Florida Hail Damage Lawyers

Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover hail damage. Yet, that doesn't mean that insurers pay out quickly or without a fight. Many policyholders want help navigating the claims process and recovering the money they deserve after sustaining hail damage. A Florida hail damage lawyer from our team can review your options and seek compensation based on your policy's terms.

Dolman Law Group provides free consultations for homeowners dealing with their insurers. If your insurance company refuses to pay according to your policy's coverage (or if you just want help navigating the process), contact our team. We intend to hold the insurer accountable for the full cost of your damages.

Dolman Law Group Represents Clients With Florida Hail Damage Claims

At Dolman Law Group, we represent homeowners and help them navigate their property damage insurance claims. This includes claims based on hail damage and other weather-related perils. You shouldn't have to fight your insurance provider to get the coverage promised in your homeowners insurance policy.

Today, you can explore your options during a complimentary case evaluation. Here, you can share the extent of your property's damage, the issues you're having with the insurer, and other concerns. We explain unusual terms and determine the steps necessary to recover a payout based on your damages.

We Can Help No Matter Where You Are in the Claims Process

Some hail damage claimants contact us because:

• They do not know where to start.
• The claims process is confusing or challenging.
• The insurer causes unreasonable delays.
• The insurer undervalues the cost of repairs.
• The claims adjuster requests impossible or unreasonable documentation of the damage.
• The adjuster is rude or difficult to work with.
• The insurance company denied the claim.

We Tackle Even Complicated Hail Damage Claims in Florida

Insurance companies respect Dolman Law Group. They do not like knowing we are representing their policyholders. Still, they respect our knowledge of the industry and how we hold them accountable for the terms of their policies and coverage.

We earned their respect by:

• Understanding the insurance industry, applicable laws, and how the claims process works
• Representing our clients' rights ceaselessly
• Demanding insurers act in good faith or face legal consequences
• Requiring insurers to operate ethically in all interactions

Our firm believes in open and honest communication with our clients. We can assess your situation and give you our honest opinion about your options. You can trust that throughout our partnership, your lawyer keeps the lines of communication open, allowing you to ask questions at any time.

We Don't Charge Upfront Fees or Costs

Our property damage attorneys work based on contingency. We do not ask our clients to pay anything upfront. We do not charge hourly fees, either. Instead, we work for a percentage of the payout we recover in the case. We only get paid if you do. We are happy to answer any questions about our fees, discuss the percentage, or explain what to expect during your free initial consultation.

Our Attorneys Fight for Hail Damage Compensation

When our attorneys represent a client with hail damage, we aim to protect their rights and secure compensation based on their policy's terms. This usually requires providing documentation to the insurance company and negotiating a fair settlement based on their damages.

This requires us to:

• Review the insurance policy and examine its terms
• Document the peril that caused the damage
• Take photos and videos of the damage
• Gather other related evidence, such as receipts
• Get estimates for repairs
• Inventory and value property damage losses
• Calculate a fair settlement range

We demand a fair payout only once we understand what our client stands to lose. You should never accept a settlement until you know how much your damages will cost. Once you sign an agreement, you cannot go back for more money in many cases.

With Our Hail Damage Team, You Have Legal Options

When you call on us, you can count on our attorneys to fight for your money. We calculate a fair settlement range based on your policy terms, damage, and repair costs. Then, we develop a strategy to recover that compensation.

This could require us to:

• File a claim and negotiate for a fair settlement
• Appeal a denial or otherwise challenge the insurer's decision
• Sue the insurance company

Most property damage claims never go to trial. However, we want to keep this option open during negotiations, as we could use a lawsuit as leverage. Florida law gives us up to five years from the damage date to sue. In the big scheme of things, this isn't a long time. We encourage you to connect with our team at the first sign of trouble with the insurer.

Our Lawyers Handle Florida Hail Damage Claim Denials

Insurance adjusters often look for reasons to deny property damage claims. Despite having an agreement with their policyholders to cover certain types of damages, paying this money hurts the company's bottom line. This is especially true after large-scale weather events, such as hurricanes.

If the insurer denies your claim, it should notify you of this decision in writing. You shouldn't have to guess why it denied your claim. It also must outline your next steps to challenge the decision. Rather than taking these steps on your own, you should consider partnering with our hail damage team.

Why Do Insurance Companies Deny Claims?

After a denial, our plan of action depends greatly on why the insurer denied your claim. We can appeal or challenge most denials. Generally, as long as our client upheld their end of the contract and the damage occurred because of a covered peril, they have options.

The denials that are toughest to fight occur when our clients do not follow through on their responsibilities.

These responsibilities include:

• Paying their monthly premiums
• Complying with all filing deadlines
• Accurately representing your claim

We can assess the circumstances and determine how your policy's terms apply.

Reasons for denied claims include:

• Insufficient evidence to document the damage or repair expenses
• Claims that a non-covered peril caused the damage
• Damage occurred to an undisclosed addition or upgrade
• Failing to mitigate additional losses, such as patching a hole in the roof

When we take over a case after a denial, we gather additional evidence and strengthen the claim. Insufficient documentation is one of the most common—and easiest to challenge—reasons for denial. We gather photos and videos of the damage, get repair estimates, inventory lost property, and take other steps to show our client's financial losses.

Sometimes, we can call an insurer and demand it reexamine the claim based on new evidence. When an insurer learns that we're on the case, it may agree to take another look. This could lead to a settlement offer. More often, we need to file an appeal and submit supporting evidence. We know how appeals work and the actions we must take to protect our clients' rights.

Understanding Florida Hail Damage, Coverage, and Compensation

Large hail is not common, but it can occur and cause significant damage to dwellings, personal property, and vehicles. Even relatively small hail can cause damage and require repairs when it occurs in a severe storm, along with other types of damage. High winds, in particular, can add to the damage done by hail.

Some common types of hail damage include:

• Holes in the home's roof
• Damage to shingles and dents in metal roofing
• Broken windows, skylights, storm doors, sunrooms, and lanais
• Damaged vehicles, including broken glass or cosmetic damage
• Holes in vinyl siding
• Damage to outbuildings, sheds, fences, decks, and other structures

Your Insurance Policy Could Account for These Covered Losses

Our attorneys understand why you need money quickly to make home repairs and replace your damaged property. Even when the damage is not severe, and you can remain at home, it is only natural to want to put this frustrating, stressful experience behind you.

Our team helps clients understand their insurance policies and the coverage they provide. We review these policies, compare them to the damage that occurred, and demand the insurer provide an appropriate payout. This includes coverage for:

Repairs to Your Home

Your property damage insurance should provide enough money to pay for the necessary repairs to your home. Compensable losses could include roof repairs or replacement, new siding, new windows, or other repairs. Yet, after requesting damages, insurers often try to undervalue claims. You must understand the costs of the repairs before you agree to a payout.

Our team handles getting fair estimates for repairs. We also know how to identify places where insurance companies often try to cut corners. For example, roofs old enough to suffer damage from small hail often do not handle repairs well. The shingles are brittle from years of sun, rain, and wear. The entire roof requires replacement. Spot repairs are not a viable option.

We fight for everything you're entitled to receive from the liable insurer. If the insurer contests that your losses go beyond your policy's limits, still, we can fight for the coverage you need.

Personal Property Losses

Any items that suffer damage and require repair or replacement fall under this category. Your insurance policy likely provides some coverage for these losses. Policies usually either cover replacement costs or the actual cash value of items. Actual cash value takes the age and useful life of the item into account. The replacement value does not.

This is often the most difficult part of losses for property owners to document. The insurer will ask for an inventory of losses and their corresponding values. It is difficult to remember the contents of your home and determine what requires replacement—even when you're not under immense stress. Our team can help with the process of documenting what personal items need repair or replacement.

Temporary Relocation Expenses

Your homeowners insurance policy likely includes temporary relocation coverage. This pays for some expenses if you cannot remain in your home because of severe damage.

Your settlement could account for:

• The cost of boarding a pet
• Your home's utilities, such as water and electricity, while you can't remain there
• The cost of doing laundry in a laundromat
• Additional transportation costs
• Meals

The policy terms related to temporary relocation costs vary widely. Your policy could provide extensive coverage for a range of expenses or have a relatively low cap. We can explain your options based on your policy's terms.

Is Hail Damage an Excluded Peril?

While all property damage policies have exclusions, hail damage is not usually an excluded peril. However, hail is rarely the only peril that occurs at the same time. If hail occurs in conjunction with an excluded cause, getting compensation could require additional evidence.

For example, homeowners policies exclude hurricane damage. You generally have to purchase a separate policy to access this coverage. Our team can assess your coverage, offer advice, and explain your financial recovery options.

How Can I Bolster My Hail Damage Claim?

Our attorneys intend to do everything possible to resolve your Florida hail damage claim. Yet, there are some things you can do to promote the claims process. Some considerations include:

Mitigating Further Damage to Your Property

Insurance companies look for any reason to lowball claims. One of these tactics involves accusing the homeowner of failing to mitigate damage after a hail storm.

Consider this scenario to understand more:

• Hail damaged your home's roof.
• You didn't patch the hole.
• A thunderstorm rolled in, pouring gallons and gallons of water into your living room.

Here, the insurer may pay for the cost of repairing your roof since that's one of your covered losses. However, it may not cover the cost of water damage; the insurer may instead allege that because you didn't take reasonable measures to protect your property, it's not liable.

So, in the aftermath of a weather event, board up broken windows, patch holes in the roof, and implement other measures to protect your residence.

Take Time to Inventory Your Losses

The insurance company may offer a settlement immediately after you file a claim. However, without knowing the full extent of your damages, there's no way to know if this is a fair deal. We know you want to resolve your claim as soon as possible. Yet, doing so could leave you with various out-of-pocket losses. You don't want that, and neither do we.

By allowing your hail damage lawyer to fully evaluate your losses, you can negotiate a proper settlement with the liable insurer. Remember: accepting any amount of money could free the insurer from liability. We encourage you to run all potential settlement offers past your hail damage lawyer first.

Refuse to Give a Recorded Statement

You only have to provide the insurer with basic information to file a claim, such as your name, policy number, and other relevant details. You are under no obligation to give a recorded statement.

Doing so could:

• Give the insurer reason to discredit your story
• Jeopardize your claim's outcome
• Provide the claims adjuster with information to lowball your losses

You could also admit something that disqualifies your claim. Our Florida hail damage lawyers work with insurance companies every day. We know the information they need to process claims in good faith, and we aim to provide these details.

Refrain From DIY Repairs

There's a difference between preventing further damage to your home and attempting do-it-yourself repairs. You should leave your home's repairs in the hands of a trained professional. Attempting to patch your own roof, install new windows, or implement other measures could work against you. For instance, you could cause more damage to your home than if you'd hired a contractor. The insurer might not reimburse you for the cost of certain items, like hardware.

Your lawyer aims to resolve your case as soon as possible, so you can access the repairs you need.

Limit What You Share on Social Media

For some, posting to social media is the same as eating and drinking; they just have to do it. However, social media works to many people's disadvantage in property damage claims. Suppose you shared a photo of your family, and your home is in the background. There appears to be a broken window.

Later, you try to file a claim for that window, alleging it came from hail damage. A claims adjuster could see this photo and contend that the hailstorm didn't cause your home's damage, something else did, and the insurer isn't liable. As you can imagine, this makes negotiations complicated. You should limit what you share on social media in any capacity—especially mentions of your claim. Anything you share could hurt your case's outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Florida Hail Damage Claims

Our lawyers handle hail damage claims frequently. We know the questions our clients ask and what their concerns are. This is why we include this section of FAQs. If you're interested in getting answers to your case-specific questions, we're standing by to hear from you.

Why Would I Want an Attorney to Help With My Hail Damage Claim?

If your insurance company is not abiding by the coverage promised by your homeowners policy, an attorney can help. Navigating the claims process should not add more stress and frustration, but it does for many people. Insurance adjusters may focus on ways to reduce how much the company has to pay you instead of providing the coverage you deserve. This is common.

Having a property damage attorney on your side allows you to focus on other tasks and return to your normal activities sooner. Your lawyer handles the insurance company and seeks compensation based on your policy's terms. We understand your policy and how insurance companies work.

When Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Florida Hail Damage Claim?

Your attorney can start your claim as soon as possible. Some clients hire our firm before they file their claims. They know they do not have the time or experience to manage the process on their own. Others call after the insurer causes a problem or is difficult to work with. Lastly, some only hire us after the insurance company denies their claim.

A lawyer can go to work on your claim in any of these situations. Call us when you want our help, and we can develop a strategy based on your circumstances.

How Can I Learn More About My Insurance Policy and Hail Damage Coverage?

Our team of attorneys looks at insurance policies daily. We know what standard coverage looks like, how some companies tend to word exclusions, and what unusual policy terms to look for. We can review your policy and explain its terms, including how they apply to your current damage.

The easiest way to learn more about your insurance policy and what to expect during the hail damage claims process is to contact us. We can answer your questions, explain your policy's terms, and strategize how to document your damages.

How Long Will It Take to Get a Payout for My Hail Damage Claim?

There is no way to predict how long it could take to get the money you need. However, insurance companies have a responsibility to avoid unreasonable delays in the claims process. If the insurer doesn't move your claim forward, contact our team. We can often help clients settle claims fairly.

When the insurer denies a claim, it could take longer to appeal the decision and navigate this process. A lawsuit takes even longer. However, this is sometimes necessary to secure the money a policyholder needs to repair their home and replace damaged property. Our team can offer advice and guidance throughout this process.

What if I Cannot Live in My House During Repairs?

If your house has too much damage to remain onsite until repairs are complete, your insurance policy could have temporary relocation coverage. This would pay for your rent, moving costs, and other expenses related to staying somewhere else during this process. The coverage, limits, and rules depend greatly on the liable policy's terms.

Additional expenses covered vary widely but could include many extra costs you pay because of your relocation. As noted, examples include boarding a pet, additional commuting costs, laundry expenses, some food costs, and more.

How Do I Prove My Hail Damage Claim?

One of the most common reasons our clients call our team is because their insurance company asks them for unreasonable documentation of their damage. However, it is not unusual for insurers to need various information.

Your insurer may request information showing:

• Your dwelling suffered damage and requires repairs

• You have possessions and structures that need repair (or replacement)
• The cost of various damages
• The hailstorm caused the damage to your property
• You acted quickly to mitigate additional damage

Our attorneys help clients develop and support their claims, including documenting their damages, compiling inventories of damaged property, proving what caused the damage, and providing accurate estimates for repairs. We can help you, too.

What if the Insurance Company Denies My Hail Damage Claim?

If the insurance company denies your claim, you can contact our team for help. We appeal denials and fight for fair compensation for our clients every day. We know how to navigate this process and pursue compensation based on your policy's terms, even when the insurance company does not want to pay you.

Each insurance company has its own appeals process, and our attorneys know how to navigate them. We gather additional evidence to prove our clients' covered damages and meet the necessary policy terms.

Our clients often report that receiving a denial feels like the end of the road. They feel hopeless and frustrated. This does not have to be the case. Contact us, and let our team challenge the insurer's decision on your behalf.

Can I Sue the Insurance Company for Not Covering My Claim?

When an insurance company refuses to pay a policyholder according to their coverage terms, a lawsuit is possible. Our attorneys can review your policy's terms to determine your legal options. We can also strategize your next steps. In some cases, suing the insurer is the best option for getting the money you need and deserve to repair your home and replace your damaged property.

Our trial lawyers know how to litigate property damage and bad faith cases, taking on insurance companies in court. We build aggressive cases and demonstrate the payout our clients deserve.

How Do I Pay for a Hail Damage Attorney?

Our attorneys work based on contingency for homeowners in Florida. We only get paid after we recover compensation for your losses. You do not need to pay a retainer or other upfront fees while we handle your claim, denial, or lawsuit. We can answer your questions and provide more information during your free consultation with our team.

How Can I Learn More About Dolman Law Group?

Our website offers a lot of information about our awards, experience, and team. Our history of handling similar property damage cases and track record of recovering compensation for clients is available. However, we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation.

You can ask questions and get answers based on your unique circumstances. We can discuss your policy's terms, property's damage, and options for recovery. You do not have to fight the insurance company alone.

How Much Can I Recover Through a Hail Damage Insurance Settlement?

How much you can recover through an insurance settlement depends on many aspects unique to your situation.

Some of those aspects include:

• The liable policy's limits
• The extent of your property's damage
• How long you've been a policyholder
• The peril that caused your property's damage
• How much you pay in premiums each month
• The liable insurer's cooperation

We intend to pursue the full cost of your property's damage. You can learn more about what you can seek at the beginning of our partnership.

What Types of Insurance Companies Does Dolman Law Group Take On?

In the years we've served property damage claimants, we've taken on all types of insurance companies, from big-name corporations to local insurers. We don't turn clients away based on who the liable insurer is. We prioritize their legal goals at every turn.

Hail Damage Insurance Claims in Florida

Insurance companies generally track hail claims alongside wind damage ​​because they often occur together and cause similar damage. Many hail damage claims include damage caused by other perils, as well. Wind is the most common. Others could include lightning and water damage. Sometimes, hail occurs as a part of a hurricane, tornado, or another major storm system.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, these two perils accounted for almost half of all the losses incurred by homeowners in one recent year nationwide. During one five-year period, 2.9 percent of all homeowners filed wind and hail claims. This was the most of any other covered perils. About one of every 35 homes suffers wind or hail damage annually.

The average payout for these claims over that period was $11,695. However, this does not indicate how much your claim could pay. Knowing how much you need requires us to document your losses, estimate your expenses, and inventory your property damage.

Discuss Your Options With Our Florida Hail Damage Team for Free

Dolman Law Group offers free consultations for Florida homeowners with property damage. Whether you filed your claim and ran into an issue, are not sure where to start, or received a denial, we can help. Let us review your policy and determine your coverage and terms. Then, we seek compensation for your repairs and other property damage.

Contact us today by calling (727) 451-6900. We have someone standing by to learn your story.