Many people don’t know that highly populated neighborhoods in South Florida actually lie within a flood zone. This past week, this fact was made clear to residents and tourists visiting South Florida – especially in Fort Lauderdale.
Recently, from April 9-12, 2023, a heavily populated area in Downtown Fort Lauderdale experienced relentless torrential rain and strong winds, leading to flash floods, blocked streets, car damage, city infrastructure damage, and commercial and residential property damage.
Do you live in South Florida? Here are two links to help you see how close you are to a declared flood zone.
The Aftermath of a Flood Disaster and How a Florida Property Damage Claim Attorney Can Help
Flash floods are typically caused by heavy rain from powerful thunderstorms, tropical storms, or hurricanes. A flash flood can happen suddenly and pose significant risks to homes, businesses, and city infrastructure. The recovery process following a flood can be exhausting and filled with a lengthy back-and-forth battle with your insurance company.
Flood Insurance vs. Homeowners Insurance
Water damage and flood damage are two distinct types of damage, and the policy needed to receive compensation will vary depending on how your policy is written and the type of damage you sustained. In some cases, you may need to file a damage claim with both your homeowner’s insurance policy and your flood insurance policy to receive compensation for your damaged property.
Flood insurance is a separate policy necessary for covering flood-related property damage.
Water intrusion damage
Water intrusion damage occurs when water penetrates a property’s exterior and enters the building, leading to damage that can be both visible and hidden. This damage can result from various sources, including heavy rainfall, storm surges, plumbing leaks, and poor construction or maintenance. Common indicators of water intrusion include staining, mold, warped or rotting materials, and foul odors. If not corrected in a timely manner, water intrusion damage can lead to extensive structural damage and pose health risks to occupants.
The strong winds associated with the recent storm in South Florida led to several buildings experiencing water intrusion damage.
How a Florida Property Damage Claim Attorney Can Help with a Flood Damage Claim
After a flood, your first priority should be ensuring your safety and the safety of those around you. Flood events resulting from storms or tropical systems often cause widespread devastation, which usually affects entire neighborhoods or cities. At a time of such widespread chaos, insurance companies will become overwhelmed due to a sudden influx of claims. Additionally, your goal is to restore your property to its pre-loss condition as quickly as possible to bring order back into your life or business. A Florida Property Damage Claim Attorney can help push your case forward to ensure the claim process moves along while helping you collect more compensation than you normally could have collected alone.
Insurance companies are notorious for denying, underpaying, or even delaying damage claims.
Our highly experienced team of damage claim attorneys know the law, and we understand the tactics insurance companies deploy. You need a formidable team backing you up and fighting for you.
We will negotiate with your insurance company to fight for you to receive the compensation you are entitled to.
JT Law Firm has experience dealing with insurance companies and we know how to help home and business owners recover from flood damage and water intrusion damage. Experience and results matter.
You deserve a fair and proper settlement.
Managing a flood insurance or water intrusion claim can be time-consuming and confusing. Our team of attorneys can handle this process for you.
Schedule your complimentary discovery call today. Call us at 855-585-2997.
