A natural feature of a severe storm is heavy rainfall. With this, you may be surprised to learn that storm damage and associated water damage may not be treated equally in the eyes of your homeowners’ insurance company. Further, it may make the difference between having your property damage claim approved or denied. Without further ado, please continue reading to learn the critical decipherings of storm damage and flood damage in the insurance field and how an experienced Miami flood damage lawyer at the Law Offices of Gonzalo Funes, PA, can fight for the compensation of your losses regardless.
What is the difference between storm damage and flood damage in a homeowners’ insurance claim?
Firstly, as far as a standard homeowners’ insurance policy goes, storm damage, or wind damage, is generally defined as damage caused by wind, hail, or rain entered through a storm-created opening. For example, if a hailstorm broke a window and caused water to enter the interior of your house. Or, if a windstorm knocked shingles off your roof and caused an overhead leak of water into your home.
Secondly, flood damage may be considered when rain from a storm surge causes water to rise from the ground, overflow bodies of water, and intrude into normally dry land. So, for instance, a hurricane may create unprecedented amounts of floodwater that inevitably seep into the flooring of your home. With this distinction, you must understand that your insurer may cover your claimed storm damage, but not your flood damage.
Can the combination of storm and flood damage still be covered by an insurance policy?
You may be astonished to learn that, especially in the state of Florida, flood damage is not typically included in homeowners’ insurance coverage. However, it is worth noting that the state observes the doctrine of concurrent causation. With this, under specific circumstances, you may be compensated if a covered peril (i.e., storm/wind damage) contributed to your property damage, even if an excluded peril (i.e., flood damage) also played a role.
This is a highly complex legal concept to fight for, though. Plus, you must read through your policy’s language and ensure there is no anti-concurrent causation clause that explicitly denies this legal attempt. All of this to say that you cannot ensure this insurance claims process without a strong legal advocate in your corner. Or, to avoid this headache altogether, you may consider adding flood insurance to your existing plan.
To conclude, to ensure you get the coverage to which you are entitled, it is in your best interest to have a skilled Miami property damage lawyer representing you. Please pick up the phone and call The Law Offices of Gonzalo Funes, PA, today.
