Roof Damage Claims Lawyers in Florida
The roof damage claims lawyers in Florida at Smith & Vanture can help you if your roof damage claims were denied or underpaid. Roof repairs can cost thousands of dollars. According to Forbes, the national average for a total roof replacement is $8,000, but factors unique to Florida can make the cost of roof replacement even higher. Harsh heat that makes working conditions difficult can result in some roof repair jobs ending up costing even more than $8000. If your home’s roof was damaged during hurricane Ian, homeowner’s insurance may be able to cover repairs. Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies cover roof repair if a roof was damaged in a hurricane, storm, due to high wind, or other sudden unexpected natural disaster.
Roof repair claims can get complicated because sometimes storm damage may only have directly affected part of a roof but might affect the lifespan of the roof. Insurance companies want to save money, so they may push to repair a roof only partially, but if homeowners don’t know their rights, they might accept these partial repairs, when they really could have been entitled to completely replace their roof. Understanding what your claim is worth requires a combination of understanding how storm damage can affect the life of your roof, an understanding of your rights under your insurance policy, and an understanding of structural integrity and roofing. The average person might not be versed in all three of these areas, and sometimes insurance adjusters might take advantage of this, wanting to protect their bottom lines.
If your roof was damaged in hurricane Ian, and the money your insurance company is offering to repair or replace your roof isn’t enough to cover repairs, there may be many reasons why your claim is being denied or underpaid. The kind of insurance policy you have, your deductible, or negligence on your part could affect your claim. The roof damage claims lawyers in Florida at Smith & Vanture can help you navigate the insurance claim process. Our Florida roof damage claims lawyers in Florida can review the details of your policy, look over your quotes from licensed contractors, assess the damage your roof sustained in the storm, and help you fight for the settlement you might deserve. If your claim was denied or underpaid, the Florida roof damage claims attorneys at Smith & Vanture can fight for your rights or even take your insurance company to court.
Factors That Can Affect Your Roof Damage Claim in Florida
While there are many factors that can affect whether you’ll receive money to cover your roof damage claim in Florida, three main factors can have a major effect on whether your claim is denied or approved, and even impact how much money you’ll receive. If the settlement your homeowner’s insurance company is offering isn’t enough to cover your roof damage repairs or roof replacement, you may want to speak to the Florida roof damage claims lawyers at Smith & Vanture today. Our Florida roof damage claims insurance lawyers in Florida can review your policy, review your damages and losses, and fight for your rights. Here are three main factors that can affect your roof damage insurance claim settlement in Florida:
- Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost Insurance. The type of insurance coverage you have will determine how much money you might receive to make repairs. Actual cash value coverage will not typically cover the full cost of a roof replacement because with actual cash value insurance, your insurance adjuster will take depreciation into account. As you can imagine, a 20-year-old roof is worth less than a 2-year-old roof. If you purchased actual cash value insurance, your insurance company will factor in your roof’s age and you’ll likely only receive a fraction of the cost to repair the roof based on how many years your old roof could be expected to last. Sound complicated? It can be! This is where a roof damage claim insurance lawyer in Florida at Smith & Vanture can help. We can carefully review your insurance adjuster’s process in determining depreciation and fight to help you get the best possible settlement permitted under the law and your policy. If you have replacement cost insurance, your insurance company will pay to cover the replacement of your roof. Replacement cost insurance pays you more, but if you have this type of insurance, you’ve likely been paying higher premiums for this policy. If you have replacement cost insurance and aren’t receiving enough money to replace your roof, you may want to speak to the roof damage claim insurance lawyer in Florida at Smith & Vanture.
- If your insurance deductible is higher than the cost to repair your roof, your insurance won’t pay to cover damages. You might find yourself on the hook for the whole repair if you have a high deductible. Yet sometimes insurance companies may try to avoid claims by telling you that they should only have to cover a partial repair. In some cases, this may be the case, but in other instances, where damage was significant, partial repairs may not be safest nor the best option. One way a roof damage claim insurance lawyer in Florida at Smith & Vanture might be able to help you is by showing that your roof needs more extensive repairs than your adjuster might claim it needs. In some cases, you may need to hire an independent adjuster to evaluate your roof or show your insurance company estimates from licensed contractors. In some instances, insurance coverage following wind damage may be subject to even higher deductibles than other types of damages.
- Insurance companies expect homeowners to maintain their properties and maintain their roofs. If you let your roof suffer extensive wear and tear and then a hurricane or storm caused extensive damage, your insurance company may try to claim that the damage was worsened due to your negligence in failing to maintain your roof. Yet, sometimes insurance companies may use negligence as an excuse to try to pay homeowners less. If you did maintain your roof and your insurance company is accusing you of negligence, the roof damage claim insurance lawyer in Florida at Smith & Vanture may be able to help you.
These are just some factors that can affect your roof damage claim. If your home sustained flood damage, it is also important to note that standard homeowner’s insurance coverage doesn’t cover flood damage. If your roof was somehow damaged due to extremely high-water levels, your insurance company may be able to deny your claim.
If you have questions about your rights if you are making a roof damage claim, or if your roof damage claim was denied, contact the roof damage claim insurance lawyers in Florida at Smith & Vanture today. We are here to help you. We can fight a wrongfully denied roof damage claim.
Your Responsibilities When Filing a Roof Damage Claim in Florida
When filing a roof damage claim, it is important to document all damage. Take photos. Get estimates from licensed contractors of how much it will cost to repair your roof using the same materials and style and get a sense of the kind of repairs you need to make. You might need to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage to your home. This may mean putting up a tarp to prevent water damage. You’ll also want to make an insurance claim as soon as possible and get this information to your insurance company. It can take your insurance company up to 30 days to give you a verdict on what is and isn’t covered, and in this time, you might want to read the fine print of your policy. Does wind damage carry a higher deductible? Did you purchase actual cash value insurance or replacement cost insurance? Are certain types of damages excluded from your policy?
Insurance companies have an obligation to honor their contracts, but you still must prove that damages occurred. If you find that the settlement being offered doesn’t cover your losses, you have the right to appeal a denied or underpaid claim. The roof damage claims lawyers in Florida at Smith & Vanture may be able to help you with this process. Contact our lawyers today to learn more.
Contact a Roof Damage Claim Insurance Lawyer in Florida Today
Roof damage repairs can be expensive. If you’ve paid for homeowner’s insurance, you may have the right to receive a settlement to help pay for repairs. Smith & Vanture is a roof damage claim insurance law firm in Florida that may be able to help you appeal a denied or underpaid claim. We fight for the rights of homeowners after the storm hits. We are here to help.