The Sunshine State commonly welcomes new residents seeking the benefits of its location, such as its beautiful weather and sandy shores. Unfortunately, it is not always calming waves and sunny days year-round when hurricane season starts brewing. The reality is that Florida property owners must keep hurricanes in mind and take necessary precautions to prepare ahead of time.
For Florida residents whose homes are insured but find themselves wondering if their insurance coverage policy will cover damages in the middle of a hurricane, The Property Advocates are here to help. The Florida insurance law firm has expert experience and knowledge navigating property insurance claims and shares more about the legal implications and insurance considerations for Florida property owners prepping for hurricane time.
Finding Peace-of-Mind Coverage
Even what seems like the picture-perfect Florida hurricane insurance policy could still result in claim denial after a hurricane damages a property. This result often occurs when there is a policy language that the insured is unaware of in the policy. Insurance companies are allowed to delay or deny claims with the help of pages of exclusions.
When choosing the right hurricane insurance, a Florida resident should ensure the policy explains how hurricane damage is covered. An insurance agent can fill in the blanks if this information is difficult to locate. Property owners should clear up any confusion on insurance coverage before a hurricane hits rather than amid a storm or after the damage is done. According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, policyholders can not cancel a policy while a hurricane is in effect.
To sweat a little less during hurricane season, a policyholder's insurance should include hurricane coverage that consists of a home's original structure as well as any other architecture included on the property, such as fences, sheds, or garages. Coverage can include interior, exterior, and personal belongings of structures. Florida law requires the inclusion of windstorm damage in coverage. If significant destruction takes place, coverage can also aid with the loss of damaged contents and, if forced to move out due to damages and repair needs, the cost of living during time away from home.
Preparing for Hurricane Damage
After understanding policy coverage, the next step to hurricane preparedness is to take pictures of a property well before hurricanes start to roll Florida's way. Insurance companies could delay or dodge a payout if a property owner is unable to prove the damage was directly from a hurricane. In addition, the more evidence a property owner has, the better to avoid falling victim to predatory insurer practices.
Pictures should include everything on the property, including the interior and exterior. It would be a good idea for property owners to save both a physical copy and a digital copy of everything to a cloud as a backup.
Fortunately, Florida has property damage laws that embrace multiple post-hurricane recovery assistance programs, including the Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, and the Task Force on Long-Term Solutions.
About The Property Advocates
The Property Advocates, P.A. is a full-service Florida insurance law firm specializing in property insurance claims. With offices in Miami and Tampa, The Property Advocates team consists of nearly 14 experienced attorneys with decades of combined experience who are compassionate, knowledgeable, and not afraid to go to trial for their clients. They have a successful track record of resolving complicated property insurance claims and getting their clients the fair compensation they deserve.
