Types of Property Damage Claims After Hurricane Irma

As most Floridians know, severe storms that move across the state often wield the potential to inflict widespread devastation—both to property and lives—that results in billions of dollars’ worth of damages, grinding businesses and recovery efforts to a halt.

When major hurricanes, such as Hurricane Irma, are slated to make landfall, property owners look to their insurance providers for security; however, more often than not, insurance companies fail to uphold their agreements with their policyholders, providing too little coverage, or no coverage at all, when it’s needed most.

In the aftermath of a severe storm, insurance companies find themselves overwhelmed with insurance claims, which results in claimants receiving delayed or underpaid payments – that is if their claims aren’t denied. The hurricane property damage attorneys at the Shiner Law Group understand the complexities of hurricane insurance disputes and are prepared to hold insurance companies responsible if they fail to act.

We recognize that our clients are faced with mounting physical, emotional, and financial hardships ensuing from severe weather, particularly if a residence was destroyed, so we aggressively pursue the best results for our clients while at the same time holding ourselves to the highest standards of legal ethics. As a staple in the Florida community, our lawyers and law firm are committed to ensuring our clients receive the care, attention, and thoroughness they deserve.

The Four Most Common Types of Property Damage after Hurricane Irma

Tropical storms and hurricanes sweeping across Florida combine two powerful natural forces with the capability to disrupt utilities, obliterate homes, and level businesses. While wind gusts and storm surges from Hurricane Irma are the primary causes of property damage, the Shiner Law Group has identified where the most common types of property damage are likely to occur:

• Roofs – damage to your home’s roof resulting from wind, gusts, and rain.
  Interiors – damage from leaks, roof damage, personal property damage, loose debris and mold growth.
• Equipment – equipment failures such as air conditioning units, pool equipment, including in-home equipment damage from storm related damage.
• Utilities – such as telephone lines, power lines, damage to the water-system, the internet, etc.

Policyholders should know there are several factors that could determine their financial recovery, as well as issues that could prevent policyholders from receiving financial compensation under their insurance policies. This occurrence is more likely than not to happen and affect home owners throughout Florida. For instance, insurance companies will seek to minimize their financial liability if property owners fail to:
Remedy damage(s) upon returning to their premises (i.e., shutting off water supply valves or covering torn roofs)
Provide relevant paperwork, financial figures, property values, or repair costs when an adjuster arrives to assess property damage
Provide an inventory list of property contents
Understand their policy agreement

Many hurricane property damage victims in Florida, unfortunately, find out too late that insurance companies may not pay a claim in full, or that insurance companies will delay a claims payout. If you or a loved one has been the victim of hurricane property damage, or your insurance provider has denied or under-valued your claim, contact an experienced hurricane property damage lawyer to discuss your legal options.

How a Shiner Law Group Attorney Can Help with your Hurricane Irma Claim

Our award-winning law firm has successfully represented storm-related property damage victims and their families in Florida communities for years, recovering millions and millions of dollars, because we understand the unique challenges hurricane property damage victims face, and, by extension, the dogged tactics employed by insurance companies and defense attorneys. If you are having issues with your insurance company after damage from Hurricane Irma then immediately call one of the many Shiner Law Group insurance lawyers to assist you.

We believe insurance companies must honor the contracts signed with their policyholders, which is why we conduct an in-depth investigation of the facts, including, but not limited to, evidence gathering, independent property damage assessments, insurance negotiations, and examinations of the insurance company’s history.

The Shiner Law Group provides a list of things you can do before a hurricane to help build the most compelling claim:

• Record evidence by taking pictures or video
• Creative an inventory of your personal belongings
• Minimize damage by securing the residence and making minor repairs
• Recover receipts and proofs of purchase
• Locate and preserve insurance policies
• Speak with a Shiner Law Group Hurricane Property Damage Attorney