In the months since Hurricane Ian battered Southwest Florida devastating parts of the coast, data from the state Office of Insurance Regulation, shows nearly 40 percent of insurance claims have either been rejected or remain in limbo without payment.
The data, which was last updated on Jan. 20, 2023, shows a total of 683,456 claims were submitted. Of those, 87,810 are still open claims but have not received payment and 169,355 were closed without payment.
Those living in Lee County, the hardest hit by Ian, also have seen more than 30 percent of claims in the county denied or still without payment.
According to a report from the New York Post, even when an insurance claim is paid, it might not be enough money to rebuild. The Post interviewed one Lee County family who said they were offered only $500 in compensation for their home, which was “left unlivable.” “It’s shocking what is happening here,” Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt reportedly told the Post. “It’s been a disaster. People are on the edge. They’re desperate.”
Why are property damage claims being denied or severally underpaid?
For many Floridians who live alongside rivers, Ian was a devastating way to learn about how badly a river floods following a storm. One of the common causes for a property insurer to deny a claim is asserting that the damage was caused by flooding (and not wind), which is not covered by homeowner’s insurance.
Water that rises from the ground up, is generally handled through the federal flood insurance program.
However, many residents refute that it was flood that caused their damage and insist their claim was wrongfully denied. They assert that the cause of damage was wind, which is covered under a homeowner policy.
If you are engaged in a dispute with your insurance company over a flood vs. wind damage claim, you should immediately contact Consumer Law Office (CLO) and have your property damage claim reviewed by one of our Florida Property Damage Claim Attorneys. Our Florida Property Damage Attorneys will help you receive the maximum property damage compensation you are entitled to under your insurance policy.
Contact CLO Today 305-940-0924 for a FREE Comprehensive Property Damage assessment and consultation. Visit https://consumerlawoffice.com/
Your insurance company has the resources to hire experts to protect their interests; your representation should be no different.
We only get paid when you get paid by your insurance company.
Contact CLO Today! 305-940-0924
