Our team at The Cordova Law Firm would like to reach out ahead of the 2020 hurricane season and offer some useful information and steps to take in the unfortunate event your home, business, or property is affected by a storm. It is vital that you have records of your property’s condition should you need to file a claim with your insurance company. We suggest you take precautions to protect your home before and in the event your home becomes damaged as a result of the storm.
Prior to the Storm: Document Your Property and Have Insurance Paperwork On Hand
Document any and all existing damage to your property and obtain photographs of your property in its current state. If you are unable to take photos before the storm, try to collect any recent photos you have available of your home and personal property as this may help to prove your property was in pre-loss condition prior to the storm.
Locate important paperwork including your insurance policy or at the minimum your insurance policy’s declaration’s page. This will help expedite the time it takes you to file a claim if your property suffers from damage as a result of a hurricane and/or storm.
After the Storm: Document Damage and Dates
When it is safe to do so, photograph your property’s interior, exterior, and roof. If possible, note the date the storm passed and any other important dates (e.g. when you first noticed the damage, if you had an inspector come evaluate the property, etc.). Providing us with a more accurate timeline of the event will facilitate the process of your case. Consult with an attorney experienced in handling insurance claims before giving any recorded statements or before meeting with the adjuster or engineer assigned to your claim. We have handled many homeowner claims where an engineer is hired months after the storm and the engineer states the damage preexisting to the date of loss.
As always, the safety of you and your loved ones should be your absolute priority. We hope that this information helps and as always you can contact our office with any questions or concerns that you have regarding your existing claims and if a new claim arises. We wish your safety through this event and look forward to helping you through this difficult time.
For hurricane preparedness please visit:
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
For hurricane recovery assistance:
https://www.dol.gov/general/stormrecovery
To monitor the storm and receive hurricane safety tips:
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
