South Florida is a beautiful place to live, however it is very susceptible to hurricanes. South Florida residents should prepare for Hurricane Season so that they are covered in the unfortunate event that they suffer property damage. Hurricane season starts June 1st and runs through November 30th, now is the time to prepare before it is too late.
Even though Erika's future track and intensity remain highly uncertain, tropical storm warnings continue throughout South Florida. Tropical storm Erika is expected to bring heavy rain and gusty winds and could strengthen to a hurricane this weekend. As a result, Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida. Please do not under estimate Erika's potential and follow these three tips to prepare you for any unfortunate event that your property may undergo.
1) Review Your Insurance Policy Carefully
It is important to review your insurance policies carefully. Read the fine print and make sure you have the coverage you need. In particular, pay close attention to the exclusions and policy limits written into your policy and beware if the deductible and type of replacement cost. Remember that most insurance policies do not cover flooding, for that you will need a separate policy, typically from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). If you wish to obtain flood insurance, contact your insurance agent or NFIP at 1-888-356-6329 or visit www.floodsmart.gov. Home-based business losses are also not covered by most insurance policies and require a separate policy. Carefully reviewing your policy will let you know what you are entitled to receive after a hurricane.
2) Create and Maintain an Inventory of Property
Another important thing to do is to take an inventory of your home and the property in it. Take photos or videos of all your personal property or business equipment and keep receipts and serial numbers for major purchases. Make sure you store this documentation in a safe place away from your home, such as a financial institution where you have a safety deposit box. Keep the number of your insurance company as well as a copy of your policy stored in a safe place as well.
3) Seek Experienced Legal Representation
In the unfortunate case that disaster does strike, you should seek legal representation. Our Miami-based insurance law firm has helped many individuals and families gain the upper edge on their insurance providers, so they could recover the compensation, which they are entitled to. We stand ready and willing to help you do the same. Our lead attorney, Luis Mena, has more than 15 years of experience with insurance law and is honored to have been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers® Rising Stars℠ list multiple times. Prior to filing a claim on your behalf, we will take the time to review your insurance policy, answer any questions you may have, help you gather the evidence necessary to document your claim and then assist you in completing each step of the claim process. Insurance companies who know their insured have retained legal representation are far less likely to offer a "lowball settlement" or attempt to deny a valid claim. To find out more about insurance claims or to find out whether you may have a valid claim, get in touch with Mena Law Firm now. Trust us when we say fighting the insurance company is worth it!
