Arguably, St. Petersburg is one of the sunniest cities in the Sunshine State. It has the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine at 768. On top of this, St. Pete houses quite beautiful beaches; beauty often comes with a cost – a hurricane. Hurricanes can be very destructive for property, and preparation may only go a little way.
Even when homeowners do everything they possibly can, claims may still end up being denied. The following are some common reasons why insurance companies deny hurricane claims:
Pre-existing Damage
Insurance companies usually deny hurricane claims by describing damage caused by the hurricane as pre-existing and not caused directly by the storm. Storm preparation records of photographs showing the property before the hurricane hits could be useful in ensuring that an insurance company does not deny a claim based on pre-existing damages.
Failure to Mitigate Damage
If a hurricane causes roof leaks or water damage, there can be some things that a homeowner can do to prevent further damage from happening, also known as “mitigating the damages.” Insurance companies deny hurricane claims because a homeowner did not take all reasonable steps to prevent further damage to their property from the hurricane damage. Preventing the insurance company from denying a claim due to the homeowner’s failure to mitigate damages through making well-documented temporary repairs or hiring a remediation company.
Failure to Adequately Prepare for the Hurricane
Storm preparation typically is considered protection for homeowners and their families; however, proper preparation may prevent a denied claim with the insurance company. Insurance companies are permitted to deny hurricane claims based on “failure to secure property,” because the protected property was not prepared for the hurricane. Adequate hurricane preparation prevents an insurance company from denying a claim based on failure to secure property.
Failure to Properly Document Damage or Document
Insurance firms will sometimes reject hurricane claims and can argue that the homeowner failed to properly document damage or fail to furnish enough information. The best way to avoid this frustrating scenario is by taking photos or videos of your property pre and post-hurricane, itemizing a list of damaged property, and documenting any temporary repairs and associated expenses so you can get an approved claim on your hurricane.
Additionally, homeowners should make sure to respect any documentation requests made by their insurance company, including submitting a sworn proof of loss if asked. If the damage is maintained in good record form, and all necessary documentation requested by the insurance company is submitted, it may stop the denied hurricane claim.
Connect With Hurricane Insurance Denial Attorneys.
The Consumer Help Group is made up of skilled Hurricane insurance claim attorneys who can assist you in winning your denied claim. We have successfully won over $1 billion in case awards on behalf of our clients and work with us hassle-free. We get paid nothing unless we help you win your case.
Contact us today to arrange your free case review and take one step closer to the compensation you are entitled to for the damage that your property has suffered.
