A hurricane can cause many different types of damage to your home. When you file a claim with your insurance company, it is important to have a clear understanding of what is covered under the terms of your policy. Unfortunately, bad-faith insurance practices are common; and, if you rely solely on your insurance company for advice, you may end up with less than you are owed.
Insurance Coverage for Damage from a Hurricane
If you are preparing to deal with your insurance company after a hurricane, here is a brief introduction to what you need to know:
- Foundation Cracks – The foundation is one of the most-important parts of your home; and, as such, it is covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. While small cracks due to settling may be excluded from coverage, significant foundation damage resulting from a major storm should be covered under your policy.
- Hail Damage – Hail damage is covered under most standard homeowner’s insurance policies. This includes damage to your home’s roof as well damage to detached garages and other out buildings.
- Mold Damage – Hurricane-related mold damage could be covered under your homeowner’s insurance or your flood insurance policy. Different policies include different endorsements and exclusions for mold, and you will need to review your policies to determine your best option for securing coverage.
- Roof Damage – Roof damage is common in major hurricanes, and it should be covered under your policy. In Florida, roof damage claims are subject to a 25-percent rule, which states that you may be entitled to a full replacement if more than 25 percent of your roof was damaged.
- Tree Damage – Damage from falling trees and limbs should be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy. This is true even if the tree that damaged your home was growing in a neighbor’s yard.
- Water Intrusion – Whether damage from water intrusion is covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy or your flood insurance policy depends on the source of the water. While rainwater intrusion should be covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy, intrusion due to storm surge would fall under your flood insurance
- Wind Damage – Wind damage should be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. This includes direct damage (such as cracked windows and loss of siding) as well as water damage due to penetrating rain.
- Theft – Unfortunately, homeowners coping with the aftermath of a hurricane also need to be concerned about the risk of theft. If you have personal property or building materials stolen while your home is in a state of disrepair, unless you purchased additional coverage, you may find that your theft coverage is surprisingly low.
Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Law Offices for More Information
If you would like more information about securing insurance coverage after a hurricane, or if you are struggling to obtain adequate coverage from your insurance company, you can call the Fort Lauderdale, FL law offices of Saavedra | Goodwin for a confidential consultation. To speak directly with one of our hurricane damage attorneys about your situation, please call (954) 928-9568 or inquire online today.
