Hurricane Ian Spurs Legal Disputes Between Homeowners and Insurance Providers

The Wall Street Journal anticipates an uptick in legal disputes between Florida homeowners and Florida insurance providers now that Hurricane Ian has left behind so much devastation.

The prediction by experts is that insurance providers in the Florida market will try to bail on payouts to homeowners by blaming the property damage on flooding, which is not covered in traditional homeowner’s insurance policies.

For flood damage to be paid out, homeowners must have separate flood insurance policies, which millions of Americans do not have.

Experts believe that Hurricane Ian insurance claims will bankrupt Florida-based insurance companies. So far this year, six small Florida-based insurers have been liquidated, and many others have stopped writing new policies for homeowners.

What does this mean for Florida residents, including those in Crystal River, Inverness, Homosassa, Homosassa Springs, Dunnellon, and Sugarmill Woods? It will likely be a lot harder and more expensive to obtain homeowner’s insurance in the area.

In regards to recovering finances for property damage from Hurricane Ian, homeowners are looking at delays and denials stemming from high interest rates, inflation, repair costs skyrocketing, and other pending legal battles that insurance companies are wrapped up in. Getting a payout could take over a year to resolve, if not longer.

How to Handle Bad Faith Claims by Your Insurance Provider in Citrus County

If your insurance provider or adjuster has acted in bad faith while handling your claim, then you need to speak with our Citrus County Hurricane and Storm Damage Claims Attorneys at Whittel & Melton right away. We have seen that many insurance companies try to protect their bottom line by denying claims based on absurd technicalities or by giving you the run around, hoping that you will give up and just walk away.

Our Citrus County Hurricane and Storm Damage Claims Attorneys at Whittel & Melton will help you get your insurance company’s attention and show them that you will not give up that easily. We will negotiate on your behalf and file a lawsuit to protect your rights. As a property owner, it is very important that you understand the terms of your policy and what is covered vs. what is not covered. If you think that your insurance company is not giving you fair compensation or has outright denied your claim following damage from Hurricane Ian, then we are happy to step in and handle a bad faith insurance claim.

What Does Bad Faith Mean?

Bad faith means that the insurance company wrongfully and knowingly refuses to pay a reasonable claim that you submitted in perfectly good faith. When we file a bad faith suit for litigation against your insurance company and win, then your insurance provider must pay the full amount of your claim, your attorney fees and other monetary damages meant to punish the insurance company at fault for its unfair business practices. We can help you with Hurricane Ian storm damage claims stemming from heavy winds and rain, hail, flooding, broken windows, roof damage, loss of personal property, alternative living expenses, etc. We will stand up to the insurance company and work towards obtaining full and fair compensation on your behalf. We will make sure that the insurance company does not try to nickel-and-dime your claim with their tedious tactics of actual value vs. replacement cost, repair costs, living expenses, car rentals, etc. We can deal with insurance adjusters so that you do not have to. Call us now at 352-726-0078 or contact us online to get in touch with our lawyers who will fight to keep your rights protected.