Punta Gorda, Florida Hurricane Ian Insurance Claims Lawyers

leader lawLeader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are Punta Gorda, Florida hurricane Ian insurance claims lawyers who work closely with homeowners whose claims have been denied, underpaid, or delayed. If you think your insurance company has acted in bad faith, wrongfully denied your claim, wrongfully underpaid your claim, or if your payments have been delayed, the Punta Gorda, Florida hurricane Ian insurance claims lawyers at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC can read the fine print of your policy, evaluate your losses, and fight your homeowner’s insurance company to help you get the best possible settlement permitted under the law.

Hurricane Ian was the deadliest hurricane to hit Florida in nearly 100 years, and it caused widespread damage and devastation throughout Florida. According to major news reports as many as 5% of structures in Punta Gorda, Florida sustained major damage in the storm. Buildings damaged included City Hall and the Punta Gorda Boat Club, which has had to be closed for repairs. 1 in 20 homeowners in Punta Gorda, Florida is also facing major repairs on their homes and properties. News reports indicate that few homes sustained flood damage and the majority of damage sustained was wind and rain damage. This is good news for homeowners who need to make homeowner’s insurance claims, as we’ll explain later.

If your home or property was damaged in Punta Gorda, Florida, the hurricane Ian insurance claim lawyers at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help you if your homeowner’s insurance claim was denied or underpaid. Not all homeowners know the fine print of their policies or the allowable exclusions and this creates a situation where homeowners might not always understand their coverage. Insurance companies also sometimes use complicated calculations to estimate the value of a claim. If you don’t understand how these calculations should work, you could end up sometimes accepting a lower settlement than you might be entitled to receive. The hurricane Ian insurance claims lawyers at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are here to help. If your claim was denied or if the settlement being offered doesn’t cover all your damages, or is lower than you expected, you might want to reach out to our property damage lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida today.

How a Hurricane Ian Insurance Claim Denial Lawyer in Punta Gorda, Florida Can Help You

There are many reasons why your homeowner’s insurance claim for hurricane Ian damage might be denied. Sometimes homeowner’s insurance policies have exclusions that homeowners are not aware of. Sometimes insurance adjusters act in bad faith, cutting corners when investigating a claim or misrepresenting the language of the policy. If your homeowner’s insurance claim was denied or if you believe it was underpaid, the hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyer in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help. Our property damage lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida can read the fine print of your policy, assess the value of your property damage, and help you understand the settlement you might be entitled to receive.

Here are some common reasons why homeowner’s insurance claims can be denied and what you can do:

  • Flood Exclusions. Standard homeowner’s insurance policies don’t cover flood damage. In order to have coverage for flood damage, you need to live in a flood zone and purchase coverage for flood damage through the National Flood Insurance Program. The good news is that reports indicate that the major cause of damage in Punta Gorda, Florida was wind and rain damage. This means that in most cases, water damage should be covered under your standard homeowner’s insurance policy. If your homeowner’s insurance company is claiming that you aren’t covered for water damage because of flooding, but your home wasn’t flooding, you might be a victim of insurance bad faith. The hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help you fight a wrongfully denied or underpaid claim. Reach out to our property damage lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida today.
  • You only have a limited time to submit proof of loss forms and let your insurance company know your home was damaged in hurricane Ian. If you haven’t spoken to your homeowner’s insurance company or haven’t submitted proof of loss forms, now is the time to do this. Yet, sometimes homeowners might be told that they missed deadlines when they submitted all forms on time. Given that homeowner’s insurance companies are likely receiving a deluge of claims, it isn’t outlandish to assume that some adjusters might lose crucial information. Keeping records of what you submit to your insurance company is important and documenting all contacts you’ve had with your homeowner’s insurance company is essential to protect you in the event that information gets lost. If you submitted all forms on time, but are being told you missed deadlines, the hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC is here to help. We can help you gather your documentation and fight to hold homeowner’s insurance companies accountable to their obligations to you.
  • Lapsed Coverage. If you didn’t pay your premiums on time or if you failed to renew coverage, you may not have the coverage you think you have. Yet, if you have been paying premiums on time, and your coverage isn’t lapsed, you have the right to appeal a denied claim. The hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC can help you gather documentation and build a case to support your claim.
  • Failure to Make Temporary Repairs. If your home was damaged in hurricane Ian, you may have the responsibility to make temporary repairs. For example, if your roof was damaged, you may need to put a tarp up to prevent further water damage to the interior of your home. If your windows were damaged, you may need to board up your windows until more extensive repairs can be made. And if your home was completely damaged, you may need to remove salvageable items from the wreckage and put them in storage to prevent further damage to these items. Failure to take these temporary steps could result in a denied claim for any additional damage sustained by your home or property. Yet problems can arise if your homeowner’s insurance company claims that damage caused by hurricane Ian occurred after the storm. If you took steps to secure your property and are being told that your claim isn’t covered, the hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are here to help you.
  • Type of Insurance You Have. The type of insurance you have can affect the value of your claim. There are two main types of homeowner’s insurance: replacement cost insurance and actual cash value insurance. If you have actual cash value insurance, your adjuster can consider depreciation when determining the value of your settlement. So, if your old roof is damaged, you may only receive a portion of the value of repairs, because your insurance company will factor in the age of the roof and the fact that you might have needed to replace the roof soon anyway. If you have actual cash value insurance, this means that any items damaged in your home will also be depreciated. You’ll receive a settlement, but not likely enough to cover the costs of replacing and repairing all these items. If you have actual cash value insurance (which typically costs more in premiums), you’ll receive the actual cost of replacing any items. If you aren’t sure which policy you have, or don’t understand what a fair depreciation might be for a major repair, like a roof repair, the hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help you.
  • Bad Faith. Sometimes insurance companies do illegal things. They may cut corners when investigating a claim or they might misrepresent the language of your policy. The hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC can help you understand the fine print of your policy, estimate the value of your settlement, and fight homeowner’s insurance companies either inside or outside of court.

If your claim has been denied, you have the right to ask your homeowner’s insurance company why. The hurricane Ian insurance claim denial lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC can help you understand why your claim was denied if you are having trouble with your homeowner’s insurance company. Reach out to our property damage lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida today.

How a Punta Gorda, Florida Hurricane Ian Homeowner’s Insurance Claim Denial Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights 

You have important rights when making a homeowner’s insurance claim under the Florida homeowner’s claim bill of rights. If your homeowner’s insurance company fails to meet its obligations to you, you have the right to appeal a denied claim and may even have the right to collect interest on a delayed or wrongfully denied payment. Here are three important homeowner’s claim rights you should know:

  • You have the right to have your claim acknowledged within 14 days of letting your insurance company know your home sustained property damage in hurricane Ian.
  • You have the right to receive confirmation within 30 days of submitting proof of loss forms. The confirmation should let you know whether your claim is covered in full, partially covered, denied, or under investigation.
  • You have the right to receive full payment or partial payment for the undisputed amount of your claim within 90 days of submitting your proof of loss forms. If your claim was denied, you must be informed in writing that your claim was denied within 90 days.

If your homeowner’s insurance company isn’t meeting these timelines, you have rights. Reach out to the hurricane Ian homeowner’s insurance claim denial lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC today. If your claim was underpaid or paid late, you may be entitled to collect interest on the unpaid or late claim.

In order for your homeowner’s insurance company to be held to these standards, you need to meet your responsibilities, which includes documenting losses, submitting proof of loss forms, and letting your insurance company know you need to make a claim as soon as possible. If you need help with your homeowner’s insurance claim, or if your claim was denied, reach out to the Punta Gorda, Florida hurricane Ian homeowner’s insurance claim denial lawyers today.

How a Hurricane Ian Property Damage Lawyer in Punta Gorda, Florida Can Help You Meet Your Responsibilities When Making a Claim 

leader lawThe process of making a homeowner’s insurance claim after a storm can be one of the most stressful aspects of the hurricane recovery process. Many homeowners in Punta Gorda, Florida will find themselves facing the prospect of making a claim. What are your responsibilities after your home was damaged in hurricane Ian? Your responsibilities include:

  • Documenting all losses
  • Letting your insurance company know you need to make a claim
  • Submitting proof of loss forms
  • Getting estimates from contractors
  • Following up with your insurance company and adjuster
  • Protecting yourself from predatory contractors

If you have questions about any of these responsibilities, the hurricane Ian property damage lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC may be able to help you. Our property damage lawyers understand the unique challenges homeowner’s face during the recovery process. You are not alone.

Reach Out to a Hurricane Ian Property Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer in Punta Gorda, Florida Today

The hurricane Ian property damage insurance claim lawyers in Punta Gorda, Florida at Leader, Leader, & Zucker, PLLC are here to help you with your insurance claim every step of the way. If your home was damaged and your claim was underpaid or denied, you have rights. Reach out to our Punta Gorda, Florida property damage lawyers today to learn more.

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Michael, Thank you so much for all of our support and diligence over the past seven months. That was the most trying and difficult time of my life. Michael’s legal expertise was top notch.
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