Flooding is one of the most prevalent natural disasters and it affects over 2 billion people worldwide. For residents of a coastal state such as Florida, flooding can be frequent occurrence that can threaten to destroy entire properties and economic sources of income.
Fortunately, there’s a foolproof way to protect your home and possession from such hazards一and that is through a flood damage insurance policy.
But as we all know, dealing with insurance companies can be tricky. There are strict deadlines, unfair delays, and unlawful denial of flood damage claims. So, if you are currently experiencing these traumatic situations, then our experienced flood damage attorney can help you.
What is flood damage insurance?
A flood insurance policy refers to a type of insurance that you can get to cover your losses if your property or personal belongings gets damaged by flooding.
Flood damage policies can only protect your home from damages inflicted directly by a flooding event. This may include flooding due to heavy rains, melting snow, coastal storm surges, overflowing rivers, blockages in the draining system, levee dam failure, and overflowing waterways.
With this policy, you can file a flood insurance claim and then get compensated for the property damages.
What does flood damage insurance cover?
Flooding or flash floods can cause immediate destruction to any structures on your property. Furthermore, it can inflict long-term damage to infrastructures even after the water has receded. Some examples include mold growth in still-moist areas and further widening of foundation cracks due to entry of floodwater. Both of these may be observed days after the flood and may weaken your property over time.
Fortunately, a flood insurance policy can protect your home and property belongings from such threats. However, its coverage will depend on the type of policy you purchase. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, a basic flood insurance can cover the following:
- The insured residential or commercial building
- Electrical and plumbing systems
- Permanently installed carpeting, cabinets, etc.
- Central air conditioning equipment and water heaters
- Appliances such as refrigerator and cooking stove
- Detached garage.
- Debris removal on the property
You can also buy a separate policy that can protect your personal contents inside your home that were damaged by the flood. This may include clothing, portable appliances, equipment (not included in the building property insurance, and other valuables.
If you’re unsure of your policy's specific coverage, you can seek help from expert water damage lawyers to review and explain the insurance you bought.
What to do after a flood?
What you do after a flooding incident can greatly impact your flood insurance claim in a lot of ways. So as a policyholder, you should be vigilant and quick to respond after this traumatic disaster. Here are some tips on what to do right after flooding:
- Get in touch with your insurer
Once the disaster is over, you can immediately call your insurance company or local agent to inform them about the flooding. Notify them about the current state of your home and that you want to file for flood damage claims.
- Record your communication
Take note of the time, date, and name of the agent you talked to. You can also ask them if you should proceed with making immediate repairs for safety or wait for an inspector to come.
Ensure that no additional damage will come to your home by securing the place (e.g., boarding up broken windows or placing a tarp over a roof hole). After that, take a photo of it as proof that you protected the property against further destruction.
- Take pictures of the damages.
Document the damages sustained by your property through photos and videos. Use a marker on the wall to indicate the level the flood had reached, then take a picture of it.
- Seek the help of the best flood damage attorney.
It’s okay to handle claims processing on your own, but it would be easier and more reassuring if you had flood insurance lawyers to back you up.
When should you seek the best flood insurance lawyers in Florida?
Insurance carriers can deny your claim without a valid reason, delay your claim's settlement, or fail to pay you the full value of your claim. If you are currently experiencing these acts of bad faith, then it’s time to contact an expert water damage lawyer from AskMyAttorneys.
Atty. Rafael Gonzalez will protect your rights and give you the proper legal representation you deserve. He will walk alongside you every step of the way一from navigating the claims process to getting the maximum compensation your property needs.
Aside from being a seasoned flood damage attorney, Atty. Gonzalez also handles other types of claims disputes, such as fire damage insurance, hurricane damage attorney and more
So, contact us now to get in touch with the state's best property insurance attorney. Free Consultation | Available 24/7. We speak English and Spanish.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
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