If your insurance company has denied your storm or hurricane damage claim, you can fight that denial. To do so, you would first determine why your insurer rejected your storm damage claim. Insurance companies are legally obligated to provide you with a solid reason for denying your claim, which can aid in deciding your next steps.
For instance, your insurer may deny your claim stating that you did not provide sufficient evidence, like photographs of storm damage to your property. In such a case, you can file an appeal, including the piece(s) of evidence they mentioned you failed to provide in your storm damage insurance claim. The insurance company will then likely approve the claim. If the company still denies your claim, you can consider fighting the denied claim in court.
Evidence Required for an Insurance Claim
If you haven’t filed a damage insurance claim and are concerned about a denial, you should ideally begin the claim process by collecting as much evidence as possible. Insurance companies require them to process your storm damage claim. That means the more evidence you provide, the better your chance for claim approval.
For instance, you should note the exact time and date of the storm damage. For example, if the storm damage resulted from Hurricane Nicole or Hurricane Ian, it is important to note that as well.
You should document all kinds of damage to your home – in and around your property. You should inspect your entire property to check signs of damage and determine what caused it. You may be required to perform this inspection more than just once since some specific kinds of damage might not be apparent immediately.
For example, mould damage because of a flooding event may take several days (or even weeks) to be visible. A small leak from your damaged roof might only be noticeable after a proper inspection, and you may not realize that your property has sustained structural damage on your own.
Evidence is crucial for getting your storm damage claim approved. In some specific cases, your insurance company will send an inspector to assess the damage to your property. You may also need to estimate the expenses of repairs and restoration.
Why Do Insurers Reject Storm Damage Insurance Claims?
Insurance companies can deny insurance claims for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, these reasons are valid, but many times, they aren’t. For example, your insurer could reject your claim as you failed to file the storm damage claim on time after your property suffered storm damage.
Here are some common reasons why insurance companies deny a claim. Your insurer may quote the following:
● You failed to file your claim in a “timely” manner
● You didn’t pay your insurance premiums (which you can dispute)
● You failed to disclose some specific features of your property to your insurer
● You failed to give sufficient evidence
● You gave untrue statements, or you changed your statement later on
● You failed to take preventative steps to prevent further damage
● The damage to your property was not covered under your policy
● The damage was deliberate or aggravated because you did (or you didn’t do) something
● The cost of repairs would be less than your annual deductible
● You didn’t maintain your home as expected
● Your policy comes with a fiscal cap
Do You Require a Lawyer to Fight a Denied Insurance Claim?
A lawyer can help you deal with legal matters, like fighting a denied claim in court. It can be extremely disappointing and frustrating to receive a claim denial from your insurer, particularly when expecting compensation to cover the costs of home restoration and repairs following storm damage.
When you have an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side, it’s his/her job to take care of every facet of your case and develop the best solution based on your situation. If you think you qualify for compensation through your insurance claim, it is crucial to determine why your insurer denied paying you the money you think you are entitled to.
Your lawyer can seek your best interests while ensuring the insurer works on your claim in good faith. Insurance companies that deny storm damage claims for irrational reasons are functioning in bad faith – and one can sue them for their malevolent behaviour under Florida law.
An attorney can thoroughly investigate your insurance claim denial and take steps to get your claim approved, like giving additional proof of your property damage to your insurance company. If your insurance company denies your claim wrongfully, your attorney could consider trialling your case.
Going to court is not always the first option, but it sometimes becomes necessary in order to get you the compensation you deserve via your insurance policy.
Understand Your Legal Steps after Claim Denial with MANGAL, PLLC
If you are unsure how to fight your denial of an insurance claim, consider contacting MANGAL, PLLC. Our lawyers have a proven track record and years of experience helping clients like you!
We can review your case for free to determine the legal options available to you in order to fight a denied claim. If you have yet to file your insurance claim, you can opt for a FREE initial consultation to understand your next steps.
