Available 24/7 - Call Now
(561) 295-5825 Available 24/7 - Call Now
(561) 295-5825Hurricanes are powerful storms that can devastate and completely destroy entire towns, ruining family homes and businesses in their path. Unfortunately, when living in Florida, hurricanes are a frequent occurrence. Over forty percent (40%) of the hurricanes that occur in the United States hit Florida. Hurricane property damage costs the government $28 billion annually. The amount of overall damage a hurricane causes varies year to year.
When a hurricane damages your home, property, or business, your priority is to get it fixed as quickly as possible with the help of a property damage attorney. Unfortunately, your insurance company’s priority is to pay out the least amount of money possible for the claim. This puts you in an uncomfortable and unfair position against a large corporation. A Jupiter hurricane damage lawyer can help you through these trying times.
A hurricane damage attorney in Jupiter works on a contingency fee basis. This means the attorney does not make any money unless you make a recovery against your insurance company. The hurricane damage attorney will front the costs of your case as well, so you do not pay out of pocket. Furthermore, at Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh, we always attempt negotiate our attorney’s fees separately with the insurance company from your settlement damage. We do this intentionally to provide a better service to you, the client so that you maximize your recovery settlement.
It can affect your hurricane claim indirectly. There are five categories of hurricanes that are defined based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. The National Hurricane Center describes the categories of hurricanes as follows.
Category 1 hurricanes will have sustained wind speeds between 74-95 miles per hour. They produce very dangerous winds and will produce some damage. Even well-built framed homes could have roof damage as well as damage to vinyl siding and gutters. These storms can cause extensive damage to power lines and poles that can result in power outages that can last several days.
Category 2 hurricanes will have sustained wind speeds between 96-110 miles per hour. They can have extremely dangerous winds that will cause extensive damage. Well-built framed homes could have major roof and siding damage. Several shallowly rooted trees will be broken or uprooted and block numerous roads. A near-total power outage is expected and can last from several days to weeks.
Category 3 hurricanes will have sustained wind speeds between 111-129 miles per hour. These hurricanes will cause devastating damage. Well-constructed frame homes can have major damage, including the removal of roof decking and gable ends. Several roads will be blocked with many trees broken or uprooted. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks.
Category 4 hurricanes will have sustained wind speeds between 130-156 miles per hour. These hurricanes will cause catastrophic damage. Well-constructed homes can have severe damage with the loss of most of the roof structure and some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted, and power poles will be downed, resulting in the isolation of residential areas. Power outages can last for weeks to months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
Category 5 hurricanes will have sustained wind speeds of 157 miles per hour or greater. These hurricanes will cause catastrophic damage. Homes will have total roof failure, and walls will collapse, resulting in a high percentage of the destruction of framed homes. Residential areas will be isolated from fallen trees and power poles. Power outages can last for weeks to months.
Whichever category of hurricane strikes, it can leave property damage to your home. As a homeowner, when your home is damaged and needs to be repaired, you just want the repairs made and the damage fixed. The category of the hurricane does not matter to you after the fact. However, the category of the hurricane can matter to your insurance company. The insurance company may try to argue that you should not be entitled to as much money for repairs because the damage is not related to the hurricane.
The insurance company may try to bolster this argument by stating it was a lesser category of a hurricane and could not have caused this type of damage. This line of thinking and argument is flawed. Hurricanes are unpredictable, and the extent and amount of destruction they cause will vary. The category of a storm should not matter. A hurricane damage lawyer in Boca Raton can fight for you and overcome this issue.
Public adjuster can help drive your hurricane damage claim. They can help investigate and validate any damage, estimate the value of losses of personal property, and help negotiate settlements with the insurance company. However, if the negotiations stall with the insurance company or there becomes a coverage issue, you will need a hurricane damage lawyer.
A hurricane damage lawyer can file a lawsuit, whereas a public adjuster cannot. A hurricane damage lawyer can file a breach of contract claim against your insurance company when they do not offer you a monetary settlement for the damage repairs. Additionally, if the insurance company believes there is no coverage for your claim, a hurricane damage lawyer can file what is commonly referred to as a dec action. A dec action is a declaratory judgment action where your hurricane damage attorney in Jupiter requests that a court determine the contractual rights of the parties. As in a determination that there is insurance coverage in this situation.
In addition to having the ability to file lawsuits described above, a hurricane damage attorney can help you avoid the pitfalls and problems when dealing with an insurance company. An insurance company is looking out for their best interest, which is their money. The less money they pay out, the more money they make.
In order to save money, there are frequent tactics that they employ to save money. These include denying coverage or partially denying coverage, denying your claim or parts of your claim, attempting to lowball you with their settlement offer, or delaying the payment of your claim. In some situations, they will try to write you a check with language that includes full or final payment when you reasonably believe there will be more. A hurricane damage lawyer in Jupiter is well-versed in these immoral and unscrupulous strategies and can help you avoid them to maximize your recovery.
No. When there is an undisputed amount for a hurricane insurance claim, even if it is a partial amount, they should pay as soon as they can.
An EUO stands for an Examination Under Oath. You are required to give an EUO to your insurance company pursuant to the policy. If you refuse to give one, your insurance company may be able to drop you from coverage. It is important to note that it is under oath and anything you say may be later used against you. Unfortunately, some EUOs are used to either deny a claim or as an attempt to find a reason to deny a claim. If you give inconsistent answers, the insurance company may deny your claim.
EUOs are usually given by the attorneys for your insurance company. When your insurance company has a lawyer representing their interests, you should have a lawyer representing you. A hurricane damage attorney in Jupiter can help guide you through an EUO and properly advise you to make sure you are properly protected. When you are prepared for an EUO, you will know the questions to expect and how to answer them.
The first thing you need to do after the storm has passed is to try to limit any damage caused by the storm. For instance, this can include tarping your damaged roof or windows to prevent additional water from coming into your home and causing further damage. Your insurance policy includes language that requires you to prevent further damage when you can. Your insurance company may try to blame you for the damage and deny your coverage.
Second, you need to document, document, and document some more. Inspect your entire house and take notes on all the damage you observe. Take photographs of everything you observe, including both the exterior of the house and the interior. Make sure all the interior rooms in your house are photographed. Take photographs of your personal property that was damaged from the storm, and create an inventory list of all the damaged items.
Third, you need to get your insurance policy and review it. Your policy will tell how much coverage you have and how will be able to get your claim paid. Your coverage will be set forth in what is called the “Declarations Page”. If you cannot find your insurance policy, then contact your insurance agent and request a copy. You need to contact your insurance company to promptly notify them of the damage after the storm. This is where it is important to be prepared with the documentation that you completed above. This will help the claim proceed in a timely manner. An attorney in Jupiter could help you prepare a hurricane damage claim.
As previously discussed, you need to inform your insurance company immediately. If your house is completely destroyed, you would be entitled to the policy limits even if it costs less than the policy limits to rebuild it. You may be entitled to the policy limits if the damage to your house is fifty percent (50%) of the appraised value.
Aside from property damage as a result of the hurricane, your insurance may cover other expenses. These other expenses can vary from policy to policy, but they can include costs that occur when you have to leave your home because it is uninhabitable. These costs can include temporary living expenses (rent), moving costs, costs of utility installation, dining expenses, costs of protecting the unlivable property, pet boarding, and cell phone expenses. You should be entitled to maintain the same standard of living that you had prior to the hurricane damage. However, there are policy limits for these expenses. By speaking to a hurricane damage lawyer in Jupiter, you can learn the limits of your policy on these additional expenses so you do not incur further financial hardship.
A hurricane deductible is the amount you must pay as a portion of the damage caused by a hurricane. The hurricane deductible applies when your home is damaged by a named storm. The amount of the deductible is listed in your policy and is often listed as a percentage of either your policy limits or a percentage of the loss. The deductible must be met before your insurance will begin paying for the damages. An attorney could help determine the deductible for hurricane damage.
Hurricane Ian is threatening all of Florida at Category 3 strength. If you are a homeowner or business owner, you should be keeping a close eye on this storm in case you have damage and need to file a property damage claim.
Hurricane Ian should be covered by your homeowner’s insurance, although there may be caveats to this depending on your home insurance policy. Now is a good time to look over your policy.
For example, most standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not provide coverage for water damage. This falls under the purview of flood insurance, which must usually be added as supplemental coverage.
In addition to issues with coverage, homeowners with significant damage caused by wind, debris, or electrical issues may have issues getting compensation even if the damage does fall under their policy’s coverage. After all, insurance companies are businesses, and they try to keep their profits high and payouts low.
We strive to distinguish and separate our firm by offering better service than our competitors. We are able to achieve this because we do a few things differently.
First, as described above, in Jupiter hurricane damage cases, we always try to negotiate the attorney’s fees separately from your property damage claim. This will maximize the financial recovery for the client.
Second, our firm has a client portal. This enhances and improves the attorney-client relationship and communication.
The number one complaint from clients is that they do not regularly communicate with their attorney. Our attorney-client portal allows instant access and communication. The client can quickly send their attorney the necessary documents for review and leave them messages to accompany them.
The portal can also save the clients the time of having to come into the law firm every time they need to drop something off for the attorney.
Lastly, our law firm’s flagship location is by the coast in Jupiter. We recognize the negative impact and horrendous damage hurricanes can cause.
If your home was damaged by Hurricane Ian, or any other hurricane, you should get the help of an experienced Jupiter hurricane damage lawyer right away. We can help. Call us for a risk-free case evaluation. See how we can help you.