Dealing With Storm Damage In Southwest Florida? Time To Call A Storm Damage Claims Attorney
Brian O Sutter
Premises Liability
Southwest Florida is no stranger to big storms. Hurricane Ian, which made landfall near Ft. Myers in Southwest Florida in September of 2022, created more than $47 billion in damages across the state. What should Southwest Florida residents do when storm damage occurs? Their first call should be to a storm damage claims attorney. The First Days After The Storm
After calling a storm damage claims attorney, there’s going to be a number of steps to go through next. With a professional attorney on your side, you can have confidence that you’re taking every right step and that you have the law on your side when it comes to your claim.
First, assess your damage and take plenty of photos. If a tree has fallen onto your home, document with photographs at every angle. If your vehicle was taken by flood waters and deposited down the street, document with plenty of photos. These will serve as your evidence, and they’ll be irrefutable proof of the types of damages the storm has caused. It’s not just the big or obvious damages you should document. If flood waters entered your home, take detailed photos of any waterlines that may be present. If you experienced roof damage, take photos from the outside and the inside to ensure you’re documenting the full picture.
The big storms in Southwest Florida typically have the benefit of some notice before they make landfall. If you know a storm is coming, you can doubly help your case by taking some before photos of your home to show what the property looks like before any potential damages. Document the roof, the walls, furniture, vehicles, and any outdoor property so the extent of the damage (should any occur) is immediately apparent. If no damage occurs, you won’t need to use the photos, but you’ll be pleased to have them if you do.
Filing Your Insurance Claim
After documenting all of your damages, make a call to your homeowner’s insurance provider as quickly as possible. In situations like Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida, getting through the thousands of claims may take some time, but the sooner you call the closer to the front of the line you’ll be. During big storms with widespread damage, don’t be surprised if you have to wait on hold for some time before being able to speak to a representative.
Protecting Your Property
With your property in a damaged state, you might be susceptible to further damage from the elements in the coming days. For most Southwest Florida homeowner’s insurance policies, policyholders are responsible for protecting the damaged property as effectively as possible. After you’ve filed your claim, board up any broken windows, cover any holes with tarps, remove wet items from the home, and begin a careful cleanup to ensure you protect your property to the best of your ability.
Working With Your Storm Damage Claims Attorney
After you’ve filed your claim, protected your property, and collected your evidence, allow your storm damage claims attorney to work with you in getting the compensation you deserve. Any correspondence with your insurance provider should be done with the guidance of your attorney, ensuring that you make no mistakes that could cost you the damages you’re entitled to.
During these high stress times, insurance providers will be trying to protect their bottom line and they’ll do so by minimizing claims whenever possible. A storm damage claims attorney prevents this, fighting for their clients and the claims they need to get their lives back on track.