Fort Myers First Party Storm Damage Lawyer

No other state has as many hurricanes per year as Florida. In fact, no state comes even close. From 1851 to 2017, Florida has experienced 117 hurricanes, according to CNN. The next highest state is Texas, which has over four times the area of Florida, at just 64 hurricanes. Even more common, yet sometimes even more destructive, are tropical storms. A tropical storm does not have the wind speed of a hurricane, but because of that, it means that it takes longer to pass over a given area, allowing more rain to be dumped on cities as it passes by up above. As a homeowner, your insurance covers many of the damages caused by hurricanes, tropical storms, and regular storms as well. However, getting your insurance carrier to agree to paying is an entirely different matter, and one that may require the assistance of a Fort Myers first party storm damage lawyer.

Types of Storm Damage Protected Under Most Homeowners’ Insurance Policies

• Wind—Storm damage caused by wind is covered under homeowners’ insurance.
• Fire—Fires can start when power lines go down from lightning during storms, and even from arson.
• Water—When water gets into a condo or house, it can cause mold and rot, destroy carpets and hardwood, and cause permanent damage to the integrity of your home. However, insurers do not always cover water damage. If the damage was caused by a flood, only insurance through the Federal Flood Program will cover your losses. And, unfortunately, Florida law is written such that most types of water damage from a storm are considered a “flood.” However, if you can prove that the water got into your home through the roof, which was damaged from the wind, your insurance carrier must pay out.
• Hail—Damage to your roof, windows, and other structures is common during extreme hail storms.
• Lightning—Lightning damage is generally covered under typical homeowners’ policies.
• Power Surge—Electronics damaged by a power surge may be covered under your policy.
• Sewer—Backed up sewers cause billions of dollars in damage across the U.S. each year, and are increasing in prevalence rapidly, according to the Civil Engineering Research Foundation. In fact, sewer backups, which can be caused by storms, are increasing by three percent annually, as per the Insurance Information Institute.
• Human Caused—While humans have a hand in causing more intense tropical storms and hurricanes by changing the climate, people play an even more direct role in storm damage: vandalism, theft, and arson. During evacuations, some who remain take advantage of the situation by breaking into homes to loot the belongings, throwing rocks through windows for the fun of it, and graffiting garages and front doors.

A Fort Myers First Party Storm Damage Lawyer Can Help File Your Claim or Fight Back Against a Claim Denial

Because insurance companies only make a profit when their customers pay them without having to provide any actual service, insurance adjusters will undoubtedly scour your home for any piece of evidence that will disprove your claim. Many other insurance claims are denied simply due to filing issues or not providing sufficient information. To get the compensation that you need to rebuild your home following a Florida storm, call the Fort Myers first party storm damage attorneys with The Pendas Law Firm today at 1-844-200-0000 to schedule a free consultation.