Naples, Florida Hurricane Ian Insurance Claims Lawyers
The Naples, Florida hurricane Ian insurance claims lawyers at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are here to help you if your hurricane Ian insurance claim was delayed, denied, or if you believe the settlement your homeowner’s insurance company is offering you is lower than your repairs, property damages, and losses. Hurricane Ian caused widespread devastation and destruction across the state of Florida, with Naples being one of the most strongly impacted areas. The hurricane was the deadliest to strike Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
If your home was damaged during hurricane Ian, you are not alone. Many homeowners in Naples, Florida are in the process of making insurance claims and working to rebuild. The process of rebuilding will be long and hard for many, and with this process can come immense financial stress, not to mention the challenges of repairing your home, finding a place to stay if your home isn’t habitable, and struggling to move forward with life.
Homeowner’s insurance companies have an obligation to honor their contracts and to pay you the insurance claim you deserve under your policy. Unfortunately, sometimes in the aftermath of a major hurricane, insurance companies may not always have the resources to properly adjust all claims. Insurance adjusters may sometimes use estimates or computer programs to estimate the value of your claim. These estimates may not always take into account all relevant factors in what you are entitled to receive. For example, if contractor rates have gone up due to demand, or if due to supply chain issues, the costs of materials has increased, sometimes insurance companies’ tables or estimates may not always keep up with these actual costs. If you find yourself in a situation where your hurricane Ian insurance claim is being delayed, denied, or if you feel like the settlement amount you are being offered is lower than you deserve, reach out to the Naples, Florida hurricane Ian insurance claim lawyers at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC. We are here to help you.
How a Hurricane Ian Insurance Claims Denial Attorney in Naples, Florida Can Help You
If your hurricane Ian homeowner’s insurance claim was denied, you have rights. Under the Florida homeowner’s claim bill of rights, you have important rights when you make a homeowner’s insurance claim after a storm. You have the right to have your homeowner’s insurance claim acknowledged within 14 days of submitting your claim, and within 30 days of submitting your proof of loss to your insurance company, your insurance company must let you know whether your claim is covered in full, partially covered, denied, or under investigation. And within 90 days of submitting your proof of loss statement, you should receive:
- Full payment for your claim.
- Partial payment for the part of your claim that isn’t disputed.
- Written denial.
For many families facing the aftermath of hurricane Ian, many of these timelines have begun. It is important that you inform your homeowner’s insurance company that your home has been damaged as soon as possible and submit your proof of loss statement as soon as you can so that these important clocks can begin ticking. In the aftermath of a major hurricane, time is of the essence. You want to make repairs quickly. By providing your insurance company with this information, you put the ball in your insurance company’s court to settle your claim.
Yet, if your hurricane Ian homeowner’s insurance claim has been denied, and you don’t agree with the denial, you may have the right to appeal the denial, and may even be entitled to receive interest payments on any insurance claim settlement you receive after the 90-day window has passed. You have the right to appeal a denied insurance claim. The Naples, Florida insurance claim denial lawyers at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are here to help you if your insurance claim was denied. We can help you through the appeals process and assist you with getting the settlement amount you may deserve under the law.
Hurricane Ian Homeowner’s Insurance Claim Denial Attorneys
The Naples, Florida hurricane Ian homeowner’s insurance claim denial lawyers at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC work closely with families whose claims have been denied, delayed, or whose claims have been underpaid. There are many reasons why a homeowner’s insurance claim might be denied. Here are some common reasons why homeowner’s insurance claims might be denied after a hurricane:
- Flood Damage Exclusions. Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. To have flood damage covered by your insurance policy, you’ll need to have purchased flood insurance. Unfortunately, flood maps aren’t always updated or the updates don’t always keep up with rising sea levels and the more extreme storms. If you live in an area that got flooded but wasn’t covered in a flood map, and therefore you didn’t have flood insurance, you might find your flood damage claim denied. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to distinguish between water damage due to flooding and due to rain. Whether you’ll be able to make a claim in this case depends on the fine print of your policy. Some homeowner’s insurance policies will exclude all water damage claims when flood damage is involved, and some policies may cover water damage not associated with flood damage. A hurricane Ian homeowner’s insurance claim denial attorney in Naples, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC can help you navigate the appeals process and help you understand your policy’s fine print.
- Missed Payment. If you didn’t pay your policy, your policy might have been cancelled without you knowing it. Yet, if you did pay your premiums on time and your insurance company is claiming you did not, you may want to speak to a Naples, Florida hurricane Ian insurance claim denial attorney at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC.
- Missing Filing Deadlines. You have a responsibility to file your insurance claim on time. If you miss deadlines, your claim could be denied. Yet, given the volume of claims that are being processed, sometimes insurance companies lose documents. If you met all filing deadlines, but your insurance company is claiming you missed deadlines, you may have the right to appeal the denial. The Naples, Florida hurricane Ian insurance claim denial attorney at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help you appeal a denied claim or show proof that you submitted the documentation on time.
- Failure to Take Steps to Prevent Further Damage. If your roof was damaged or a window was damaged, you may have a responsibility to make repairs while your insurance claim is being processed. If your home suffered further water damage due to a failure to protect your property, aspects of your insurance claim might be denied. Yet, sometimes insurance adjusters may claim that water damage or damage occurred after the hurricane, when the damage happened due to the storm. If you believe you are being wrongly accused of failing to secure your property, you may want to speak to the Naples, Florida hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyer at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC today.
- Insufficient Documentation. If you fail to completely fill out all forms or file all forms, your claim may either be denied, or you may not receive the settlement amount you may deserve. The hurricane Ian insurance claim denial attorney in Naples, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help you put together the documentation you need to support your claim.
- Bad Faith. Sometimes insurance adjusters or insurance companies wrongfully deny a claim. If your insurance company failed to properly explain your policy to you, or didn’t properly investigate your claim, this could be a situation of insurance bad faith. The Naples, Florida hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyer at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help you if you believe your claim was denied in bad faith.
These are just some of the reasons why an insurance claim might be denied. If your hurricane Ian insurance claim was denied, you don’t have to navigate the appeals process alone. Reach out to Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC today.
Property Damage Insurance Claim Lawyers in Naples, Florida
If your home or property was damaged during hurricane Ian, now might be an incredibly stressful time for you and your family. Not only might you be struggling to rebuild, but you might be wondering what your next steps should be. If your property was damaged due to hurricane Ian, you have some important responsibilities. These include filing your claim with your insurance company in a timely manner, documenting all damage, and making repairs to prevent further damage to your property (boarding up broken windows, putting tarps on broken roofs), and securing your property by turning off utilities and appliances if you cannot reside in your home until repairs are made. If you plan to make any repairs, it is also your responsibility to be in touch with your insurance company before you hire a contractor. If you hire a contractor before you reach a settlement, you could end up being on the hook for the difference. Read carefully any contracts before you sign on the dotted line. If you do hire a contractor, make sure the contractor has a license to do business in Florida, and require that your contractor have proof of insurance before repairs begin.
If your property was damaged during hurricane Ian, you are not alone. Many people in Naples, Florida suffered extensive property damage. The property damage insurance claim lawyers in Naples, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are here to help you if your claim was denied, delayed, or underpaid. You have the right to appeal. Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC is here to help.
Contact a Hurricane Ian Property Damage Lawyer in Naples, Florida Today
The hurricane Ian property damage lawyers in Naples, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are here to help you navigate the insurance claim process or appeals process. Rebuilding after a storm can be stressful enough. Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help you if your claim was denied, delayed, or underpaid.