Pursuant to Florida law, everyone who operates a motor vehicle in Florida is required to carry automobile insurance coverage. As part of the process of obtaining or renewing your driver’s license, you are usually required to show “proof of insurance” or to otherwise prove that you have adequate insurance coverage. What most people don’t understand
Insurance
Flood Insurance Crisis – Possible Help on the Horizon
By now, most Floridians have heard about – or even experienced – the incredible spike in flood insurance premiums that are coming their way due to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act. In short, the Biggert-Waters act is a new federal law which attempts to address a $24 billion dollar deficit in the coffers of…
Dunedin Sinkhole Saga – The REAL Facts
By now, you’ve most likely seen the stories about the large sinkhole that opened in Dunedin, Florida this week. The Dupre family was awakened early Wednesday morning to what sounded like someone noisily attempting to break into their house. Upon inspection, the homeowners were shocked to see that their entire back porch was sliding into…
ObamaCare Enrollees – Fact or Fiction?
Even though the online insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare, went into effect on October 1, 2013, it seems very few people have actually signed up for coverage under the new law. A recent blog in the Miami Herald stated that the paper had searched “high and low” for individuals…
Citizens Denying Claims While Paying Its Lawyers Million$$ of Dollars
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has been earning a reputation for systematically denying almost every insurance claim asserted by its policyholders. Instead of honoring valid claims, Citizens spends millions of dollars each month “defending” claims – the same type of claims that other insurance companies would routinely pay without question. Although those of us in the…
Water Damage – the Silent Destroyer of Homes
Although hurricanes, earthquakes, and sinkholes get the majority of the attention in the news, the vast majority of insurance claims deal with water damage to property. These claims are generally broken into two categories – flood damage and water leak/seapage damage. Flood claims revolve around damage caused by “rising water”, as opposed to other types…
New Flood Insurance Law May Crush Florida’s Real Estate Market
Pursuant to a new Federal law, premiums for residential flood insurance in Florida may soon be as high as $24,000 a year. A new law, the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, was enacted by Congress in 2012 as a knee jerk reaction to the recent large scale disasters such as hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Proponents…
Rate Hikes Ahead for Citizens Property Insurance – Buckle Your Seatbelt!
Last night, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation held a public hearing on its proposed hikes to the homeowners insurance premiums currently paid by Floridians. The hearing was requested by former state Senator Mike Fasano in advance of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s upcoming decision on whether to approve the rate increases being requested by Citizens…
No Storm Claims? Let’s Jack up the Insurance Rates Anyway!
Despite no major storms or hurricanes hitting Florida since 2005, Florida property insurance rates have continue to skyrocket over the past few years – with no end in sight. Shockingly, a recent AP report showed that Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation has approved more than 100 rate hikes per year since 2009. Where is the…
Failed Sinkhole Repair? The Insurance Company is Still Responsible.
Over the past year or so, we have been getting an increasing number of calls from property owners who continue to experience sinkhole damage to their property – even after their property has been repaired by the insurance company! The factual circumstances are almost always the same – the insurance company mandates that the insured…