Tampa is a beautiful city with warm temperatures and copious sunshine most of the year. However, one drawback of living in Tampa is hurricanes.
Florida sees more hurricanes on average than all other states. In 2022, Hurricane Ian hit Florida as a Category 4 and ranks as one of the most destructive and deadly storms to hit the region. Hurricane Nicole made landfall several weeks later as a Category 1, and Hurricane Fiona battered Puerto Rico and brought a lot of wind and rain to Florida as a Category 1.
Tampa may not get many hurricanes, but it experiences several tropical storms and other powerful weather systems each year. Hurricanes and tropical storms can destroy homes, businesses, and other property in Tampa, and most property owners have insurance to cover the damage.
However, insurance companies can make receiving your benefits to pay for property damage challenging, and the process may not go as smoothly as you hope.
If you have issues getting an insurance company to make good on your policy and cover the property damages a hurricane or tropical storm caused, contact a Tampa hurricane damage attorney for help.
The lawyers at Apex Law have decades of experience helping clients throughout the greater Tampa Metro and across the state with their complex hurricane damage claims. We can file your claim and seek a full and fair payout, or we can assist you in appealing a denied claim. Contact us today at (813) 444-5212 for your free consultation.
Why Choose Apex Law for Your Hurricane Damage Claim
Insurance companies can make dealing with them while also dealing with extensive damage to your home or property after a hurricane stressful and overwhelming. You paid your premiums for years only to run into roadblocks and other challenges from your insurer in getting your rightful benefits.
This is where we come in.
Apex Law’s founding Tampa injury attorneys, Jeff Constantinos and Chris Castillo, have more than 20 years of collective experience, and we have gone toe-to-toe with the largest insurance carriers in the country with a high rate of success.
We can:
- Explain your policy and the applicable coverage you have
- Document the damage to your home or property and compile the necessary forms and paperwork
- Fileyour hurricane damage claim for you
- Deal with the insurance company and negotiate with them if they do not offer a fair settlement
- Appeal a denied claim or make them honor the policy
No matter where you are in the insurance claims process, you can trust our attorneys to step in and assist you in any way we can. Our lawyers have gained reputations as tenacious and zealous legal advocates. We are comfortable in court and will not hesitate to take your case to trial if necessary. At all turns, you can trust us to always have your best interests at heart and fight hard for the compensation and benefits you deserve.
We offer free consultations, and our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. We will review your claim at no cost, and you won’t have to pay any money upfront for us to represent you. We will only accept a fee if we recover compensation for you. Contact us today for a free claim evaluation and advice regarding your options.
What Hurricane Damage Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
Homeowners insurance typically provides coverage for hurricane damage to your home and personal belongings. However, your benefits will depend on the terms and conditions of your specific policy.
Here is some common hurricane damage that homeowners insurance may cover:
- Dwelling coverage. This typically covers damage to the physical structure of your home caused by hurricanes, including the roof, walls, windows, and foundation. It may also cover detached structures such as garages or sheds.
- Personal property coverage. Homeowners insurance may cover the damage or loss of personal belongings caused by a hurricane, including furniture, electronics, appliances, and clothing. You might need additional coverage for certain high-value items, such as jewelry or artwork.
- Additional living expenses. If you cannot inhabit your home due to hurricane damage, homeowners insurance may cover the cost of temporary living arrangements, such as hotel stays or rental properties, during the repair or rebuilding process.
- Debris removal. Homeowners insurance may cover the cost of removing debris caused by a hurricane, including fallen trees, branches, or other materials that may have damaged your property.
Ask our attorneys to review your homeowners insurance policy with you carefully so you understand the specific coverage, limits, and exclusions related to hurricane damage. Some policies may have separate deductibles specifically for hurricane-related claims, which can exceed the standard deductible.
Additionally, homeowners insurance may not cover certain damage or losses hurricanes cause, such as flooding. Standard homeowners insurance policies typically exclude flood damage. If you live in a coastal or hurricane-prone area like Tampa, you may want to purchase separate flood insurance to supplement your homeowners coverage.
Your attorney can advise you on your options for obtaining compensation and deal with the insurance company for you so you don’t have to worry about it.
What Should I Do if the Insurance Company Denies My Hurricane Damage Claim?
If the insurance company denies your hurricane damage claim in Tampa, consult our attorneys right away for assistance. Our lawyers can review your denial letter along with your policy, and they can contact your insurance company to clarify why the insurer denied your claim. Our attorneys can carefully document all aspects of communication with the insurer, including the names of representatives and the dates and times of any conversations.
Our lawyers can negotiate with the insurer to get them to honor your claim and pay on your policy. Other times, we may need to file an appeal with the insurer. Most insurance companies require specific appeals processes, and our attorneys may need to gather evidence or address any issues involved with your initial claim.
Bad Faith Practices
Florida law requires insurers to act in good faith when handling Tampa property damage insurance claims. However, some insurance companies intentionally drag their feet or refuse to honor valid claims.
Some common examples of bad faith practices include:
- Denying a clearly valid claim
- Failing to thoroughly investigate your case
- Delaying the process unreasonably
- Requesting unreasonable amounts of documents and evidence
- Threatening policyholders to pressure them into accepting inadequate settlements
- Refusing to offer a full and fair settlement for a valid claim
- Making materially false statements or omitting material facts
If you believe your insurer acted in bad faith regarding your claim, speak with our attorneys about your options for holding them accountable. You may report the insurer to the state insurance commission or file a lawsuit against them in court.
Keep in mind that Florida allows you five years to bring a civil action against the insurer for refusing to honor your claim or acting in bad faith. Therefore, consult our attorneys as soon as possible to learn about your options and rectify the situation.
Contact an Experienced Tampa Hurricane Damage Attorney Today
You got your homeowners policy to insure against hurricane damage, and you have faithfully paid your premiums for years. Now that you need your benefits, your insurance company makes things hard for you.
You stand a much better chance of getting favorable results quicker if you work with our Tampa hurricane damage attorneys.
The Tampa hurricane damage lawyers at Apex Law have helped hundreds of home and property owners throughout Florida with their complex damage claims and other insurance issues. We have the skills, knowledge, and resources to handle your claim efficiently, and we are prepared to take your case to trial if necessary and fight hard to help you get all you deserve.
Contact Apex Law today at (813) 444-5212 for a free consultation on your hurricane damage claim.