Florida Hail Damage Attorney
Although most people do not associate hail with the weather in Florida, the reality is that hail does occasionally accompany thunderstorms in the Sunshine State. When hail does fall, it typically causes serious damage to vehicles and other property. Recovering from hail damage is difficult enough if your insurance company pays your claim in full and in a timely fashion. If your insurance company denies or delays paying your claim, it makes recovering much more challenging.
As a property owner, you will likely face a variety of challenges when you suffer hail damage. Knowing who to call for help and what steps you need to take following hail damage are crucial to the recovery process.
What Should I Do after Hail Damage?
When a thunderstorm produces hail, it can cause a wide range of damage to your property, depending on the size of the hail that falls. Hail damage can include anything from small dings to your vehicle and roof to significant dents on your vehicle and destruction of vinyl siding, gutters, or shingles.
If you recently experienced hail damage to your property, the following steps should be taken to protect your financial investment in the damaged property.
- Document the damage. Following a hailstorm, you should document any damage the hail caused to your home, business, and personal property. Take photos of everything that was damaged and make a list of your losses.
- Contact your insurance company. Call your insurance company as soon as you have conducted a preliminary survey of the damage caused by the hail to initiate the claims process. Your insurance company will likely send out an adjuster to work up an estimate of the value of your claim.
- Obtain your own estimates. Because insurance adjusters are notorious for undervaluing the cost of repairs/replacements, it is in your best interest to procure your own estimates for anything that was damaged by the hail. You can use your estimate to negotiate with the insurance company.
Do I Need a Florida Hail Damage Attorney?
If your property was damaged by hail and you have been paying your insurance premiums as required, you undoubtedly expect your insurance company to hold up their end of the contract by paying your claim. Keep in mind, however, that insurance companies are businesses that must show a profit. To do that, they may try and avoid paying claims altogether or offer to settle a claim for less than the true value of the claim.
If you have submitted a claim for hail damage and that claim has been denied or undervalued, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Florida hail damage attorney. An attorney can evaluate the terms of your policy, investigate the total damage to your property, and then negotiate aggressively with the insurance company to obtain a fair and full settlement for you. When an out-of-court settlement cannot be reached, your attorney will procure the evidence to successfully litigate the claim at trial.
Will I Need to File a Lawsuit?
Most of the time a hail damage insurance claim can be resolved without the need to file a lawsuit. If your claim cannot be settled out of court, however, your attorney will need to file a lawsuit to ensure that your rights and your financial interests are protected. Your attorney will continue to try and negotiate a settlement; however, if a trial is necessary, he will advocate on your behalf to the judge or jury to ensure that you are compensated for your losses.
How Much Will a Florida Hail Damage Attorney Cost?
Property owners sometimes do not contact an attorney when an insurance claim is denied, delayed, or undervalued because they believe that hiring an attorney will involve out-of-pocket costs. The good news is that contacting an attorney to help with your hail damage insurance claim will not require you to pay anything out-of-pocket. Instead, your attorney will only be paid if you accept a settlement or when your case is successfully litigated at trial.
Where Can I Get Help with My Hail Damage Claim?
If your property was damaged by a Florida hailstorm and your insurance company has denied your claim or there has been an unreasonable delay in paying your claim, call us at 407-500-1000 or submit our online form today. One of our experienced Florida hail damage insurance claims attorneys will review your case and discuss your legal options with you at no cost.