While the 2024 season saw 38 confirmed tornadoes, the NWS expected to declare more once the damage assessments were finished. Sadly, all Hurricane Milton-related deaths are currently thought to be because of the tornadoes.
How Can An Attorney Help With A Florida Tornado Insurance Claim?
Many people are not familiar with what an insurance attorney can do to help your claim. However, hiring an attorney to help with your Florida tornado insurance claim can have a huge impact on the outcome of your insurance payout or settlement.
Other ways hiring an attorney can assist with your Florida tornado insurance claim include:
- Ensuring your insurance company does not undervalue your insurance claim by underpaying or denying a claim that should be approved.
- Preventing your insurance provider from delaying your settlement so you can proceed with repairs.
- Being prepared to take your claim case to court and explain it to a judge if your insurance claim was wrongfully denied.
- Staying acutely aware of all of the important filing deadlines that must be adhered to.
- Poring over your insurance policy to ensure it covers the damages listed in your claim.
- Negotiating a fair settlement offer to help you get the payout you need for any structural damage, water damage, or other damage caused by the storm.
- Caring for your claims case with passion and dedication, and not hesitating to take on big insurance companies.
If you are interested in hiring a Florin|Roebig insurance attorney to assist with your insurance claim, use our helpline to set up a free consultation today.
How Long Do You Have To File An Insurance Claim After A Tornado In Florida?
When your home has received damage due to natural disasters, such as hurricane damage, flood damage, or fire damage, you may want to file an insurance claim.
It is important for homeowners to be aware that there are deadlines for storm damage insurance claims.
According to Florida Law Statute 627.70132, you have one year from the hurricane’s landfall date to file a claim for property insurance and 18 months for supplemental insurance. It is important to make sure you do not miss this deadline, otherwise you run the risk of an automatic claim denial.
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What Factors Can Affect A Florida Tornado Insurance Payout?
When you have been affected by a tornado in Florida, you will most likely file an insurance claim in order to be able to cover the cost of repairing and replacing anything that was damaged.
However, it can be shocking for some policyholders to find that their homeowner’s insurance policy does not provide insurance coverage for all types of damages.
Some of the factors that can affect your Florida tornado insurance policy include:
- Not having the right type of coverage. Some homeowners find out after the fact that the insurance policy they have chosen does not cover the type of damage they received.
- You have met your insurance coverage limit. There is a point in all insurance policies where they stop paying for damage. It is important to read your insurance policy closely to find out what your coverage limits are.
- You did not properly document the damage. If you fail to provide documentation to prove the damage that was caused by the tornado, you risk having your claim denied.
- Your insurance company may be acting in bad faith. Some insurance companies act in bad faith by refusing to pay a fair claim or trying to grossly underpay your insurance claim.
If you believe your insurance company has acted in bad faith regarding your insurance claim, contact the law offices of Florin|Roebig today.
What Happens If You Don’t File A Tornado Damage Claim Right Away?
If you or a loved one have had your Florida business or personal property damaged by a tornado, you know that it can be a very stressful and chaotic time.
However, it is important that you make sure you file your tornado damage claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the longer it will take for your claim to get approved, and it could affect the amount of your payment.
Disclaimer: If you miss the deadline, you risk an automatic denial of your insurance claim. Hiring an insurance attorney will help make sure you do not miss any important filing deadlines.
What Types Of Damage Result From A Tornado?
Tornadoes are very destructive and can produce a wide variety of different types of damage, both directly and indirectly.
If your home has been hit by a tornado, you need to have your home thoroughly examined to check for all types of damage to prevent later costs and headaches.
Common types of damages that result from tornadoes include:
- Wind damage: Tornadoes produce a lot of wind and secondary windstorms, which can affect the siding, roof, windows, outdoor objects, and landscaping.
- Water damage: When buildings get picked up or objects get thrown around by the wind, there is a great likelihood that pipes will burst and can flood homes. There is also the rain damage that often comes with these big thunderstorms.
- Structural damage: Tornadoes can pick up homes and rip them apart, causing massive amounts of structural damage to a home, outside buildings, and garages.
- Roof damage: The wind produced by tornadoes is very destructive and can peel roofs off buildings.
Areas Of Florida Hit Hardest By 2024 Hurricane Milton
Hitting in October, Hurricane Milton arrived later in the 2024 hurricane season but still during the peak months. A record 126 tornado warnings were issued around the state, and the tornadoes are thought to be responsible for most of the confirmed deaths. Many are left with unlivable homes or even homes that have been leveled.
Areas of South Florida hit hardest by the tornadoes include:
- Miami-Dade
- Fort Pierce
- Wellington
- Fort Lauderdale
- Fort Myers
- Cape Coral
Step-By-Step Guide To Filing A Tornado Insurance Claim In Florida
If you or a loved one have been affected by the recent string of tornadoes, you may be at a loss for what to do next.
In order to prepare yourself for filing an insurance claim in Florida, the following is a step-by-step guide you can follow to make sure you have everything you need.
1. Document The Damage
The first step is to make a detailed list of everything that was damaged or destroyed by the tornado. You will also need to gather evidence by taking pictures and videos of all the damage in order to be able to prove your claims.
This evidence will be helpful for both your insurance claims attorney and your insurance company when you are ready to file a damage claim.
2. Keep Your Home Repair Receipts
Once you begin making repairs to your home or have hired a contractor, make sure you keep every receipt or invoice that you receive. You should also make copies both for your own personal records and for the attorney you hire to help with your insurance claim.
3. File Your Tornado Damage Claim
After gathering as much evidence as possible and saving all of your receipts, it is time to file your property insurance claim. It is possible to do this on your own, but it can be very beneficial to hire an insurance claims attorney to file your claim.
Your insurance company will have a limit on how long you have to file your insurance claim. You will need to make sure you do not miss this date, as it could result in an instant denial of your claim.
4. Find Temporary Shelter During Repairs
If your home received such severe damage that it is unfit to live in after the tornado, it is possible that you will need to find other accommodations while repairs are made. It will be important to keep receipts for the hotel, Air BnB, apartment, transportation, etc.
Your insurance company may have a policy known as living expense coverage, which could cover the cost of your temporary housing, but only if your home is uninhabitable. Contact your insurance representative to make sure your insurance provider has this policy.
5. File A Tornado Damage Lawsuit If Necessary
Homeowners may need to consider filing a tornado damage lawsuit if, for some reason, their insurance provider denies their property damage claim or tries to grossly underpay it. Sometimes insurance companies deny rightful claims in order to save money.
If this happens to you, you need to hire an attorney who has the experience and knowledge needed to go head-to-head with your insurance company.
The Florin|Roebig law firm has successfully assisted their insurance claim clients in receiving the settlement they need and deserve.
What To Look For In A Florida Tornado Damage Claims Attorney
If you have had your Florida home or business property damaged by a tornado and you are thinking about filing a tornado damage claim, you need an experienced attorney to help out.
When you are looking for a tornado damages claims attorney, choose one carefully.
The following are qualities to look for in an insurance claims attorney or law firm:
- A law firm that has a great track record
- Attorneys who care about helping you seek just compensation for your property damage
- Attorneys that leave you with a positive feeling after your free consultation
- Board-certified law firms, such as Florin|Roebig
- Law firms that are respected by other law firms
- Positive reviews and testimonials from past clients
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Connect With Florin|Roebig For Help With A Tornado Insurance Claim In Florida
Tornados can be incredibly traumatic and damaging, causing lots of stress for residents. If you are a property owner in Florida who saw damage to their home or business after the 2024 Hurricane Milton tornadoes, consider hiring an insurance claim lawyer to assist you through the claims process.
At Florin|Roebig, our attorneys have been assisting clients in many practice areas for almost four decades and have won over $1 billion in case awards to date for their clients. We are highly experienced in assisting Florida residents with insurance claim denials and closeouts.
If you need an attorney who will care about your case and fight for you, call the Florin|Roebig law group for a free consultation today.We’re available 24/7 every day.
