What Are the Most Common Types of Property and Casualty Claims?

Tampa, FL is a wonderful place to live, but there’s no denying that storms and flooding are fairly frequent. If your property has been damaged, talk with a property & casualty attorney if you’re having any issues with your insurance company. Insurance issues are notoriously difficult to solve in our state, but an experienced lawyer can help.

What Are the Most Common Types of Property and Casualty Claims in Tampa, FL?

Water Damage

Possibly the most common claim of all is water damage, and that’s because water damage can come from so many issues. Storms, of course, are always a concern, and storm surges during hurricanes can inundate your property. We also have heavy rainstorms even when there is no hurricane, and don’t forget about issues within the house itself, like a plumbing failure or the malfunction of an appliance.

Wind and Hurricane

This is Florida, which means hurricanes and tropical storms are simply a reality of life. These storms bring strong winds that can damage windows, siding, your roof, and even the overall structural integrity of your home. Hurricanes often come with hail as well, and this can cause a huge issue with your roof and require expensive repairs.

Mold Damage

Given how frequent storms are and how much flooding is an issue, it’s not surprising that mold damage is a common claim here in Florida. Our environment is ideal for the growth of mold, and it can happen rapidly once water gets in, whether that’s because of a storm or a leak or just because your indoor humidity has gotten too high. Even if no water has actually entered, if a power outage takes out your air conditioning for enough days, mold can take hold.

Fire and Lightning Damage

We usually think of the wind and the water damage first when we think of Florida storms, but Florida also has more lightning strikes than any state in the USA. Lightning strikes can start fires, and of course fires can also result from accidents and electrical issues. Fire claims can include not only repair of damage caused by the flames themselves but also secondary damage from smoke and from the water that’s required to put out the fire.

Vandalism and Theft

Florida is not unique in this area. It’s simply an unfortunate reality that some people tried to steal from others, and in doing so often caused damage to a home.

Contacting a Property & Casualty Attorney

Even if you have a valid claim, it’s not uncommon for the insurance company to either deny it or offer you a settlement that’s much too low. They may claim that the cause of the damage is not covered, that you don’t have enough documentation, or that you did not do enough to mitigate the damage once you realized it was happening.

Don’t try to go up against a powerful insurance company on your own. Reach out to the HD Law Partners in Tampa now for help. We also help clients in Fort Myers, Orlando, and Sarasota.

Tags: Tampa Insurance Defense
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