All property owners are well aware of the destructive power that a Hurricane or Tropical storm can cause. Wind damage causes a variety of issues to an insured’s home or business. With the increase in tropical activity occurring over the past several years, it is very important for home owners to purchase Windstorm/ Hurricane Insurance to protect their assets. During a Hurricane event, it is very easy for an insured to be overwhelmed with the damages caused to their property and be able to deal with the insurance company. Insurance companies are notoriously known for under valuing the total damages caused and inevitably under pay claims. Engaging the claim help from a trusted public adjuster will ensure your hurricane claim is given the attention and detail required to obtain quick and accurate insurance settlement.
Alconero and Associates Public Adjusters has been a powerful, effective partner for victims of every named tropical storm or hurricane to hit the United States for the past 15 years including Hurricanes Sandy, Katrina, Andrew, Hugo, Ike, and Opal. Our hurricane adjusters, public adjusters and property damage appraisers win claim settlements that reflect what the insurance company is obligated to pay based on your insurance policy and true valuation of damages, rather than what the insurance company wants to pay or simply offers. Hurricane Damage Miami
Hurricane Claim Tips:
It could take weeks after a major hurricane for an independent adjuster from your insurance company to get to your property to evaluate your claim. If you’re not ready to hire a public adjuster, these hurricane claim tips will ensure your claim stays on the right track:
- Request a certified copy of your insurance policy from your agent or broker ASAP.
- Compile your own detailed contents inventory. Include age, brand, quantity, purchase price and a link to where the item, or a comparable one, could be purchased online.
- Control ALL of your personal property. Never allow a restoration company to remove your contents for disposal or restoration until you have met with your insurance company’s adjuster and consulted with a trusted public adjuster to know ALL of your rights and options.
- Mitigate damage to your property by boarding up windows or tarping your roof.
- Obtain independent damage estimates to gauge the actual cost to rebuild your property.
- Never sign a “for insurance proceeds” contract with ANY general contractor.
- Wait – Never start the rebuild process until you know ALL your rights and options for settlement and have an agreed upon “scope” with your insurance company. Do NOT allow a general contractor to convince you otherwise.
- Document every point of communication with your insurance company adjuster and insurance company.
- Demand an explanation from your insurance company adjuster if your hurricane claim has not settled within 60 days.
- Seek to uncover all benefits your policy affords, or consult with a trusted public adjuster. In many total-loss scenarios, a potential 35 percent in extra coverage above the policy limit may be available.
Miami’s hurricane problem
For all Miamians, hurricanes are a recurring problem. Every year we are alert to the arrival of a storm that can cause serious damage to the city. This, in addition to representing an enormous risk to people’s health, also generates extremely high costs in the repair of properties. For this reason, many citizens decide to take out hurricane damage insurance in Miami to feel a little more protected.
Hurricane insurance should cover all damage caused by these tropical storms that regularly hit the city of Miami. However, many insurance companies do not behave as they should in the face of catastrophes. So much so that they adopt some questionable strategies, even against their own clients. In order to keep their profit margins high, insurers may try to reduce or deny claims payments.
Hurricane damage in Miami is a problem for many families who may lose their home and assets. The damage caused by these storms is the main reason for concern, but human action is also decisive. Facing an insurance negotiation at a time like this can overwhelm anyone and create significant stress. Therefore, having a responsible and experienced public adjuster such as Alconero & Associates represents an invaluable help.
What damages are covered by hurricane damage insurance in Miami
The first thing to consider is that not all insurance is the same. Each company may offer different coverage options to their customers, including the various damages that hurricanes can cause. Therefore, reviewing your insurance policy carefully can help shed light on this issue and identify which costs are covered and which are not.
There are usually certain damages that any Miami hurricane insurance policy covers. Breaks in roofs, floors and walls caused by wind and water are usually included. Also damage to doors and windows, or damage caused to elements inside the house, such as furniture or electronic devices. Of course, this is not a rule but rather a generalization. The best way to know the coverage is to resort to the policy.
What is not so common is coverage for other types of indirect damage that hurricanes can cause. Such is the case of falling trees that can damage property, or branches or other objects that fly by the action of the wind and can cause damage. There are also certain risks that can alternatively be generated, and be considered as hurricane damage in Miami. For example, an explosion or a fire that breaks out from damage caused by the hurricane. And finally, there is also the cost of debris removal, which can be significant.
How to make a claim effectively
An insurance claim, whatever the reason, should be an easy process to resolve. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Claims processes often trigger a series of complications that, for inexperienced people, can be a headache. Many times, this is due to the strategies of insurance companies, who seek to reduce their costs in order to maintain their profit margin. Thus, they take advantage of the situation in which the client seeks to achieve a quick agreement in order to pay their expenses.
Assessing hurricane damage in Miami can be really complex and difficult to do. This can create certain injustices, if the evaluation is left to the insurance company alone. It is likely that this verification leaves out several expenses, or many others are only partially taken into account and for amounts lower than the real ones. In this way, the insurer seeks to save some payments and the client is clearly harmed.
It is also common for many policies to include a customer liability clause. These indicate the actions that the victim must carry out in the face of hurricane damage in Miami. It usually includes the duty to protect, to the extent possible, property from damage that may occur over time. This means, for example, repairing or boarding up doors and broken windows to prevent further water ingress, or cover objects with tarps to prevent deterioration. In the event that these indications are found in the policy, their non-compliance may lead to the denial of payment by the company.
Trust a Public Hurricane Damage Adjuster in Miami
Beyond the conditions and clauses of the policy, many insurance companies adopt unprofessional attitudes towards their clients’ claims. Even when the claim is fair and in accordance with the contract, an insurer may try to deny it to avoid certain operating costs, or to reduce its amount. In the case of claims for damages caused by hurricanes in Miami, this is particularly worrying, because the client is in a vulnerable situation due to the tragedy.
In Alconero & Associates we know that facing this process can be very demanding. For this reason, we position ourselves as your main ally when making an insurance claim. We seek to be your representative before the company, defending your interests to achieve the best deal in the shortest possible time. Having a public adjuster with the necessary knowledge and experience can be decisive for the success of your claim.
Faced with hurricane damage in Miami, as public adjusters we will advise you on the best options. We will search the policy for the conditions and clauses that represent the most benefit for you. We will carry out an evaluation of the damages in order to contemplate each and every one of the possible expenses that the insurance must cover. And, finally, we will look for the documentation to make the claim in a timely manner, avoiding errors that can lead to an unfavorable result or a delay in payment.
