Business owners face unique challenges during hurricane season in Florida. While some of the considerations are the same as homeowners, there are certain factors that set businesses apart. In order to ensure your property is covered, you’ll want to both check your insurance plan and prepare your physical property so your business can better ride out the storm.
Here’s how…
How to Prepare Your Business Property for Florida Hurricanes
Preparing your business property is similar to preparing your home, with a few extra considerations. Below is what you should do to prepare your business during Florida hurricane season:
- Form an outside barrier around your business with sandbags. This helps to prevent flooding.
- Remove debris and decorations from around your property, especially if you have a standalone building. If you are in a strip mall, make sure there are no shopping carts that are left unattended.
- Cover your windows with storm shutters.
- Ensure any openings to the outside of your building are sealed off. This includes electrical outlets, vents, and wherever else cables travel through your walls.
- Cut branches that may damage your property (especially in a standalone building).
Your Insurance Coverage
While you should always check your claim to see what is covered (and if it is up-to-date), commercial property insurance generally covers the following:
- Storm damage
- Structural damage
- Water damage
- Theft and burglary
- Fire damage
Interruption of business is generally covered by commercial property insurance. With this form of coverage, you are provided with financial support for the time your business is down due to some form of damage (usually for a period of 12-24 months).
In order to ensure you get the appropriate payout from your insurance provider…
- Make sure your policy is up-to-date
- Ensure your coverage is adequate
- Take photos and videos of the property before and after the storm
- Make sure you have a detailed inventory
What If My Insurance Company Tries to Deny My Claim in Bad Faith?
Even if you are fully insured and you’ve put in the work to keep your property safe, you may end up dealing with an insurance provider that decides to deny your claim in bad faith. If this is the case, reach out to Colucci Law Group for support.
Colucci Law Group consists of legal experts who provide clients with support to fight bad-faith claim denials. We will provide you with an outstanding property insurance lawyer to represent you in a suit against your insurance provider. We are also able to file your claim for you and defend your rights, so you get the settlement that you deserve.
For more information about our property insurance legal services, reach out today. We’d be happy to help you to file your claim or represent you in a lawsuit against your insurance provider.
If you suspect that you are the victim of a bad-faith insurance claim denial, we can help. The Colucci Law Group has the resources to assess the validity of your claim at no cost to you. For a free consultation, email us or call our Dunedin office at 727-733-9438. You may also call our Fort Myers office at 239-378-7800. Our team assists victims of bad-faith insurance claims across the state of Florida.