Wind damage is characterized as damage to a building or structure as the result of high-powered winds, which typically, but not always, result from a hurricane, tornado, or other intensive storm. Florida natives as well as their homes and businesses are susceptible to the destructive effects of these damaging winds. Damages to roofs and landscapes are common during Florida’s annual hurricane season, which spans from May to the end of November. Depending on your homeowners insurance policy, your property may not be equipped with the full coverage for wind and windstorm damage. If your insurance company denies your claim after your property suffers wind damage, contact a property damage lawyer with Pursiano Barry Bruce Demetriades Simon LLP. Our civil litigation law firm will assist you through each step to finding the right solution, and we will work diligently to help ensure a favorable outcome for your case.
Wind damage can include damage to roof tiles, structural damage due to blowing or falling debris, and other damages which result from high-powered winds. According to Florida Statute § 627.712, windstorm coverage is required when an insurer is issuing a residential property insurance policy. Unfortunately, this coverage doesn’t always provide protection against all instances of damage, and insurance companies often attempt to avoid paying for damaged property. For example, insurance companies may argue that damages were already present prior to the storm or that the damage which the property sustained was due to a reason other than high winds and therefore isn’t covered under the policy.
It’s vital to have a thorough understanding of your insurance policy and ensure that you know which types of damages are covered and which may be excluded from coverage. A civil litigation lawyer will be able to provide support in the event of a denied, delayed, or underpaid insurance claim — contact our insurance dispute lawyers.
Depending on the severity of the storm, any resulting wind damage may be covered under multiple parts of a homeowners insurance policy. High-powered winds caused by hurricanes and other types of destructive storms may fall under your hurricane insurance deductible rather than being covered by a separate wind insurance policy. It’s important to have an understanding of one’s deductible for both wind and hurricane damage, as the deductible must be met before the insurance company begins the payout process, and the threshold may not be the same for every insurance plan. An Orlando insurance attorney can help explain these differences, and ensure your insurance claim is processed under the correct coverage as per your policy.
A wind damage claim may be denied or underpaid for a number of reasons. Failure to properly document damages or the costs of repairs, not following the conditions set forth in the insurance policy, or failing to protect one’s property from further damage following a storm or hurricane could all result in a less-than-favorable outcome for an insurance claim. If the wind damage is properly included in the policy and the policyholder adequately — and promptly — documented and notified their insurance company of the damages, but their claim is still denied, contact a storm damage attorney right away. We will work diligently to help you prove that the insurance company acted in an unreasonable manner or in bad faith and that the denial of the insurance claim was invalid. Contact us to discuss your wind damage claim.
