Your Hurricane Isaias Claim Starts Now
After Hurricane Isaias, thousands of Pensacola-area property owners will be filing insurance claims at the same time. A strong claim starts with prompt notice, thorough documentation, and knowing the rules that apply.
Florida Claim Deadlines to Know
Florida has tightened its claim deadlines in recent years:
- New claims: You generally must give your insurer notice within 1 year of the date of loss.
- Reopened or supplemental claims: generally within 18 months of the date of loss.
- Insurer response: Insurers generally must pay or deny a claim within 60 days of receiving notice.
Report your Isaias claim as soon as you safely can, and keep copies of everything you send and receive.
When Hurricane Claims Go Wrong
Hurricane claims are among the most disputed in property insurance. Common problems include:
- Wind vs. flood disputes: Homeowners policies generally exclude flood and storm surge. When both are present, the cause of each part of the damage matters.
- Hurricane deductibles: Florida policies typically carry a separate hurricane deductible, often a percentage of your dwelling coverage. If an estimate comes in under that deductible, missed damage can decide whether you're paid at all.
- Low estimates: Fast post-storm inspections can miss roof decking, interior water damage, and code-upgrade costs.
- Delays: High claim volume can slow responses. Your insurer still has deadlines to meet.
Denied or Underpaid? You Have Options
A denial or a low offer isn't always the final word. A licensed Public Adjuster can review your policy and your insurer's decision, reinspect your property, bring in an engineer if the cause of loss is disputed, and present a detailed competing estimate. You can hire a Public Adjuster at any stage of your claim, as long as your deadlines haven't passed.
Your Rights When Hiring a Public Adjuster in Florida
Because Escambia County is under a declared state of emergency for Isaias, Florida law gives you these protections:
- 10% fee cap on claim payments for claims tied to the declared emergency.
- No fee on payments your insurer made or agreed to make before you signed.
- Time to cancel: 30 days after the date of loss or 10 days after signing, whichever is longer.
Tiger Adjusters® is highly ranked by consumers, and the Palm Beach office is owned and operated by Michael Bodei.
Michael Bodei
Owner / Operator
Palm Beach, Florida
Florida Public Adjuster-All Lines (0320) #G267436