If you live in Florida, hurricanes are a fact of life. They are impossible to avoid and, because of this, the damage they may cause should not be ignored. In order to ensure you are financially protected in case a hurricane damages your home, you’ll want to make sure you purchase a homeowners insurance plan that covers hurricanes and tropical storms.

Once a storm does hit, you’ll need to consider the hurricane deductible you need to meet and where your coverage starts. But What is a hurricane deductible? And what should you do to ensure you get a fair payout from your insurance company?

Below is more about hurricane deductibles and what to do after a hurricane hits to get the payout you deserve.

What is a Hurricane Deductible?

A hurricane deductible is the amount a policyholder has to pay before their homeowner’s insurance kicks in. The range of how much a homeowner has to pay before the coverage starts may vary, but often it is a percentage of the home’s insured value. This is generally between 1%-10% depending on the plan. Once that deductible is met, your insurance will start paying out (as long as the specific damage is covered by your policy).

When paying your deductible, you only pay it once. For example, you retain a contractor and you pay the company the $5000 deductible on your home owners insurance to begin working. You have now paid your deductible to this company and you do not pay any other companies. Make sure you get a receipt as soon as you have exchanged funds to give a copy to your insurance company.

What Do I Do After a Hurricane Hits?

After a hurricane hits, there are a few things you’ll want to do to ensure you get the best payout possible:

Inventory the Damage Properly

Be very thorough when you inventory the damage from the hurricane. Take lots of photos and videos of the exterior and interior of your home. List out what was damaged. The more information you have, the better.

Reach Out to Your Insurance Company

Make sure you contact your insurance company as soon as possible. It’s very likely they will send an adjuster to check out the damage and determine the payout, so be prepared for a visit.

Hire a Law Firm to File Your Claim

In order to ensure your claim is filed properly, consider hiring a law firm like Colucci Law Group. Our top experts will ensure your claim is filed properly, and we’ll help you to get the best payout possible.

What If My Insurance Doesn’t Want to Pay?

If you’ve met your deductible, taken a proper inventory, and filed correctly, your insurance company needs to pay you. If they refuse to, reach out to Colucci Law Group.

The team at Colucci Law Group is made up of experts at combating bad faith claim denials, and we will provide you with an experienced 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 Clearwater 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.