How Soon Should You File a Hurricane Milton Damage Claim?
Hurricane Milton caused significant damage across Florida and the South. For many homeowners, getting the money they need to repair their homes and get their lives back to normal is a priority. Homeowners’ insurance policies can help, but to gain access to the coverage you’ve been paying for, you’ll need to file an insurance claim. But when should you file a claim with your insurance provider? Should you wait until the backlog of other claims has slowed down? Here’s what your Florida hurricane insurance claims attorney wants you to know.
You Have One Year From the Date of the Damage
Unfortunately, Florida state law limits the length of time you can wait to file a hurricane damage claim with your homeowners’ insurance provider. Under the law, you have one year from the date of the damage to file your claim. Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9, 2024. This means Floridians have until October 9, 2025, to file their claims with their insurance providers.
Failure to file within that year may mean your claim will be denied. If your claim is denied, you won’t receive money from the insurance provider.
The Sooner You Can File, the Better
Though you have until October 9, 2025, to file a claim for damage resulting from Hurricane Milton, the sooner you can file, the better. Ideally, homeowners should file insurance claims as soon as they’re able to inspect their homes after the storm. For most homeowners, the time between the storm and filing a claim will be just a few days.
By waiting, you’re not doing yourself any favors. The longer you wait to file your claim, the longer it will take to get the money you need to make repairs.
The Hazards of Waiting to File a Claim
Just because you have a year to file an insurance claim, doesn’t mean you should wait for nearly the full year. In fact, doing so can complicate your claim and may make it harder for you to get the full amount you’re owed. Why? Because the damage can get worse over time.
You’re discouraged from making permanent repairs to your home until the insurance adjuster visits your property at a minimum. This way, they can see the full extent of the damage at the time of their walkthrough. But the longer the damage sits, the more likely it is to get worse. This can complicate the insurance adjuster’s job since they won’t be able to tell which damage was caused by the storm and which was caused by other factors.
When they can’t clearly identify the full extent of the damage, they may recommend that the insurance provider give you a smaller settlement than you deserve.
By filing a claim quickly, you’ll be more likely to receive a fair settlement in the first place.
Speak With a Florida Hurricane Insurance Attorney
While it’s important to file a claim as quickly as you can, it’s also a good idea to speak with a Florida hurricane insurance attorney at the beginning of the claims process. Your attorney can help you figure out which types of information your insurance provider needs to adequately process your claim. They can also negotiate with your insurance provider on your behalf if the insurer tries to delay your claim, offers you a low settlement, or denies your claim outright. You’ll have an expert you can rely on to help you with every step of your insurance claim.
Don’t Wait to File a Claim
If your home was damaged during Hurricane Milton, the sooner you can file your insurance claim, the better. But if you haven’t filed your claim yet, now is the perfect time. Just make sure you’re working with an experienced hurricane insurance claims attorney from the beginning. Contact Parrish Law to schedule a consultation.