Tampa Insurance Claims Lawyer
Tampa and the majority of highly populated Florida cities lay just a few feet above the current sea level. While this means that millions of residents have quick and easy access to the beach, it also means that with every tropical storm, there comes a great risk. Flooding and high winds cause billions of dollars in damage every few years along the eastern seaboard. In fact, a brief look back in Florida’s past reveals that there are storms ranging from minor to severe nearly every single year. It has been a while since Hurricane Wilma, which killed 23 people and caused $29 billion in damage back in 2005, according to Bay 9 News, but the next big one is most likely lurking just around the corner.
The prevalence of severe tropical storms in our state means that, as homeowner, we often have to rely on the compensation paid to us by our insurance providers. However, the more severe and widespread the damage, the harder it can be to get insurance companies to pay out the rightful amounts they owe to their clients. Florida is also prone to mold due to the warm and damp climate, sinkholes, tornadoes, and other types of home property damage. According to neighborhoodscout.com, which looks at crime rates, Tampa is only safer than 19 percent of U.S. cities. As such, theft and burglary are issues in Tampa, Florida, and, of course, the U.S. as a whole. Homeowner’s insurance should help pay for the financial damage in these incidents, and when they don’t, it is time to call an experienced Tampa insurance claims lawyer at once to right the wrong of the major company that is denying your rightful coverage. We have experience in all of the following types of home catastrophes:
● Hurricanes;
● Floods;
● Storms;
● Tornadoes;
● Winds;
● Pipe leaks;
● Mold;
● Fires
● Thefts; and
● Sinkholes.
Take Action Before a Tropical Storm Hits
While there are certainly steps to take after a tropical storm takes its toll on your house, such as hiring a contractor, meeting with your insurance adjuster, and keeping a detailed list of documents all throughout the process, you can help mitigate damages before they occur. See the following list to help prevent home damage from occurring in the first place. While no amount of preparation can prevent a category five storm from causing the decimation that comes along with winds of 150 miles per hour or greater (according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale), these preventative measures can help with lower winds:
- Board up windows with ¾-inch-thick plywood;
- Place heavy items on the inside of your garage door. The garage door is a point of weakness due to its large surface area, and stacking items against it from the inside can bolster its rigidity;
- Trim damage or heavy tree limbs that could fall on your house;
- Secure loose gutters and clear them of internal debris; and
- You can retrofit your windows, doors, and garage door beforehand with a contractor, though this is a measure that usually must be done well in advance because of the time it takes; and
- Stack all paints and hazardous chemicals up high (on the second floor or in a storage shed up high) to minimize the damage they can do if flooding occurs.
Contact our Experienced Tampa Insurance Claim Lawyers Today
If you are dealing with denials or an insurance company that is purposefully taking too long to respond or pay up, it is time to contact an aggressive lawyer. Call 1-844-200-0000 to talk to one of our experienced Tampa insurance claims lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm today.
