A large portion of Floridians do not carry flood insurance due to the cost and are having to pay out of pocket for expenses caused by the storm, leaving many without options. Those who do have flood insurance are struggling to get their claims fulfilled by insurance companies.
If your insurance company has denied, underpaid, or given you a partial payment for your damage claim, contact the attorneys at Florin|Roebig today.
How Hurricane Ian Affected Florida Homeowners & Property Owners
Hurricane Ian was a catastrophic hurricane when it made landfall in southwest Florida in September 2022. The amount of flood damage sustained by residential and business properties was devastating. Many residents of Florida who could not afford flood insurance lost everything they had.
The storm surge from Hurricane Ian reached up to 15 feet in some places, destroying many lower levels of homes through water damage.
The wind damage from Hurricane Ian was also devastating, ripping off roofs, siding, tearing down fences, and blowing away any property that may have been outside.
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Hurricane Ian Insurance Claim Closures & Low Payouts
A recent report states that losses covered by insurance have now reached $16.7 billion, most likely due to the fact that statewide, property damage claims have increased by 738,441. Insurance providers have been caught grossly underpaying their client’s property damage claims.
Insurance companies have been reducing claims by 45-97% and then closing out the claim, leaving many insured Floridians having to pay out-of-pocket for their property repairs, or replacement in many cases.
Insurance companies have been wrongfully underpaying their client’s claims for reasons such as:
- Claiming the damage was caused by something other than Hurricane Ian
- Claiming there is not enough proof of damage
- Denying parts of claims so that they no longer meet the deductible needed for coverage
- Claiming that part or all of the damage is due to flooding, which they do not cover
- Claiming that there is no damage done to your house
- Insurance companies often claim the damage was due to negligence by the homeowner
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is investigating complaints of insurance companies paying way below what the claim is for, and then closing the case quickly. This can be illegal, if your claim meets the requirements to be fulfilled.
If you think your insurance claim has wrongfully closed your insurance case, and either underpaid or denied payment, contact the lawyers of Florin|Roebig today. You deserve to have your claim fairly processed.
Factors That Affect Insurance Claim Closures
Many homeowners insurance policies cover wind damage and water damage that occurs from the roof down. This can be frustrating for many Florida residents who were told that their insurance policy covered flood damage.
When you file a claim, there are many reasons your claim may be wrongfully closed without payment for your damaged property.
Some of the reasons your insurance claim may be wrongfully closed include the following:
- The homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage. Many insurance companies do not provide flood coverage, and therefore they may try to claim that your damage was 100% caused by flooding, and not wind or water damage. They may do this in order to save money.
- The damage does not exceed the deductible. In many cases, Insurance companies are whittling down claims – for instance, saying a large portion of damage is caused by flooding – until the amount of your claim does not meet your deductible, and therefore the cost of repairs is up to you.
- Denial of Coverage. Insurance companies often have their adjusters out to look at the damage to your property. Insurance companies often encourage their insurance adjusters to find that the damage was pre-existing due to wear and tear, which is not covered in many, if not all, insurance policies.
- Claim withdrawn by the insured. If the insured decides not to follow through with the insurance claim for some reason, they may withdraw their request. Insurance companies sometimes wrongfully close a claims case, saying that it was withdrawn by the insured. If this is not correct, contact an insurance claims attorney at Florin|Roebig today.
- No damage. If the insurance company does not receive proof of damage or the insurance adjuster claims there is no damage to the property, your insurance claim will be closed. In some cases, evidence of damage has been lost, or purposely misplaced, so that the claims case must be closed. This is wrong, and if you think your insurance company has done this, you may want to seek legal help.
Underpaid Hurricane Ian Insurance Claims
The damage caused by Hurricane Ian was immense, and many policyholders were stunned when they found that their insurance claims had been cut by 45-97%. In some cases, this resulted from their claim amount being lower than their deductible, which led to a denied claim.
However, it is also not uncommon for insurance claims to be adjusted after being filed. The insurance company sends an adjuster from their company to examine the damage and decide if the monetary amount being claimed for repairs or replacements is correct.
Some of the reasons a claim amount may be changed by the insurance company include:
- The damage was caused by natural wear and tear
- The damage was caused by something other than wind or flooding
- Failing to maintain the property
- The damage was present prior to the storm
Unfortunately, with insurance companies being inundated with claims after massive storms like Ian, they will do whatever they can to mitigate their losses. This can sometimes mean denying rightful insurance claims.
As of March 2023, there are still 33,000 Hurricane Ian claims open, and more than 125,000 claims were closed without payment. Hurricane Ian was the costliest natural disaster of 2022, and the recovery process is slow and expensive.
If you think your insurance claim has been wrongfully underpaid, you have options. If you are considering taking legal action, contact the law offices of Florin|Roebig. With nearly 40 years of experience and $1 billion in case awards won to date, we have the knowledge and experience to help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
What to Do If Your Hurricane Ian Insurance Claim Is Closed & Underpaid
If your insurance claim for property damage caused by Hurricane Ian is closed out after being underpaid, you may think you do not have options. However, there are steps that you can take to get your claim re-evaluated.
The first thing you need to do if your Hurricane Ian storm damage claim is denied is to review your rejection letter carefully. The letter they send will have their reasons for rejecting your claim explained.
If one of the reasons is a lack of evidence, you may need to take more pictures or hire a third-party public adjuster to come and take a look at the damage.
If their reasoning is invalid, you may consider seeking an insurance attorney for legal advice. If your claim meets all the criteria, you must be paid your claim. If your insurance company fails to do so, they can be acting in insurance bad faith, leaving them open to disciplinary actions.
What to Do If You Received a Reduced Hurricane Ian Insurance Payout
You may think the insurance claim process is over if you have had your claim approved, however there are many instances in which insurance companies have underpaid their client’s claims.
If you think your insurance company has underpaid your claim, the first thing you need to do is contact a Florin|Roebig insurance claims lawyer. During your free consultation, the insurance claims attorney will review your case and let you know what their legal opinion is.
It is important to understand that even though a claim can be denied for valid reasons, an underpayment cannot stand if:
- Your insurance is paid in full
- You have met your insurance deductible
- Your claim is valid
Insurance companies are not legally allowed to underpay you. When you sign a contract with an insurance company, you agree to pay an insurance premium and they agree to provide financial protection for your property.
If your insurance has underpaid your claim, contact the insurance lawyers at Florin|Roebig today.
Hurricane Ian Insurance Claim Denials
According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, 647,924 claims have been filed as a result of Hurricane Ian. Many of these claims, unfortunately, are expected to be denied by insurance companies due to the receding flood insurance industry in Florida.
There are certain factors that can cause your insurance company to deny your hurricane insurance claim. These factors can include the following:
- Your damage was pre-existing
- You have reached your insurance coverage limit
- Failing to mitigate damage
- Your insurance policy does not cover the type of damage you received
- Not filing your paperwork on time
- Not providing enough proof of the damage
- Not adequately preparing for a hurricane
As of March 2023, almost 40% of hurricane insurance claims have been denied. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, there were 683,456 claims filed for hurricane damage, and 169,355 of those claims have already been denied.
If you feel like your claim was denied without cause, contact the Florin|Roebig law firm today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
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Find an Experienced Hurricane Ian Insurance Claims Attorney
The aftermath of a hurricane is devastating and chaotic. There is often a ton of damage done to homes and businesses, some of which cannot be replaced. The last thing you need is for your insurance company to try to underpay or deny your claim outright.
If your property insurance company has underpaid or only partially paid your claim, call the attorneys at the law offices of Florin|Roebig. With decades of experience in getting clients the compensation they rightfully deserve for their hurricane damage, the attorneys of Florin|Roebig are ready to fight for you today.
