Living through a hurricane can leave you traumatized. While your world is still spinning, here are a few tips to help you start moving in the right direction:
Assess your damage and find a safe place to live, if needed, while you repair your property. If you need to rent an apartment or stay in a hotel, your insurance coverage may pay those expenses for a period of time.
Ensure your property is safe. If you must vacate the premises, turn off the gas and electricity at the primary source. Depending on the damage, you may need to lock your doors or leave windows open.
If you can, protect your property from further damage. Tarp large holes, board up broken windows, and remove standing water if possible. Keep track of your efforts to show your insurer that you did not allow further damage to occur after the storm.
Use photographs and video to document your losses and all damage. Demonstrate structural damage, show proof of damaged personal belongings, and explain how rain, wind, or flooding caused the losses you will claim.
Retain copies of any storm-related payment receipts as written evidence of what you spend to remedy your losses.
Prepare and submit your insurance claim as soon as you know the full extent of your hurricane losses. While you want to file a complete form, don't wait too long to see what your policy will cover and what it may deny. (Better yet, call us to file the claim for you.)
Contact a dedicated hurricane damages attorney to help at any stage of your claim.
The team at Dolman Law Group can gather information to prove your losses, file your claim, and dispute a denial letter if needed. We can also negotiate a settlement with your insurer, and if that's not possible, we can take your case to court if you decide to pursue legal action.