PROPERTY DAMAGE
ATTORNEYS
Roof Damage
Our Roof Damage Attorneys Can Help You Deal With Your Property Insurance Claim
Types of Roof Damage & Their Causes
Events such as hail, hurricanes, and strong rain can result in roof damage. Winds can knock branches trees onto a home, leading to damage or even a breach in you roof. Roofs can also experience internal damage from smoke, heat, flames, or even lightning. The lack of an obvious breach in your roof still means that its structural integrity may be weakened during a weather event. Regular inspections for homes along the Atlantic Coast, and especially in Florida, are highly recommended.
While roofs impacted by weather events are usually covered by insurance companies, exceptions do arise. For example, strong winds from a declared storm might not be a publicly-listed issue, and would call for extra insurance coverage. Although insurance contracts can be quite complicated, a qualified roofing attorney will be able to assist in seeing if your losses are covered by your policy.
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Contact one of our Florida Property Damage Attorneys to get a free review of your claim or help starting a new roof damage claim.
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What are Florida's Policy's on Roof Damage?
According to Florida’s Valued Policy Law, if a home is a total loss but has been damaged by more than one impact, only one of which was covered, the insurance company may have to pay the full amount within the boundaries of what your policy covers. This is only the case with a total loss and not a partial one, unless the damage was the result of a fire.
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The Florida Building Code has a 25% rule. In other words, if 25% or more of the roof or roof segment needs repair, then the entire roof or segment must be replaced in order to meet the building code requirements. As a result, Florida homeowners may be entitled to a full replacement of a roof or segment if enough is damaged by a covered peril, even if the policy prefers to cover repairs.
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Contact one of our Florida Property Damage Attorneys to get a free review of your claim or help starting a new roof damage claim.
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I need the insurance company to pay for my roof damage.
What do I Do?
If your roof has been damaged, it’s important to make a claim with your insurance company first as soon as Before filing a roof damage claim with your insurance company, working with a qualified roofing attorney make make the process smoother. Whether not you decide to seek legal advice, here are some first steps that you should take immediately after the roof is damaged:
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Assess the Damage: Especially if you have a roof that can crack or chip with ease (such as a tile roof), it is a smart idea to hire a professional inspector for your roof. That way, your roof can be sagely assessed with proper knowledge on calculating the true cost of damages. Once your claim is made, your insurance company will seek to send an inspector on your behalf--who may be biased towards the insurance company. Therefore, an independent adjuster can aid in finding the true cost of damages. Photographic evidence of all damages is also crucial. This way, you can easily prove any damages that occurred to support your claim.
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Review Your Insurance Policy: Prior to making a claim, a complete review of your policy is needed. This will tell you exactly which damages are covered and which are not.
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Notify Your Insurance Company: You'll want to alert your insurance policy as soon as possible about your damage claim. Most policies will only provide coverage for the peril's damages. If too much time is taken in making your claim and completing repairs, the damage could increase. In this case, your insurance company will be reluctant to cover costs associated with a delayed repair.
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Keep Maintenance Records: Keeping track of your maintenance will be helpful, especially if your insurance company tries to deny your claim due to a lack of maintenance. Any sort of maintenance done must come with a detailed record. Proving what repairs you've already completed and for how much can show that your deductible was met (if your policy has one), and how much reimbursement you'll receive from your insurance company.
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Contact one of our Florida Property Damage Attorneys to get a free review of your claim or help starting a new roof damage claim.
What If My Insurance Claim Is Denied?
It is likely that your insurance company may look for reasons to deny your claim, even if it's valid. Aside from claims that are justified, many are simply done in bad practice by insurance companies aiming for your money. Issues to be aware of:
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Difference in Opinion of the Damage's Causes: Since not all perils are covered by your insurance policy, your claim may be denied in the name of it being an excluded peril. In this case, it is helpful to have an independent professional to look over the damages and keep records of such. Any professional evidence can help prove the validity of your claim.
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Unmet Conditions: There may be special conditions or requirements in your policy that must be met to be eligible for a claim. This can include regular roof maintenance. If your insurer believes regular maintenance has not been completed, your claim could be denied.
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Difference in Value: Your insurance company may claim that the cost damage is less than what it is, in an effort to reduce your compensation. A professional inspection in this case would be useful in proving the value of your damages.
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Partial Repair and Not Replacement: Your insurance company may make an effort to repair instead of replace, despite a professional's differing opinion. Luckily, Florida's 25% Building Code may require an insurance company to cover the cost of replacement (either entirely or a segment). If your claim is denied and you believe this is incorrect, it is your right to set up a re-inspection. Oftentimes, claims take two or three attempts before it's reopened. When adjuster does arrive for your re-inspection, be sure to have a qualified roofing contractor present to review and document the damage with the adjuster.
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In order to dispute a claim that was denied, an appeal must be filed. Be sure to include the predicted timeframe for the appeals process in writing from your insurance company, just incase you must escalate your case to the company’s superiors or a state regulatory board.
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Contact one of our Florida Property Damage Attorneys for help with claim denial, or to get a free review of your claim.
When Should I Hire A Roof Damage Attorney?
If you've been a homeowner in Florida for any length of time, chances are you already have, or will need to file a homeowners insurance claim at some point. One important question when it comes to filing a homeowners insurance claim is "When do I hire a lawyer for an insurance claim?"
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If your home has been damaged and you need to file a homeowners insurance claim in Florida, we suggest contacting an insurance claim attorney, before you ever contact your homeowners insurance provider. A seasoned insurance claim attorney can help you through the homeowners insurance claims process and ensure you provide the right information to your insurance provider. Not providing enough, or providing too much information, can sometimes hurt your insurance claim. A knowledgeable Florida Property Damage or Insurance claim attorney understands the insurance industry's jargon, and their bottom line. Hiring an insurance claim attorney to file your homeowner insurance claim ensures your claim is submitted with your best interest and outcome in mind.
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Hire A Roof Damage Attorney And Get Help With Your Claim
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If you need specific legal advice on whether to purchase flood insurance for your Florida home, or simply need help with your open water damage claim, contact Florida Property Damage Attorneys. Florida residents deserve proper advice when protecting one of their biggest investments and a Florida insurance claim attorney at Florida Property Damage Attorneys will be happy to discuss your situation with you.
Our home office is in Tallahassee, Florida, but we serve homeowner insurance claim cases all over the state of Florida. Give us a call today at 850-788-7272 to schedule a consultation to discuss your homes unique situation.