WIND AND RAIN DAMAGE CAN COST YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS
The attorneys at Watson et Barnard, PLLC understand the devastation caused by high wind events such as Hurricanes or Tropical Storms. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused over $27 billion in damage in South Florida displacing many Floridians in the process. This caused many insurance carriers to stop insuring many parts of south Florida. Most recently, it has been estimated that over $8 billion has been paid by various insurance carriers in Florida because of the almost 1 million Hurricane Irma claims made by property owners. For some people, their insurance company paid enough to allow the property owner to make the repairs their property in order to restore it in its previous condition. However, many policyholders received denial letters or “under-deductible” letters from their insurance carrier forcing them to come out of pocket to make repairs. If you fall into the latter category, it may be time to consider getting a second opinion on your claim. This is where Watson et Barnard, PLLC., can assist you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation about your claim or property damage.
Here are some tips to ensure maximum recovery on a Hurricane or Tropical Storm claim:
Prior to the storm
While preparing your property for the next big storm, take photographs of each side of the exterior of your property. Next, take photographs of the ceilings, walls, and floors of each room of the home. These photographs will help establish the condition of your property and will clarify any issue was to what was damaged before or as a result of the storm. Next, you will want to take photographs of all expensive jewelry, electronics, or other personal valuables which may get damaged or lost during the storm. Keep track of serial numbers or model numbers of appliances and other electronics to help your insurance company identify the value of the items. Save this information and photographs to a cloud server to ensure that nothing gets lost. Save your insurance company’s telephone number to your phone so you can be ready to report a claim after the storm.
After the storm
After ensuring that everyone is safe and while being careful of any hazardous conditions like downed power lines or dangerous debris, travel throughout your property and take photographs of the damage that you can see. Next, report your claim to your insurance company as soon as possible. Be sure not to dispose of any damaged items before your insurance company has an opportunity to examine them. If you need to dispose of damaged property, be sure to take several detailed photographs of the item before you discard it.
We understand that the insurance process can be a very overwhelming, lengthy, and frustrating process for some people. If you would like assistance in filing your claim or would like a second opinion as a result of a denied, delayed, or underpaid claim you’ve already made, the attorneys at Watson et Barnard, PLLC., are ready to help.
The Watson et Barnard, PLLC team welcomes the opportunity to discuss your case in detail. To schedule an initial consultation, please call 1-888-8-WEB-LAW or email us. We handle claims throughout Florida, so wherever you are, we can help.