Now that the hurricane season has officially begun, the prevention of wind damage should be on the forefront of every Floridian’s mind. Although there is nothing we can do to prevent hurricanes or other storms from occurring, there are steps we can take to minimize the damage these storms cause to our homes and property.
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
Hurricane Myths vs. Reality
Recently, the Sun Sentinel newspaper wote an article regarding some of the urban legends, myths and not-quite-accurate beliefs some people have about hurricanes. Although on initial blush such information may seem like just interesting fodder for conversations at the water cooler, the reality is that the information contained in this article could save a lot
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
Jury Verdict against Tower Hill Select Insurance Company – Justice Prevails!
For the past three years, my clients have had to battle with their insurance carrier, Tower Hill Select Insurance Company, to obtain coverage for the repair of damage caused to their home by sinkhole activity. Time and time again, Tower Hill Select refused to provide any assistance to our clients and instead, threatened to pursue
National Hurricane Center Changing Definition for Hurricane Warnings
Last fall, Hurricane Sandy caused devastating damage to the eastern seaboard – yet the National Hurricane Center did not issue any sort of hurricane warning to the people north of North Carolina. It is not that the National Hurricane Center was negligent in any way, it is just that by the time Sandy reached the
Mold Coverage – More Limited Than You Might Think
Property damage caused by mold can be a real problem – especially here in Florida. The combination of Florida’s humid climate and often rainy weather create the perfect petri dish for the creation and growth of toxic and damaging mold. Fortunately, most homeowner’s insurance policies provide coverage for the damage caused to your property by
Citizens Property Insurance Ignores Neutral Evaluation Process
Back in 2007, the insurance industry lobbied for the passage of an alternative dispute resolution mechanism for disputed sinkhole claims – a process which they cleverly entitled “Neutral Evaluation”. The concept was that if there was a disagreement between a property owner and an insurance company as to any issue related to a sinkhole claim,
Catastrophic Ground Cover Collapse Coverage? WORTHLESS!
Back in the good old days of yore (which, at this point, was approximately 4 years ago), whenever an insurance company provided you with a policy of homeowner’s insurance, it automatically included coverage for any damage caused by sinkhole activity. In 2007, as part of the insurance industry’s never ending attempt to limit coverage to
But They Said the Sinkhole Was Fixed – What Now?
Over the past several years, many homeowners in Florida have had the misfortune of incurring damage to their property as the result of sinkhole activity. For many homeowners, the headaches and inconvenience caused by having to undergo the initial repair of this damage turned out to only be the beginning of the battle.
In almost