South Florida’s subtropical climate brings hurricanes, heavy rains, and year-round high humidity that often result in mold damage. Given that mold damage to your home or property is a serious health hazard, it should be covered by your homeowners insurance. Because insurance companies frequently deny claims based on policy exclusions, it takes a skilled Florida property insurance lawyer to protect your rights.
VCM Law Group is a premier property insurance practice serving clients throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties. Well-versed in Florida’s Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights, we are highly experienced in handling mold damage claims. If you are involved in a dispute with your insurance company about property damage, don’t go it alone. Our experienced property insurance lawyers will work to help you obtain the full and fair value of your claim. Please contact our office today for a free consultation with one of our South Florida property damage attorneys.
Is Mold Damage Covered By My Florida Homeowners Insurance?
Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies in Florida exclude mold damage; however, mold doesn’t grow in a vacuum. It takes moisture, and lots of it, which usually means the source of the mold was water damage.
As long as your home or property was damaged by water first, which should be considered a covered peril under your homeowner’s policy, the insurance company should be responsible for covering the cost of mold remediation.
At the same time, insurance policies are typically worded in favor of the insurance carrier, so it is critically important to understand your policy’s mold exclusions. Examples of mold exclusions include:
- Broken and/or leaking pipes you failed to notice
- A neglected roof in need of repairs
- Mold accumulating on the bathroom ceiling that you ignored
If your insurance company is refusing to honor your claim, it takes a skilled property insurance attorney to help you interpret your insurance policy and demand full payment of your claim from your insurer.
How VCM Law Group Can Help with Your Claim
If your homeowners or property insurance covers water and flood damage, related “sudden incident” mold damage should also be covered. Unfortunately, Florida insurance companies rely on the obscure legal terminology of insurance policies and loopholes to underpay or deny claims. That’s where VCM Law Group comes in.
Our dedicated Florida property insurance attorneys will work to show how water damage was the primary source of the mold accumulating in your home or property. We have handled claims arising from:
- Storm-damaged roofs
- Faulty appliances
- Heavy rains
- Sewer/water backup
If your home or business has been damaged by water that the insurance company refuses to cover, turn to VCM Law Group. Our legal team is well-versed in the various types of water damage coverage and highly experienced in disputing claim denials.
How to Prevent You Mold Damage Claim From Being Denied
Although insurers rely on mold exclusions to deny legitimate claims, steps you can take to avoid a claim denial include:
- Taking pictures of damage throughout the property
- Set up a consultation with the attorneys at VCM Law Group
- List and retain all personal property damaged by mold and calculate the cost of each item
- Hire a mold damage expert to locate the source of the water infiltration
You should also check the property (e.g. plumbing, appliances, foundation and roof) for damage regularly, at least every few months, and make the necessary repairs — improper maintenance is typically listed as a mold exclusion in homeowners’ policies.
If your claim has been denied, the experienced property insurance attorneys at VCM Law Group can help you file an appeal. If the insurer refuses to honor your claim, we may recommend filing a lawsuit. Above all, we are committed to helping you recover the full value of your claim.
Mold Is a Known Health Hazard in South Florida
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mold infestation can cause serious health problems, including:
- Allergic reactions
- Aches and pains
- Eyes, nose and throat irritation
- Lethargy
- Nervous system problems (e.g. headaches, memory loss, mood swings)
- Respiratory problems (e.g. coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks)
- Skin irritation (e.g. rash, hives)
At VCM Law Group, we are well-aware that the accumulation of toxic mold can be particularly harmful to children, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. We also know that water damage can result in rapidly growing mold that ruins your personal belongings — furnishings, clothing, blankets, towels, photographs, mementos — which require complete replacement.
Even though mold may be excluded from your homeowners coverage, our legal team will work to convince your insurance company to honor your mold damage claim.
Contact Our Miami Mold Damage Claims Lawyers
If your home or business has sustained mold damage, turn to VCM Law Group. We regularly represent Florida residents in mold damage claims and also understand the challenges individuals and families with seasonal residences in South Florida face filing claims after severe storms or flooding leave mold damage in their wake. In any event, the fact that your policy likely includes water damage as a covered peril means that you should be fully compensated for your mold damage claim. Please contact our office today to learn how we can help.