certain that, sooner or later, everyone in the state will experience a hurricane. So, before this year’s storm season starts, it’s a great idea to learn about the hurricane damage claim process. The more you know about it, the better you can handle the situation when the inevitable happens.

In this post, we’ll cover all the various kinds of hurricane damage claims, what is expected of your insurance company, and how to seek the assistance of a professional claims adjuster.

POPULAR KINDS OF HURRICANE DAMAGE CLAIMS

Window damage is by far the most common type of damage in the aftermath of a hurricane. Flying debris often smashes into windows and wrecks them during storms. So, it’s important that you document the state of your windows before the hurricane season.

In fact, this advice applies to any kind of damage in the aftermath of a hurricane. Take pictures of your property before the storm. They will be the only reliable evidence that shows that the damage(s) to your property was actually caused by the hurricane and didn’t happen months back. Hurricanes can also damage roofing, siding and doors. Likewise, these damages are almost always caused by falling trees or flying debris typical of a hurricane. This kind of damage can affect homes hundreds of miles inland.

Fire damage is also commonly associated with hurricanes. It can seem ironic that fire damage can be a problem when a typical hurricane is usually accompanied by heavy rainfall, but it’s actually a major risk. Power outages and surges can cause electronic appliances to fail or malfunction, while flooding and roof leaks can cause electrical fires and short circuits.

Last but not least, water damage is also a real possibility. Again, flooding isn’t always the chief culprit. Water damage is often caused by a damaged window, a leaking roof, or even the failure of an appliance after the storm. Even small water leaks can cause mold to form, so pay attention to all those cracks and leaks around your roof joists, doors and windows.

WHAT IS COVERED?

It all boils down to the kind of insurance coverage you have. A basic homeowners’ insurance policy will typically cover the most common hurricane damage. However, most policies will exempt damage caused by flooding. For instance, your coverage may cover damage from a leaky roof, but not from a flooded garage that caused damage to your car or refrigerator. A separate insurance policy will often deal with these kinds of damages.

Most places in Florida are designated as high-risk areas, which forces insurance companies to place even more limitations on wind damage. Here, to be eligible for compensation after wind damages your windows or roof, you’ll need windstorm coverage. It’s recommended that you get this coverage if you live in a high-risk area, as paying for these repairs yourself can be three times more expensive than the coverage itself.

WHAT ISN’T COVERED?

A number of things will not be covered by your insurance. They include:

• Damage arising from your negligence. For example, if an evacuation order has been announced and you forget to unplug some of your appliances, and they, in turn, cause a fire, the insurance company may cite negligence as a real reason to deny your claim.
• Damage caused to your vehicle. Whether it’s parked in your garage or carport, your vehicle is exempted from your flood or homeowner insurance. However, some car insurance policies cover this type of damage.

THE AFTERMATH OF A HURRICANE – HOW TO HANDLE THE DAMAGE

Please keep in mind that your home may not be safe to return to even after the hurricane. Firmly adhere to this advice, especially when an evacuation notice has been issued and is still in effect. Listen to the authorities and stay away from your home until further notice.

The moment you are given the green light to return, ensure you do so with a shiny new camera. Now, just as you did before the storm, carefully take pictures of everything in your home. Ultimately, you will need to clean the house and sort out the debris, but the claim process can last for many months. These before-and-after pictures may be the only real evidence you have to settle a claim. In fact, they can often be the difference between getting adequately compensated and being underpaid or denied compensation altogether.

It’s important to resist the urge to trash all your damaged appliances and furniture – it is strongly advised that you don’t. Unfortunately, claims adjusters have had to deal with frivolous claims in the past, and they are likely to give you a stern look if you tell them your brand-new air conditioning system and top-of-the-line kitchen tabletop is languishing in the trash. So, recover and save as much as you can. If you’re unsure, don’t toss it, keep it! This will help shed more light on the validity of your damage claims when the adjuster shows up.

On the same note, never sign any invoice where the contractor has not explicitly stated the cost of the work carried out. Some dubious contractors will just write something like “for insurance proceeds” on the invoice, and then try to get the entire value of the claim instead of only the value of their service.

HOW CAN A PUBLIC ADJUSTER BE OF ASSISTANCE?

A public adjuster is a claims adjuster hired by you to work on your behalf, and not for the insurance company. They charge a percentage of the proceeds they help you claim from the insurance company, so they make more when you make more – which motivates them to go all the way for you.

Usually, an insurance company adjuster will try all the clever hacks and tricks in the books to reduce the cost of the incurred damage. They do this by choosing the cheapest replacements or fixes for damages, or by deliberately refusing to evaluate the entire property for damage. Conversely, a public adjuster works on your behalf and will ensure that every damage and claim is reported and documented to ensure you receive the compensation you are due from the insurance company.

If you think you require the services of a public adjuster, please contact ProFloridian Public Adjusting services. If your matter is urgent, then please call us at 954-588-7416.

Our team of experienced adjusters have been doing this work for decades, and we have a dedicated in-house team that works together. This ensures that you’ll always be liaising directly with a member of our team and not a hired contractor. After a hurricane disaster, you should be paying attention to recovering and rebuilding your life. Leave all the paperwork and claims tussles to professionals like us.

Contact us for more information, call (954) 588-7416.