On August 29, 2023, Gov. Ron Desantis warned Floridians along Florida’s gulf coast to heed the evacuation orders for the Big Bend region and nearby low-lying areas. Hurricane Idalia was predicted to be a major hurricane and cause damage to Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
The hurricane made landfall in Florida on Wednesday morning, 75 miles southwest of Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. The National Guard has begun sweeping and searching affected areas, and President Biden said FEMA is prepared to begin giving aid immediately.
Hurricane Idalia Damage Compensation Options
If you have property or homeowners insurance, the damage caused to your home by Hurricane Idalia should be covered. You should have no difficulty in receiving compensation for your damaged or destroyed property. Note that many Florida insurance policies require separate coverage for flooding damage.
However, it is also important that you file your claim quickly. According to the Florida statute of limitations, residents of Florida have up to three years to file a hurricane damage claim with their insurance provider.
Filing your claim quickly gives you plenty of time to open a dispute with your insurance company if they fail to fairly compensate you.
If your insurance company is refusing to pay your claim in full, you may need to seek the advice of an experienced insurance claims attorney. They will go toe-to-toe with your insurance company to make sure you get the compensation you rightfully deserve.
Common Hurricane And Tropical Storm Damage In Florida
Hurricanes and tropical storms are known for leaving massive amounts of damage in their wake. Hurricane Idalia graduated into a Category 4 hurricane. This type of hurricane brings with it large amounts of rain, extreme storm surges, and damaging winds.
Many Florida residents, who were already recovering from the massive damage left by Hurricane Ian, were left at square one. Hurricane Ian was reported to be the costliest hurricane to have ever hit Florida, causing an estimated $109.5 billion in damages.
After Hurricane Idalia passed, many Floridians once again began to take stock of their damaged and lost property in order to begin the insurance claims process.
If you are beginning this process, you may be wondering what losses are going to be covered after this natural disaster.
Some of the damage most often caused by hurricanes include the following:
- Flood and water damage: Some of the storm surges caused by Hurricane Idalia were estimated to have been between 12 feet and 16 feet high. This surge is taller than most buses, so areas not protected by sandbags or other means most likely have water damage.
- Damage due to wind: The force of hurricane winds can be strong enough to rip apart buildings, tear trees out of the ground, and tear off roofs. It can also cause objects to fly into and damage homes and businesses.
- Other hurricane damage: Other types of damage that can be caused as side effects of a hurricane include tornado damage, such as flying debris, and mold damage that can spring up when the flood waters have receded.
With treacherous storms like Idalia, very little is spared from hurricane damage in the areas that are victim to its wake. Everything from the foundation of your home to the roof and outside areas can be damaged or even destroyed by a hurricane.
If you have insurance to cover your damaged or destroyed property, you need to make sure your insurance company gives you the compensation you deserve.
If your insurance company is ignoring your claim or closed it out, contact the insurance attorneys of Florin|Roebig today.
How Did Hurricane Idalia Affect Different Areas Of Florida?
On August 29, Tropical Storm Idalia was bumped up to a Category 2 hurricane and quickly evolved into a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 125 miles per hour. Most Floridians first felt the effects of the heavy rains and high winds, which brought power outages.
The National Hurricane Center warned that the effects of the hurricane would continue far past the eye wall and spread to other portions of Florida. Below, you will find information on how Hurricane Idalia affected different parts of Florida.
Tallahassee
Tallahassee saw massive power outages with 68,0000 residents experiencing loss of power in total. The storm touched down and jogged just east, sparing Tallahassee from the initial damage that was expected.
However, high water levels are expected to lead to water damage, and the strong winds that came with the storm have already caused external damage. This includes a 100-year-old oak tree falling on the governor’s mansion.
Perry
The city of Perry, located 50 miles southeast of Tallahassee, was hit the hardest, according to emergency management officials. Hurricane Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach, 20 miles from Perry.
There were many reports of buildings on fire or with damaged and missing roofs. There were reports of collapsed buildings as well.
Fort Myers
The town of Fort Myers, Florida, also received damage from this storm. Hurricane Idalia brought heavy rains, high winds, storm surges, and localized flooding. High tide caused the level of the flood waters to rise.
Miami and The Keys
Due to Hurricane Idalia forming in the Gulf of Mexico, south Florida and the Keys did not receive as much of the effects of the hurricane as other areas of Florida. Gusty winds around 35 miles per hour, strong bands of rain, and choppy waters were reported by residents.
Tampa Bay
Although the National Hurricane Center lowered the hurricane warning to a tropical storm warning for parts of Florida, Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas were still impacted. Tampa experienced dangerous storm surges and flooding, though the water receded quickly.
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What To Do If Your Insurance Claim Is Denied Or Underpaid
Many people buy homeowners insurance to protect them from the devastating financial effects caused by natural disasters like Hurricane Idalia. However, when insurance companies are overwhelmed with claims, they often underpay or outright deny valid damage claims.
If you have submitted a Hurricane Idalia insurance claim and it was denied or severely underpaid, you still have options.
1. Seek A Second Review With Your Insurance Adjuster
Your first course of action should be to seek a second review from your insurance adjuster. Most of the time, you can request an official second review by contacting your insurance provider. They may send you paperwork that needs to be completed and returned quickly.
You should also be ready to provide more proof of loss, such as photos of the damage. If your insurance provider fails to reverse their decision or declines your request for a second review, you need to be prepared to file a complaint.
2. File A Complaint
If your insurance company is not cooperating with you or they have not granted your request for a second review, consider filing a complaint.
Insurance companies often turn to illegal means, such as grossly underpaying and denying claims, in order to save money.
If you believe your insurance provider is doing this with your claim, you can file an official complaint with The Florida Division of Consumer Services. This branch of the Florida Department of Financial Services is responsible for handling complaints against the insurance industry.
3. Contact Florin|Roebig Insurance Attorneys
When you file a complaint with the Florida Division of Consumer Services, they will attempt to mediate on your behalf with your insurance provider. In the event that they are unsuccessful, they will usually advise you to seek the assistance of an insurance claims attorney.
If this is the scenario you are currently in, call the experienced and dedicated insurance attorneys of Florin|Roebig. We will first try and settle your claim outside of court, but if that is unsuccessful, we are prepared to present your case to a judge.
Benefits Of Hiring Hurricane Damage Lawyers
Hurricane damage lawyers are specifically trained and uniquely qualified to help homeowners and business owners who are experiencing trouble with their claims and home insurance companies.
Fight Against Underpaid Claims
During events like Hurricane Idalia, insurance companies often try to take advantage of the situation by offering lowball payouts or finding reasons to reduce policyholder’s settlements. It can be a very frustrating and stressful situation to try and navigate on your own.
Hurricane damage attorneys are well aware of these bad faith tactics used by insurance companies.
Your hurricane attorney will review your claim case and stand up to your insurance provider to make sure you are paid every cent you are owed.
Increase Claim Response Time
When a hurricane occurs, the damage left behind can produce thousands of claims by homeowners. The influx in claims can make insurance companies desperate.
So, insurance companies try to get away with not paying you by intentionally delaying the claims process.
If you hire a hurricane damage lawyer, they will not allow your insurance company to play this game with you. They will make sure your insurance company sticks to the time frame they are supposed to and get the just compensation as soon as possible.
Build A Strong Claim
One of the best ways to make sure your claim is paid quickly by your insurance company is to have everything in order as soon as possible. The claims process can be overwhelming and complicated to navigate on your own, so hiring a Florin|Roebig attorney can be beneficial.
Hurricane damage attorneys know exactly what your insurance company will want to approve your claim. They can make sure your claim is as strong as it can possibly be by assisting you while you build it.
They will make sure all of your documentation has been completed and that you have received a third party adjuster’s or contactor’s opinion. They will also make sure you have gathered as much evidence as possible, and verified your insurance information.
Get Help From Reputable Hurricane Damage Insurance Attorneys
When you sign up for insurance, you agree to pay a premium in exchange for protection in case something happens, like a hurricane. Your insurance company should not try to back out of their end of the bargain when you file your hurricane damage claim.
After a storm like Hurricane Idalia hits, the last thing you need to deal with is an insurance company acting in bad faith.
If your home or business was damaged by Hurricane Idalia and your insurance company will not pay your claim, call the insurance attorneys at Florin|Roebig.
By contacting us today, we can get started on setting up your free consultation and case evaluation. At this consultation, we will lay out your options and help you decide whether pursuing legal action is the right choice for you.
