Hurricane Ian Claims Have Been Underpaid By More Than 80%

It’s been six months since Hurricane Ian swept through the Atlantic causing devastation in its wake, and for many Florida residents, the process of rebuilding still hasn’t begun. Numerous homeowners and business owners have been drastically lowballed by insurance companies, delaying home repair. The Washington Post reports that many insurance claims stemming from Hurricane Ian have been underpaid by more than 80%.

Insurers are fraudulently minimizing payouts far below damage estimates or denying claims altogether. This means that many residents whose properties were damaged or even completely destroyed by hurricane Ian may not be able to restore them due to inadequate compensation for their losses.

If you’ve recently grappled with a payout far less than you expected or wrongfully denied an insurance claim in light of your damages from Hurricane Ian, you have to take legal action. Contact the insurance dispute lawyers of Herman & Wells and we’ll help you fight for the full amount of compensation you’re entitled to.

In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what the insurance companies are up to and what is being done to put an end to their fraudulent activities. We’ll also discuss the legal options available for Florida residents who have been taken advantage of by their insurers.

The first step in the claims process is to gather essential Florida hurricane insurance information. This includes details of your policy, the date and magnitude of the storm, and the damage that has occurred. Once you have this information in hand, you can contact your Florida hurricane insurance provider to begin the claims process.

After contacting your insurance, they will send out an adjuster who will assess all available evidence to determine whether it is liable for any damages. During the assessment, they will take photos and notes, analyze your hurricane insurance policy, and review other information such as estimates of damage costs.

The adjuster then works with your Florida hurricane insurance provider to determine how much coverage you are eligible for. This can vary depending on various factors such as your home’s pre-existing conditions, the nature of the storm, and any applicable Florida statutes.

Once your Florida hurricane insurance claim is approved, you will receive a settlement offer. If the insurance company is being fair, this amount will cover all damages.

These firms can offer independent assessments of damage and provide a more objective take on the situation. During the claims process, it is not unusual for third-party adjusters to collaborate with insurance companies in order to make minor revisions and even change line items if there is proof that damage had happened before the event.

Insurance companies may have a financial incentive to minimize payouts, as they are looking to maximize profits and cut costs. This leads to them undervaluing or denying hurricane insurance claims, which most Florida homeowners are already all too familiar with.

The Washington Post reported that there are now allegations of fraud and collusion between Florida insurance adjusters and Florida hurricane insurance companies:

Ben Mandell and Mark Vinson – two highly experienced independent adjusters – began working for Florida Peninsula Insurance Co to assist w