Last year, South Carolina suffered from the flooding that Hurricane Joaquin had left. As the storm barreled through the state, it left about 40,000 people without water.
Dams were busted and homes were submerged and ruined, especially in and around the state capital. A spokeswoman for the Department of Public Safety, Sherri Iacobelli, said that the storm at the time had killed 11 people in the state.
Of that total, seven deaths were weather-related drowning and four others were traffic fatalities linked to the storm. Many of the residents reported stories of what they had seen on the news, or how they were already in battles with their insurance companies about leaking roofs or fallen trees [1].
As the homeowners begin to collect themselves and get ready for reality, the hassles of dealing with the insurance companies will continue to escalate. How will their policies work? What will be covered?
In South Carolina, just like in Florida, the state allows insurance companies to apply hurricane deductibles onto homeowner’s policies.
Every state’s insurance department will have its own regulations that insurance companies must follow. In some coastal areas with high wind risk, insurers may require hurricane deductibles higher than a standard of 5 percent.
And some states let policyholders choose higher hurricane deductibles to reduce their premiums. Whether a hurricane deductible applies to a claim depends on the specific benchmark picked by your home insurance company or state insurance department.
Wind or Hurricane
As a result of the storm activity of recent years, many homeowner’s insurance carriers now include a “wind” or “hurricane” deductible. In fact, many insurance carriers slipped in the change in deductibles with little notification to policyholders.
What’s the difference between a wind deductible and a hurricane deductible?
In addition to understanding how a deductible applies to your claim, it is critical to understand the difference b between a wind and a hurricane deductible:
A hurricane deductible applies to damage sustained from a hurricane. Some insurance companies include a specific mile-per-hour wind speed, while others state that the hurricane must be designated as such by the National Weather Service or the National Hurricane Center. As a result, this form is more appealing.
A wind deductible is more penalizing than a hurricane deductible. A wind deductible applies to any wind damage, and is not limited to a storm that meets the definition of a hurricane or a particular “mile-per-hour” wind speed requirement. This form will impose the larger out of pocket cost to the policyholder for any and all wind claims [2].
What about flood?
Flood insurance is offered through the deferral government’s National Flood Insurance Programs and policies are sold and managed by private insurance companies.
This means your insurance company might pay to remove the trees that have fallen during the storm, but they won’t cover damage from rain that’s entered your home.
And if you’re thinking about rushing out to get coverage before a major storm, just keep in mind that coverage does not take into effect until 30 days after purchase [3].
It is important to go over your insurance policy with your insurance professional who will make sure that your home is properly insured with the proper terms and conditions available in the marketplace.
Home is where the heart is and there are few situations more stressful than having your family’s safe haven destroyed by a catastrophic storm.
Home owners faithfully pay their insurance premium each month in hopes that their coverage will protect them in the event of significant property damage.
The claims process can be arduous, frustrating and disheartening. If your claim is denied, the appeals process can be overwhelming; the very insurance company that denied you claim typically will be the decision maker regarding the appeal.
The odds are stacked against the home owner when a Hurricane loss occurs. Experienced and competent representation can make a tremendous difference in the claims fight. An experienced Clearwater insurance bad faith attorney will understand how to proceed with a bad faith insurance claim.
As a Florida personal injury law firm, we make it a point to work with the insurance carriers and provide them with all pertinent records and cooperate as much as possible.
The insurance carrier will often screw up without you forcing their hand.
If you or a loved one has had a bad faith experience with an insurance company, do not hesitate to contact Dolman Law Group.
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Matthew Dolman is a civil trial lawyer and managing partner of the Dolman Law Group, with offices in Clearwater, New Port Richey and St. Petersburg. He limits his practice to first and third party insurance claims relating to injuries suffered by an individual due to the negligence exhibited by an individual or corporation. Matthew has been selected as a Super Lawyer by his colleagues in 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015, as published in Law & Politics Magazine. He can be reached at 727.451.9600.