What You Need to Know About Hurricane Homeowner Claims
Gulf Coast living provides many exciting recreational activities that the land-locked residents of most other states do not get to experience. But these opportunities come with a risk; warm-water hurricanes.
Homeowners know they must prepare for these events, and that includes knowing how to purchase insurance that will help you rebuild in case your part of the state faces the might of a strong storm.
Insurance That Protects Against Hurricanes
A storm can cause structural damage in a number of ways.
What first comes to mind is flooding, a catastrophe that is not covered in your typical homeowner’s insurance. Instead, an additional insurance rider must be purchased — flood insurance. If your homeowner’s insurance agency doesn’t participate in this federally-regulated insurance market, you can reach out to the National Flood Insurance Program directly to find a local agent and policy for you.
Another form of storm damage that must be considered is wind and hail. Again, these are catastrophes that are not usually covered in a typical homeowner’s policy! Homeowners must be aware of what is covered in their home insurance policy, and what is excluded. Protection against wind and hail damage is usually an additional expense item that must be added to a plan.
If your insurance does not offer this option, you may have to buy an additional insurance plan for your house from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.
If you cannot find the insurance protection you need for your home, look toward the Texas Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan, also known as the Texas FAIR Plan. They can help you purchase basic insurance for your home after you’ve been denied coverage by other insurance companies.
How to Make Your Home Insurance Work for You
Now that your home is covered, you should prepare for the worst-case scenario by starting the documentation you’ll need in case any sort of home damage does occur.
Create a list of the property you own, and then update the list regularly. Try to include information about when expensive items were bought, their price, and their serial numbers.
Most household items can be included in your list of property damaged from a storm, including spoiled food, so having this list will help you substantiate your claim in the future. Keep this list in a fire and water-proof container, and also keep any photographic evidence of your home’s valuables secure for future use.
Finally, be sure to stay on schedule with paying your insurance premiums. Do not allow insurance companies the opportunity to deny your damage reimbursement because of this basic requirement!
McAllen Attorneys Specializing in Bad Faith Insurance Litigation
While we hope that our region will be able to avoid any major storms this hurricane season, we also want to ensure that the people of the Rio Grande Valley are fully prepared. Should your home suffer severe damage caused by a storm and you cannot secure the coverage to you, do NOT hesitate to contact the experienced insurance claim attorneys of Millin & Millin.
Get on the path of recovery by calling the legal experts of Millin & Millin today at (956) 631-5600.