In early April, the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project team predicted that the Atlantic hurricane season this year was going to be above-average, with 16 named storms — eight of which would be hurricanes.
NOAA’s updated forecast on August 6 was even more dire. The agency predicted an “extremely active” season, with 19-25 named storms and anywhere from 7-11 hurricanes.
As of this writing in early September, there have already been 15 named storms and four hurricanes — one a Category 4. People across the country have suffered billions in damage.
And experts are predicting that it will only get worse.
What can you do to keep yourself and your property safe?
Keep Your Insurance Policy Safe
And if you evacuate, take it with you. You want to make sure it’s easily accessible if you need it.
Make a Before and After Record
- Take photos.
- Make a list of your possessions.
- Record receipts or values for big-ticket items.
- After the storm passes, document everything again. This will show your damage was not preexisting.
We offer a pre-claim service to assist property owners where we conduct an inspection of your property before damage occurs. That way, if the worst happens, you already have the property’s information on file.
Do Not Throw Away Any Materials
Your insurer will likely want to see materials as evidence of damage when investigating your claim. If you throw the materials away before they can document them, they will likely try to use this as an excuse to deny or lower the value of your claim.
Do Hire Restoration Professionals
While you want a clear record of the damage, you also want to show that you actively worked to keep things from getting worse.
We can help you find reputable restoration pros who understand how to mitigate the damage without hurting your chances of winning your claim.
Document Everything
- What caused the damage.
- What you did to mitigate further damage.
- Your conversations with the insurance company.
- Document everything.
Know What Your Insurance Policy Covers
Lots of people don’t. And there’s no use fighting with your insurer if you’re not covered for something. On the flip side, you need to know if they are refusing to pay out on something that is covered.
Closely Examine the Field Adjuster’s Report
Remember, the field adjuster works for the insurance company. Their job is to keep your payout as low as possible.
And even if they’re completely honest, sometimes they make mistakes — like estimating the replacement cost of something that does not match the original material or assuming some damage should be excluded from the claim.
Look closely at their report to make sure you agree with everything.
Work with Experienced Insurance Claims Attorneys
As claims professionals, Florida Professional Law Group has worked with countless clients in the entire state of Florida who were underpaid or altogether denied. We also help with new and delayed property damage claims. And we are often able to recover much more than the insurance company originally offers.
When we take your case, we’ll help you understand your policy and what it covers and make sure your damages are fairly assessed. We’ll deal with your insurance company for you.
Want a free, no-obligation consultation? Call us at 800-LAW-4141. At the Florida Professional Law Group, we don’t get paid until you get paid.
