Hurricane damage can significantly impact a person’s home and other personal property. It can even leave a person without a home left to live in. Individuals with property insurance are often eligible to file a claim with their insurance agency to seek compensation for the damage done. Hurricane and tropical storm damage can be some of the most severe damage a person’s property can undergo and result in extreme costs in repairs. When these things happen, paying out of pocket for repairs is often not a financial option for many people. Filing a claim is often the best bet in receiving funds for damages.
If you’re a property owner and unsure of how to file a claim or how the process works, working with an experienced hurricane lawyer or property damage attorney can significantly help your case. The lawyers at Florin|Roebig have spent years helping individuals just like you obtain the compensation they need and deserve after a natural disaster such as a hurricane.
What Should You Do If Your Corpus Christi Property Or Home Was Damaged?
If your home in Corpus Christi, TX, or a surrounding area is damaged in the storm, there are several steps you should take to support your case as well as ensure your safety. These steps include:
- Ensuring the safety of all residents in the house and seeking shelter if necessary
- Preventing further damage by covering any property damage with a tarp
- Document any property damage by taking images with your phone or camera
- File a claim as soon as possible with your insurance company
Filing a claim as quickly as possible is important as waiting to file a claim can seem suspicious and result in a longer claims process. You should also clearly understand your insurance policy so that you can provide your insurer with all the necessary information.
Types Of Damage That Hurricanes Can Cause
All hurricanes are different, and individuals and communities are rarely prepared for the damage they inflict. While it’s hard to determine exactly how much damage a hurricane can cause, there are certain damages you can prepare for in advance such as flooding. The more severe the hurricane is — ranging from a Category 1 to Category 5— will also dictate the severity of property damage. In most cases, the higher the category of hurricane, the more significant the damage will be.
Examples of damage that hurricane or tropical storm can cause include:
- Flooding in homes, on roads, and on property
- Damage caused by wind
- Broken windows
- Fallen-down trees
- Damaged or destroyed roofs
- Torn apart garages and stand-alone small properties
- Loss of water and power
- Blocked roads
- Exterior wall or siding damage
- Damage to the foundation of a structure
- Damage to vehicles
- Damage to outdoor structures like landscaping and pools
Where the property is located and environmental factors can also play a role in how much damage an individual suffers in a hurricane. For example, a person who lives on the water is more likely to experience water damage than someone who lives far from the water.
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Hurricane Insurance: What You Need To Know
There are often several stipulations in your insurance policy related to hurricane and tropical storm property damage coverage. Understanding these stipulations is imperative when filing a claim. If you don’t understand your insurance policy or how you can make it work in your favor, consider hiring a property damage lawyer to walk you through the claims steps.
One type of property damage insurance is flood damage. Many insurance policies do not include this type of coverage. Individuals without flood coverage will not receive compensation for damage caused by floods, so it may be a good idea to ensure your policy does in advance.
Additionally, some insurance policies require that the policyholder pay a deductible before they will make a compensation pay out. This means that you must pay out-of-pocket a certain amount of money before you will receive money from your insurance company.
Types Of Damages Covered By Hurricane Insurance
The types of damages that an insurance policy will cover for hurricanes will vary from state to state. Some states do not even require this type of insurance. However, in high-risk states like Texas, most insurance companies will require individuals to have this included in their policy. Or, the insurance company may require a higher deductible when it comes to property damage caused by a hurricane or tropical storm.
Additionally, it’s important to know that insurance companies are for-profit corporations that prioritize revenue over compensation to its policyholders in many cases. This means that your insurance company may try to undermine or minimize your claim in order to lessen your payout. Tactics that may be used include:
- Challenging how severe your losses are,
- Denying a claim due to only partial exclusion from your policy,
- Denying components of your claim without a legitimate explanation,
- Devaluing your claim to reduce the amount of compensation they provide,
- Requiring a written release of any supplemental claim as a condition of payment or a settlement for your claim
For these reasons, working with an experienced legal team is important and can give you the best chance of winning the settlement you need and deserve to get back on your feet after a hurricane or tropical storm. The lawyers at Florin|Roebig are highly familiar with the insurance policies in Texas as well as the many ways that an insurance company may try to reduce a person’s claim value.
Other reasons why hiring a lawyer can be beneficial include:
- They will take the time to review your case and determine the true value of your claim
- They will help you determine if your insurance company is using tactics to undermine your claim
- Will work with your insurance company on your behalf
- Will fight for your rights to ensure you obtain a fair payout that properly covers the extent of your damages
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Contact Florin|Roebig Regarding Your Corpus Christi Hurricane Damage
If your property has been damaged by Tropical Storm Nicholas, give Florin|Roebig a call today for a free and confidential case evaluation. Our lawyers have years of experience working with the legalities and ins and outs of property insurance policies and fighting for claims compensation amounts that are fair for individuals and business owners who have sustained property damage in the aftermath of a hurricane.
