When an insurance company is overwhelmed, it may begin to act fraudulently and in bad faith. Hurricane Milton was one of the costliest storms to have hit Florida, with insurance companies losing money due to payouts and nonrenewals from many homeowners.
Why Would Frontline Insurance Deny Your Claim?
Frontline Insurance provides a range of insurance coverage options for Florida residents, including flood insurance. While some policyholders rely on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for flood coverage, Frontline offers private alternatives tailored to coastal homeowners.
Many Floridians expect their homeowner’s insurance to cover hurricane-related damage; however, not all policies offer this protection, and claims can sometimes be denied. Common reasons for a denial include failure to meet the policy deductible, coverage exclusions specific to certain types of storm damage, or insufficient documentation of the damage. Understanding the terms and limits of your policy is essential to avoid surprises during the claims process.
Other reasons why Frontline Insurance might deny your claim can include the following:
- You are behind on your premium payments.
- Your insurance policy does not cover your damage.
- Your paperwork may be incomplete or turned in too late.
- You did not provide adequate proof of damage.
- There was improper mitigation on your part.
- You have an open dispute over liability or fault.
It is illegal for an insurance company to deny an insurance claim without a valid reason. If you suspect Frontline Insurance is wrongfully denying your claim, contact the law offices of Florin|Roebig today.
The Impact of Hurricane Milton on Florida Insurance Companies
Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph, storm surges of up to 13 feet, and over 18 inches of rain. Originally a Category 5 storm, Milton weakened to Category 3 before reaching the Siesta Key area and further diminished to Category 1 as it crossed the state. This powerful storm caused at least 24 fatalities and left 3.4 million residents without power.
Arriving just two weeks after Hurricane Helene hit Florida as a Category 4 storm on September 26, Milton worsened the devastation for Floridians in the early recovery stages. Many wind and water damage claims poured in for insurance companies all over Florida. Damage caused by Milton impacted both residential and business properties.
A Newsweek report, citing data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR), revealed that home insurers in Florida have denied tens of thousands of claims for damages from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. As of October 25, 19,068 out of 57,415 residential claims related to Hurricane Helene were closed without payment. Similarly, as of October 28, 27,834 out of 202,989 claims for Hurricane Milton damages were also closed without payment. In both cases, denied claims exceeded those closed with payment.
Many homeowners are not even receiving enough in payouts to cover the cost of repairing or replacing their damaged property, leaving them to pay out of pocket if possible.
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Know Your Rights as a Florida Home or Property Owner
When a natural disaster impacts a large area, property and health insurance companies can become inundated with claims, often creating delays. Unfortunately, this surge in claims sometimes leads insurers to engage in questionable practices to minimize payouts and protect their bottom line.
To safeguard Floridians from such tactics, the Florida Legislature established the Florida Homeowners Bill of Rights. This legislation outlines essential rights for policyholders, including a defined timeframe within which insurers must process claims. For example, it specifies the number of days insurers have to acknowledge, investigate, and make a determination on claims, helping ensure a fair process for policyholders.
If you suspect that your insurance provider is acting in bad faith, you have the right to file a complaint with the Florida Division of Consumer Services, a branch of the Florida Department of Financial Services dedicated to handling grievances against insurers. After you file a complaint, the insurance company is required to respond within 20 days, ensuring accountability and transparency in the claims process.
What to Do if Frontline Insurance Company Denied Your Damage Claim
It can be very frustrating and challenging to navigate the claims process, and the stress only gets worse if your property damage claim is denied. If your Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene damage claim has been denied without a valid reason, you have options that may reverse their decision.
1. Get an Insurance Claim Review
When your insurance claim is denied, you need to first contact your insurance representative and ask them for an official claim review. You will need your contact information and your policy number.
They will pass your case to a claims agent with your insurance provider, who might contact you for more information or request more evidence.
In Florida, if your claim is time-sensitive, such as needing the money for living expenses, your insurance provider is legally required to speed up the claims process. If your insurance company is being unhelpful, call the insurance attorneys of Florin|Roebig today.
2. Ask for an External Review Through HHS
If your insurance company does not grant your request for a claim review or they still deny your claim, your next option is to contact the Florida Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). You can call their phone number (800) 866-6205 and request an external review.
The HHS will send you paperwork that you need to complete and return promptly due to the strict deadlines for these reviews.
Policyholders have 60 days from the date on the letter of denial to file their request; failing to do so on time can mean an immediate denial.
3. File a Bad-Faith Insurance Lawsuit
Your insurance carrier is required by law to make every good-faith attempt possible to fulfill a policyholder’s claim.
Unfortunately, when the Florida insurance industry becomes overwhelmed with claims, they often turn to bad-faith business practices like denying valid claims.
If you believe that Frontline Insurance is acting in bad faith by wrongfully denying your hurricane claim, contact the Florin|Roebig insurance attorneys. We may advise you to file a bad-faith insurance lawsuit, which could mean extra compensation from your carrier.
What to Do if Frontline Insurance Underpays Your Claim
If you have filed a Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene damage claim and Frontline Insurance approves your claim but gives you a payout that is significantly less than what you are owed, you have options. It may require more proof of damage, but you may be able to get your underpayment reversed.
Follow these steps if your hurricane damage claim is underpaid:
1. Ask for a Second Review From the Insurance Adjuster
When you begin your claim process, your insurance company will send an adjuster to the scene to inspect the damage in person. This is the person you need to contact to request a second review because it is possible they have made an error in their calculations.
Keep in mind that even if your insurance company does grant your request for a second review, it does not mean they will reverse their decision. You should be prepared for the possibility that you may have to escalate your complaint.
2. Start a Complaint With the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
If your insurance provider fails to grant your request for a second review, or they do but refuse to pay you what you are owed, you need to contact the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Call their helpline number at (877) 693-5236 and ask to file a formal complaint.
They will look into your claims case and determine if you have a valid complaint. If you do, they will attempt to mediate the situation on your behalf. If their attempts fail, they may suggest that you seek legal counsel, such as the attorneys of Florin|Roebig.
3. Hire a Florida Insurance Claims Attorney
If the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has advised you to hire an insurance claims attorney, the insurance lawyers of Florin|Roebig are prepared to evaluate your case at no cost. They may encourage you to go after your insurance company for a bad faith breach of contract.
For example, if your insurance policy outlines a specific amount of money you should be reimbursed for specific types of damage, but they grossly underpay, they are acting in bad faith.
The experienced attorneys of Florin|Roebig can help you navigate this complicated process.
Benefits of Hiring a Florida Insurance Claims Attorney
It can be discouraging and frustrating to navigate the insurance claims process on your own, let alone file a dispute or a complaint against your insurance company. If you find yourself in this position, you need to consult an experienced insurance claims attorney from Florin|Roebig.
The benefits of hiring a Florida insurance claims attorney include the following:
- They have experience with the property insurance laws of Florida.
- Claims attorneys are acutely aware of the filing deadlines for claims cases.
- They are able to see any open cases against your insurance company.
- Attorneys are adept at working with insurance companies.
- They value the attorney-client relationship and often work on a contingency fee basis.
If you are tired of fighting your insurance company on your own, the Law Offices of Florin|Roebig are ready to take on the fight for you.
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Find Help for a Hurricane Milton Property Damage Insurance Claim in Florida
If you or someone you love are dealing with a wrongfully denied or underpaid Hurricane Milton property damage insurance claim, you do not have to go through this process alone. The trial experienced lawyers of Florin|Roebig are here to help you.
For almost forty years, the law offices of Florin|Roebig have assisted their clients in gaining $1 billion in collective winnings from insurance companies.
Do not let your insurance company bully you into accepting less of a payout than you deserve. If you believe your insurance company is wrongfully denying or underpaying your Hurricane Milton claim, contact Florin|Roebig today to learn more about our services or to schedule your free consultation.
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