Does it feel like hurricane season is lasting longer and longer? Can you believe that we are getting such high force winds for so much of the year? It’s true. Florida has its struggle with the weather, for sure. We may be known as the “Sunshine State,” but we also get more than our fair share of storms and winds. Unfortunately, strong winds can wreak havoc on your home and leave you with serious damage. It can be a lot to go through. On top of seeing your home in disrepair, you may then find yourself confronted with a claim denial from your insurance company. Why would your wind damage claim be denied? We will go over some of the more common reasons here, many of which are avoidable.
Common Reasons Wind Damage Claims are Denied
Many claims are denied for the simple reason that the insurance company sees your damage claim as normal wear and tear. Homes are not impervious to time. With time comes normal wear and tear. Insurance companies will not compensate you for normal wear and tear. They will only compensate you for the damage the wind inflicted on your home. No more, no less.
A common and easily avoidable reason that wind damage claims are denied is for the simple fact that people miss the deadline to file a claim. After your home and property has sustained wind damage, you will likely have a lot going on. Despite this, you must be mindful of deadlines. If you let time get away from you, your claim may be denied because you failed to file it in a timely manner. Start the claim process as soon as possible. Deadlines may vary so check your insurance policy.
Also common and easily avoidable is having your wind damage claim denied because you failed to pay the insurance premiums. If you stop paying for insurance, your insurance will stop providing coverage. It is as simple as that. Keep up with your payments to help ensure your home continues to be protected by insurance coverage. On top of this, be aware that failure to pay your premiums in a timely manner can also have adverse consequences on your credit score.
Wind damage claims are also often denied because the damage did not exceed the deductible. If the damage is not expensive enough for a claim, coverage will not kick in. In other words, if you have a $1,000 homeowners insurance deductible, and your wind damage costs $850 to fix, the insurance company will not pay out on the claim. You will need to pay your deductible first before this will happen.
You should also be mindful of what evidence you submit to your insurance company regarding your wind damage. Claims are often denied for lack of enough substantiating evidence. In order to prevent fraudulent insurance claims, insurance companies will require thorough documentation of your wind damage. This may include video or photos of the damage as well as receipts supporting the value or repair cost estimates of certain items.
Florida Property Damage Attorney
Having trouble with your wind damage claim? Let VCM Law Group help. Contact us today.