Hurricane and Tropical Storm Damage Attorneys in Florida
Hurricane damage is indisputably the most expensive natural disaster category from the perspective of property damage. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration has tracked 254 events (40 of which were hurricanes) between 1980 and 2019 that resulted in more than $1 billion of damages. Approximately $862 billion of that damage (totaling $1.7 trillion) is attributed to hurricanes, with successive hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma in 2017 contributing $268 billion to that property damage total.
Hurricanes aren’t the only storms that cause excessive property damage. When Hurricane Sandy made landfall in 2012 it had been downgraded to an extratropical storm. It still ended up costing $72.19 billion because it landed on our heavily populated eastern seaboard.
Residents of Florida are all too familiar with the costly and tragic effects of hurricanes. The only thing that makes a hurricane more tragic is being unable to rebuild afterwards due to inadequate coverage or an unpaid claim.
The hurricane damage attorneys at Kanner & Pintaluga have decades of combined experience fighting for local home and business owners whose financial livelihood has been put in jeopardy because the insurance company is trying to avoid paying a legitimate hurricane or storm damage claim.
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Flood Damage Versus Other Types of Storm-Related Property Damage
One of the most common excuses insurance companies use to deny home and business damage claims is insisting your damage was caused by flooding, which is only covered by a separate FEMA flood insurance policy.
Uncovered storm surge flooding certainly isn’t the only cause of water damage – there are many potential causes, some of which are covered by your homeowners insurance. One of the most common is wind damage or hail damage exposing the interior of your home to rain, which causes water damage. That type of water damage should be covered by your normal homeowners insurance policy because it’s not a type of excluded flood damage.
The insurance company may even acknowledge that your water damage wasn’t caused by excluded flood damage, but instead accuse you of failing to maintain your home or take steps to prevent rain from getting inside and damaging your home. These accusations of negligence on your part are often a judgement call made by a claims adjuster, which is why it shouldn’t be the end of your claim.
If your home or business suffered water damage that you believe your insurance company is improperly categorizing as flood damage or otherwise denying your claim, it may be in your best interest to speak with a Florida storm damage attorney.
The Many Sources of Storm Damage
Damage can be caused by much more than just water during a hurricane or other storm. Wind can damage roofs, break windows and knock over trees and power lines. Fires can be sparked by downed power lines, lightning or even candles people are using because the power is out. Some people take advantage of the lawlessness of a hurricane or tropical storm by looting or vandalizing other people’s property.
If your property has been damaged during a hurricane and your insurance company isn’t treating your claim fairly, speak with Kanner & Pintaluga. Our property damage attorneys have extensive experience representing Florida residents in storm and hurricane damage claims. We also know how to work with other professionals, such as contractors and independent claims adjusters, to make sure you receive the knowledgeable representation you deserve.