5 Steps Homeowners Should Take After A Hurricane Damages Their Property

Ian tied for the fifth-strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S., causing some of the worst damage on record. By causing an estimated $60 billion in private insured losses just in Florida, according to the industry trade group Insurance Information Institute, it comes second in terms of expensive storms only to 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, which is responsible for causing $89.7 billion in inflation-adjusted insured losses. 

If you live in South Florida, and your home or business was among the scores of those severely damaged or obliterated in Ian’s path, The Florida Law Group is here for you. We offer our sincerest condolences for all that you and your community have endured and lost. Going through such a devastating hurricane is a highly traumatic event, not to mention an incredibly costly one; depending on your specific circumstances and the level of damage your property sustained, you may be facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs. 

It’s normal to feel dazed and have no idea what to do next, but there are steps you can and should take to make sure that your property insurance company will compensate you fairly. The Florida Law Group’s experienced insurance attorneys have spent many years advocating for hurricane damage victims and negotiating with insurance companies on their behalf. We know what it takes to maximize claim value and ensure your insurance company lives up to its contract!

1 – Report The Damages To Your Insurance Company 

First thing’s first – you will need to call and make an official report to your insurance company about the damages to the interior and exterior of your home. You don’t have to have a full accounting of all the damages at this point. You can provide them with general information about what is damaged or what you suspect to be damaged. At a later date, they will likely have an adjuster come out to further inspect and verify the damages themselves. 

You are required under the terms of your insurance contract to report the hurricane damage to them as soon as possible. If you wait, they could attempt to deny your claim due to a breach of contract on your part.  

2 – Document The Damages And Losses 

Without enough evidence, your insurance company won’t be able to accurately value your claim and will likely attempt to pay you less than the full amount of your losses. Their adjusters work for them, not for you, and are not looking out for your best interests. That’s why the next step you should take is to get pictures and videos of the damage, and gather any pictures and videos you have of your property that were taken before the hurricane; put all of the evidence of damage in one place so you can easily share it with your insurance company and/or insurance attorney later. Safety is always the top priority, so only take this step if you can do so safely! When and if you can, document the damaged areas both in and around your home. 

Be sure to capture various angles at different levels to really show the extent of the hurricane damage. If your furniture, appliances, and belongings are damaged, take pictures or videos of those as well. Start and keep an inventory list (preferably a virtual one, for safekeeping) of everything you notice that is damaged; add this to the other documentation you have.

3 – Mitigate Your Losses 

As a policyholder, you have a legal duty to mitigate damages. In other words, you need to take practical steps to decrease the amount of damage your home suffers. If you don’t, your insurance company could deny coverage altogether because they can claim that your actions were actually the cause of most of the destruction, or that there is no way to separate what damage the hurricane caused from the damage that your lack of action caused. 

For example, if the hurricane damaged your windows, you should:

• Remove any fallen glass debris, both inside and outside 
• Get broken windows replaced as soon as possible
• Protect your home from further weather damage by boarding up your windows or using some other protective measure (like a tarp) if they can’t be replaced immediately 

Depending on your specific circumstances, other mitigating steps may look like having the water and the electricity shut off, tarping or repairing your roof, removing fallen trees, and more.  

4 – Hire Only Licensed Contractors 

As you are making repairs, be sure you only hire Florida-licensed contractors to do the work you need to be done. Using only licensed contractors is crucial because: 

• They are required to have their own insurance coverage 
• Licensed contractors are less likely to scam homeowners 
• Unlicensed contractors may not comply with local applicable building codes, and the work on your home must be done to code 
• Unlicensed contractors might have criminal backgrounds  

Although an unlicensed contractor might save you some money in the short term, hiring one could end up costing you more money in the long run; don’t take the risk!

5 – Hire An Experienced Hurricane Insurance Claims Attorney 

Making a property damage claim after a hurricane can be a complicated and exhausting process. Especially when there is a large-scale catastrophic event (like Ian), insurance companies will be inundated with claims. Because each claim paid means that they lose money and sink their bottom line further, companies will likely be reluctant to pay policyholders the full amounts that they deserve. In order to force them to honor their agreement with you, it’s important that you have a skilled, aggressive insurance claims attorney on your side. 

At The Florida Law Group, we aren’t afraid to stand up to insurance companies and hold them accountable, even if that means taking your case to trial! We can file a claim for you and prevent mistakes, but if your insurer denies or devalues your rightful request for compensation, we can sue them for hurricane damages and negotiate for a fair settlement. We know the tricks and games insurance companies play and how to overcome them. Our talented legal team is dedicated to winning, and to date have recovered over $1 billion for our clients across the state of Florida! Our award-winning legal guidance can take the burden off you during this difficult time so you can focus on moving forward and helping your friends, family, and neighbors do the same. 

Call today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about what we can do to advocate for you! We’ll explain all of your options. You never have to pay our legal fees unless and until we win monetary compensation for you.