What To Do After Your Home Is Damaged By A Storm
In Florida, hurricane and storm damage can hurt you financially and emotionally. Hurricane damage such as flooding and electrical shortages can also endanger the lives of those in the house and be devastating to any family. During hurricane season we recommend that homeowners know their rights when hurricane or storms cause damage to their property or injury to household members. Suffering any damage to one’s home can be difficult when your insurance claim is denied even though it should otherwise be a covered loss. The best solution for preventing property damage is preparation prior to a tropical depression or hurricane. In anticipation of any damage to your home, we recommend planning ahead by setting aside your policy, contact information for your insurance company and adjuster, a qualified repair specialist for any type of damage that may occur (i.e. plumber, roofer).
The Types Of Damage Caused By Storms And Hurricanes
A tropical storm or hurricane can cause many types of damage to your property. The public adjusters at Aaraya Claims understand the different types of damage and what that can mean financially to cover the repairs. The main types of property damage following a storm such as Eta or hurricanes include:
- Blown fuses
- Broken windows
- Burnt out electrical appliances
- Ceiling damage
- Fallen trees
- Flooded cellars
- Flooding
- Power outages
- Roof damage
- Ruined floorboards
- Water stains on walls
Your Post-Storm Obligations
In order to ensure your claim is processed timely and properly, the insured has to comply with a number of obligations after the storm. Primarily, those include:
- Prompt notice to the insurer
- Mitigating your damages
- Submitting to a recorded statement and examination under oath
- Submitting a sworn proof of loss
- Retaining any damaged part even if it has been replaced
- Saving any and all proof of expenses associated with the loss
As you can see it is a long and exhaustive list, however any non-compliance with these tasks can be used to deny your claim which, otherwise, may be covered by the policy. Knowing what your duties are is vital to ensuring your claim is not denied on a technicality.
At Aaraya Claims, our public adjusters know all of the tricks the insurance companies use to deny your claim. Our professional advice is to be always prepared for any eventuality during a severe storm or hurricane. Unfortunately, knowing all the terms of a 100-page insurance policy is a difficult task, and that is what the insurance industry is counting on. When the unfortunate happens to your home, knowing your rights is especially important. But if you feel your claim has been unjustly denied despite your full compliance with all of the obligations placed upon you by the contract, then do not hesitate in contacting a public adjuster as soon as you can to preserve your rights.