Hurricane insurance claims in Florida can be denied for a host of reasons, and in some cases, those denials are not warranted or were done in bad faith. This can be an extremely frustrating experience for homeowners. Understanding the common reasons for hurricane claim denials and what steps you should take if your claim is denied is crucial to receiving your rightful claim settlement. Here’s what you should know.
Don’t Let a Claim Denial Stop You
Insurance companies in Florida can be quick to deny homeowner’s insurance claims, but not all denials are valid. If you believe your claim has been wrongly denied, contact our team at KK&P Law Firm right away to discuss your options.
Here are a few of the most common reasons insurance companies in Florida deny hurricane claims:
- Pre-existing damage – This is by far the most common reason insurance companies deny claims in Florida. They may argue that the damage was not caused by the hurricane but rather, the damage already existed, perhaps due to normal wear and tear or another event. Things that can play into this are pre-purchase inspection reports or prior claims.
- Policy exclusions – Some policies may have specific exclusions for certain types of hurricane-related damage. For example, if your policy does not cover flood damage, but your claim is for flood-related damage, it may be denied. Additionally, many policies exclude screen enclosures, exterior painting and other similar items. Also keep in mind that there’s a higher deductible for hurricanes.
- File deadlines – Insurance companies have deadlines to file an insurance claim, but each storm has also seen a shorter and shorter statute to present claims. After Hurricane Ian, they shortened it again – all claims must be presented within one year of the storm and supplements within 18 months.
How to Fight Back
A claim denial does not mean you should call it quits with your insurance claim. You have many options, including filing an appeal or pursuing litigation if necessary. Our legal team at Kandell, Kandell & Petrie has been helping homeowners with their hurricane claims since 2004. We know that filing an insurance claim can be an overwhelming and burdensome process for homeowners. We’re here to relieve you of that task. If your property insurance claim was denied, get in touch with our team today to speak to one of our claims advisors in Miami to discuss your case.
