Whittel & Melton Pasco County Storm and Hurricane Insurance Claim Attorneys – FL Trial Lawyers New Port Richey 727-847-2299

2020 is one of the most active storm seasons ever in the waters around the State of Florida, the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.

Storm Deductible Confusion?!

In Florida, property insurance policies usually have two types of deductibles: a standard deductible for most losses, and a hurricane deductible. The standard deductible, also known as the “Other Perils” deductible, applies to most things covered by the policy, such as fire, pipe bursts, appliance-related water damage claims, and windstorms.

The hurricane deductible is only triggered by named hurricanes. The most recent major hurricanes to hit Florida were Hurricane Michael in the panhandle on October 10, 2018, Hurricane Sally in the western portions of the Florida panhandle on September 16, 2020, and Hurricane Zeta on October 28, 2020.

Hurricane deductibles are typically 2 or 3 percent of the insurance limit for the home, which is significantly higher than the standard deductible for all other claims.

The Eta storm of November 2020 began in South Florida counties like Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County as a Tropical Storm, not a hurricane. However, the weather system shifted west into the Gulf of Mexico, where it was reclassified as a hurricane for a short period of time before heading back across Florida as a Tropical Storm.

Don’t Get Fooled by Your Insurance Company!

First, an insurer may rush to slap a hurricane deductible on your claim when it should not apply because a Tropical Storm is not a hurricane.

Second (and this is the most important!), insurers in Florida have often told their customers after a storm that unless they absolutely know that their damage is more than their hurricane deductible, then they should not even put in a claim.

There are many reasons why this is terrible advice and a bad business practice by insurance companies.

As the policyholder, it is not your job to know the exact amount of damage you have in the weeks following a severe storm. You also may discover that the storm caused much more damage than you initially thought or could see in the days following the hurricane. Many Floridians have been lured by insurers only to find out later that it’s too late to make a claim.

If you have an Insurance claim related to a Pasco County Storm or Hurricane call us at 727-847-2299. We can assist you in determining which deductible applies, assist you with determining the actual extent of the damage to your home, and provide needed guidance through the process with your insurance company.