Boca Raton Hurricane Claims Lawyer
Residents of Boca Raton and the surrounding area enjoy the idyllic location along Florida’s Atlantic coast year-round. From June 1st through November 20th, however, we brace for the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically brings several powerful storms that can cause severe damage to homes and businesses.
It can be heart-wrenching to realize that your home or business property has been severely damaged by hurricane or tornado winds, rain, or flooding. For many hurricane survivors, moving forward is difficult, even when their insurance company cooperates and pays their claim satisfactorily and in a timely manner. When your insurance company delays payment, undervalues the cost of repairs to your property, or outright denies your claim, however, it can be devastating and make moving forward impossible.
The good news is that a Boca Raton hurricane claims lawyer at Demand the Limits can help you get the payment you need, if you have experienced problems with a hurricane damage insurance claim. We will put our experience, resources, and commitment to achieving justice to work helping you get your hurricane insurance claim paid satisfactorily without further delay.
To find out how we can help you with your hurricane damage insurance claim, contact the experienced legal team at Demand the Limits by calling 863-777-5731 or by submitting the Get a Free Case Review form on our website.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season
Anyone who has experienced a hurricane first-hand can attest to the awe-inspiring power these storms unleash on everything in their path. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tropical cyclones (hurricanes) have caused the most deaths and destruction of all weather-related disasters, with over $1.3 trillion in damages since 1980 and 6,890 lives lost.
Historically, the Atlantic hurricane season brings with it 14 named storms, seven hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), and three major hurricanes (category 3, 4, or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). As the waters of the Atlantic Ocean warm up, however, the hurricane season is growing longer and more powerful. The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season was the fourth-most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, with 20 named storms, including seven hurricanes, three of which reached major hurricane strength.
Then the 2024 season brought two massive hurricanes through our state: Hurricane Helene, with wind speeds up to 140 mph and storm surge up to 20 feet, was the most powerful storm ever to hit the Big Bend area, and Hurricane Milton, which plowed across Florida, with winds gusting up to more than 100 mph, as much as 18 inches of rain along the Gulf Coast, and tornadoes throughout the southern and eastern parts of the state. These huge storms flooded entire neighborhoods, destroyed homes, and left millions of Florida residents without power for days.
The damage to your property from a hurricane or other tropical storm may include things such as:
- Roof Damage
- Water Damage
- Landscape Damage
- Structural Damage
- Electrical Fires
- Tree Damage
- Broken Glass
- Cosmetic Damage
- Flood Damage
- Vehicle Damage
Whatever kind of damage your property suffers, it is important to put safety first, then contact your insurance company, document the damage as much as possible, file a claim for damages and follow through with your insurance company to try to get your claim paid in a satisfactory, timely manner. When you have problems communicating with your insurance company and getting your claim paid, then it’s time to contact the experienced hurricane claims lawyers at Demand the Limits.
What Steps Should I Take Following a Hurricane?
As a Boca Raton resident, you have probably spent a good deal of time preparing for hurricanes. Knowing what to do in the aftermath of a hurricane, however, can be elusive. To protect you, your property, and your right to compensation for your losses, take the following steps after a hurricane:
- Wait for authorities to declare it safe to re-enter your property. The desire to get inside your home or office to check the extent of the damage is understandable; however, it may not be safe to re-enter immediately following a hurricane. Wait for the property authorities to give you the “all clear” before you re-enter.
- Mitigate further damages. Most insurance policies require an insured to take reasonable steps to mitigate damages. In the case of hurricane damage, that typically means you should do things such as board up broken windows, shut off the water supply if pipes are broken, or put a tarp over a hole in the roof.
- Assess and document the damage. When it is safe to do so, start taking pictures or videos of the damage to your property. Make a list of damages and losses along with the estimated value to replace or cost to repair. Gather receipts, appraisals, and other documentation that can help you prove your losses. If you cannot re-enter your home, keep receipts for hotels, meals at restaurants, and other related expenses. Arrange independent estimates to make expensive repairs, such as replacing a roof.
- File an insurance claim. Contact your insurance company to begin the claims process as soon as possible. Most insurance companies offer an option to file online. Follow up in a few days to ascertain if additional documentation is requested.
- Consult with a Boca Raton hurricane claims lawyer. If it appears that your hurricane damage claim is not going to be paid in full within a reasonable time, consult with an experienced Boca Raton insurance claims lawyer at Demand the Limits to discuss your legal options.
The Demand the Limits hurricane claims legal team can be reached 24/7 by calling 561-600-3555 or by filling in the Get a Free Case Review form on our website.
Should My Insurance Company Pay My Hurricane Damages Claim?
Your homeowner’s insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance company. The general terms of that policy state that in return for making your premium payments as scheduled, the insurance company agrees to reimburse you for covered losses. While every policy is unique, there are some common coverage and exclusions that Florida homeowners should be aware of when filing a hurricane damage claim.
Your insurance policy should cover damage to your home as well as to attached and detached structures (pool or garage) caused by natural disasters, including rain, wind, and fire; however, there are deductibles, policy limits, and exclusions that may apply. Flooding, for example, is not covered by most homeowner’s insurance policies, which can be a huge problem given that hurricanes typically cause massive flooding. To cover flood damage or loss, you must purchase a separate flood insurance policy from your insurance company or the National Flood Insurance Program. Check your policy as well to determine if “coastal winds” are covered, because some policies treat damage caused by “coastal winds” the same way they treat flood damage.
Deductibles and policy limits will also apply to damages that are covered by your insurance policy. Typically for Floridians, there is a separate hurricane deductible and policy limits. Florida law dictates that this hurricane deductible is triggered by windstorm losses from the time the National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch or warning for any part of Florida, up to 72 hours after such a watch or warning ends, and anytime hurricane conditions exist throughout the state. For many homeowners, the hurricane deductible comes as a shock because it is considerably higher than their standard deductible.
What Problems Might I Encounter When I File a Boca Raton Hurricane Insurance Claim?
After paying your insurance premiums as required for years, maybe even decades, you anticipate that you will be reimbursed in full for losses incurred in a hurricane without problems or delays. What you may encounter instead is:
- Unreasonable Delays: Some insurance companies will intentionally create obstacles and delays to try and prevent paying claims. This may include repetitive and unnecessary requests for forms or documents that ultimately hold up the claims process. As a claimant, you need to be vigilant about checking your mail and email for communication from your insurance company and comply with reasonable requests; however, if it becomes clear that they are simply trying to hold up the payment of your claim, contact the experienced Boca Raton hurricane claims lawyers at Demand the Limits for help getting your claim paid.
- Undervalued Losses: For significant losses, insurance companies usually send out an adjuster to view the damage and create an estimate of the cost to repair or replace the damaged property. Sometimes, the estimate undervalues the claim. For example, if you obtained three independent estimates to replace your roof and the average cost is $20,000, but your insurance company only values your claim at $10,000, you should not accept their offer to settle your claim. Keep in mind that you are not required to use a specific contractor to conduct repairs, and you are not required to accept the offer to settle your claim. You should talk to an experienced insurance claims attorney if you believe your claim is undervalued.
- Outright Denial: Insurance companies are in business to make money and will often try to avoid paying a claim when possible. Various tactics may be employed to justify the denial, including miscategorizing the damages, claiming that an exclusion applies, or asserting that you failed to comply with requests for documentation. If your property has been damaged by a hurricane and your insurance company denies the claim, contact an experienced Boca Raton hurricane claims lawyer at Demand the Limits right away. As an insured, you have several important rights, including the right to appeal the denial, and we can help you with that process.
For the expert help you need with your hurricane insurance claim, call the Demand the Limits hurricane claims legal team today at 561-600-3555, or submit the Get a Free Case Review form on our website.
Get the Expert Legal Help You Need with Your Hurricane Insurance Claim
If your home or business property was damaged in a hurricane, and your insurance claim has been unreasonably delayed, undervalued, or denied, an experienced Boca Raton hurricane claims lawyer at Demand the Limits can help. Trying to put the pieces back together following a hurricane is stressful enough without also having to negotiate or litigate with your insurance company to get them to pay your valid claim. The team at Demand the Limits can help in several important ways, including:
- Assessing the damage to your home or commercial property.
- Reviewing your insurance policy to determine what coverage applies.
- Reviewing your claim and any responses you have received from your insurance company.
- Determining if your claim for damages has been miscategorized and whether the appropriate deductibles, exclusions, and policy limits have been applied to the claim.
- Obtaining independent estimates to repair or replace your property.
- Appealing a denial of claim.
- Negotiating aggressively with your insurance company on your behalf.
- Filing a lawsuit and litigating in court.
At Demand the Limits, our experienced Boca Raton hurricane insurance claims lawyers have the experience, resources, and dedication necessary to handle even the most catastrophic hurricane damage claims. We fight aggressively to defend the legal rights of all Florida residents who have suffered property damage from a hurricane.
To protect your legal rights and get the settlement you deserve, call 561-600-3555 or submit the Get a Free Case Review form on our website as soon as possible.