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Get Ready to Have Your Property Insurance Rates Increased by at least 15% while Insurance Companies Make it Harder to Bring a Claim to Recover for Damages to Your Property

6a00d8341c64d253ef00e54f69334b8834-800wi.jpgThe legislative session in Tallahassee has ended. During this past legislative session lawmakers in Tallahassee had an objective of reforming Florida’s property insurance system. Consequently, property insurance was a big priority during the legislative session. Unfortunately, insurance companies, and not policyholders, are the big winners.

Our lawmakers passed Senate Bill 408 and now its up to Governor Rick Scott to decide whether the bill should become law.

Senate Bill 408, virtually guarantees a 15 percent premium “reinsurance” increase for Florida policyholders who have no choice but to buy property insurance on their homes if they have an outstanding mortgage. This is a backdoor tax and fee increase that will hurt most homeowners, consumers and small business owners at a time with very high foreclosure and unemployment rates, and a fragile economic recovery under way.

Moreover, homeowners who have no choice but to buy property insurance from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will likely get the annual 10 percent increase, which continues to be authorized by law.

This premium increase comes after six years of no hurricanes and when the property and casualty insurance industry has record profits. Profits for U.S. property and casualty insurers rose 63 percent to $27 billion for the first nine months of 2010.

Senate Bill 408 also contains many other provisions that are anti-consumer as well. The reason being is that, for instance, the insurance lobby was able to convince our lawmakers that they needed to shorten the time in which hurricane and sinkhole claims could be brought. Insurers have been dealing with a large amount of claims that date back as far as 2005 in the aftermath of Wilma and also a recent rise in sinkhole claims. Instead of five years to file a windstorm claim, the bill proposes a 3 year limitation.

If this bill becomes law, policyholders are certainly going to be affected. Not only will their insurance rates go up, but many legitimate claims are going to be denied because of this restrictive time period. Water and mold damage often take a few years to present itself. Under the new law, someone who notices mold damage 3.5 years after the date of loss is out of luck. This provision does not take into account the fact that it can some time for damages to become evident. According to insurers, this provision is needed to curb fraud.

The bill also allows insurers to provide “additional or supplementary” information to the state without requiring top officers to certify that the data backing up their claim for a rate increase is truthful. Basically, this provision enables insurance companies to freely commit a fraud while they argue that time periods need to be shortened because of fraud. This is certainly a double standard.

Another troublesome provision of this bill is the fact that for people who pay for replacement cost insurance, in cases of hurricane repairs, homeowners will have to pay for some repairs in advance and hope to be reimbursed by the insurance companies. Many families simply can’t afford this burden, or wait for the insurance companies to “drag their feet” to pay these claims.

Times are tough enough as it is for many in Florida. This bill only makes it tougher on all hard working Floridians and helps insurance companies raise are rates without any oversight and with reckless abandon to Florida as a whole.

At Alvarez & Barbara, LLP, we have considerable experience dealing with insurance companies and claims. If you’re having difficulty with an insurance claim, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP to discuss your claim in greater detail today.

State Farm’s Request for a Rate Increase Does Not Add Up for Hard Working Floridians

state farm-thumb-225x357-13776.jpgAs we have discussed previously on this blog, State Farm Florida Insurance, the state’s largest private property insurer, wants to raise rates by a statewide average of 28 percent.

Although Florida has dodged a direct hit by hurricanes the past five years, State Farm claims that the increase is required to cover rising losses for claims unrelated to storms such as sinkholes. The increase comes after the company received approval in 2009 to raise average statewide rates by 28 percent and approval in November to raise them again by 6.6 percent.

State Farm had 678,849 residential property insurance policies in the state as of late last year, including 128,506 in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties and 175,084 in the Orlando area.

Some perspective based on the numbers….

Let’s say that the average homeowner’s insurance policy premium each month in Florida is $128/month.

State Farm has 678,849 residential property insurance policies.

That equals about $86,892,672.00 that State Farm collects each month in Florida from homeowners.

That is $1,042,712,064.00 that State Farm collects for the year.

Rather than pumping that money out of the country to overseas reinsurers to help them pay for opulent conferences in Monte Carlo, let’s say State Farm opted invest that money. And with that investment let’s say State Farm secures a modest average return of 10% per year (the stock market average return is 12% in the long run). This means that State Farm makes $104,271,206.40.

Keep in mind that insurance companies are required to keep reserves which they invest. These reserves are in the BILLIONS of dollars. However, forget about that now and focus solely on what State Farm receives in premiums from homeowners.

State Farm claims that they need to increase rates because of an increase in sinkhole hole claims over the past few years that are related to the recent rise in housing starts and the real estate meltdown. The recent rise in sinkhole claims is due in large part to the recent explosion in real estate development throughout Florida, and especially in South Florida. Over development has left the ground susceptible to sinkholes. Plus, while sinkholes occur in other U.S. states, Florida is more prone to sinkhole related problems because of underground limestone that dissolves under certain conditions, especially in areas that have been over developed, according to many leading geologists.

Nonetheless, let’s do some math. State Farm’s spokesman claims that sinkholes were responsible for State Farm spending $351 million over the last three years. That is $117 million for one year.

If State Farm gets a 10% return from the investment of the money it receives from homeowners insurance premiums, then they will only be short $12,728,794.00 for the year. Now, remember the BILLIONS of dollars that State Farm is required to hold in reserves and think about the money received on the investment of those reserves. $12 million is pocket change to State Farm, and they aren’t really losing anything. Especially if you consider all the money that is shipped overseas by State Farm and others.

However, if State Farm increases rates by 28%, then the average premium in Florida goes from $128/month to $163.84/month. That’s an extra $291,959,377.92 that State Farm will receive when they claim only “need” an extra $12,728,794.00.

It sure sounds, and looks, like State Farm is trying to take many hard working Floridians for granted.
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EXTENDED BODY:
Consider Your Options. Contact Us Today.

Before opening our law firm in 2006, our attorneys worked for some of the state’s, and nation’s, largest law firms, and worked representing the insurance companies for years. Our attorneys are now uniquely positioned to use that experience to assist individuals and businesses alike throughout Florida with their insurance claims. As a result, our attorneys are well versed in the impact insurance has on businesses, condominiums, and individuals alike. Our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to tackle your insurance claim.

Given our extensive experience litigating for, and against, insurance companies, our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to provide aggressive, efficient and effective representation on a broad spectrum of insurance claims in Florida for local, national, and international clients. We are prepared to advocate insurance claims at the pre-suit stage, trial, appellate and arbitration levels.

If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Call us today toll free at 1-866-518-2913 or at 305-263-7700.

Stop the Madness – Overseas Companies are Profiting from Florida’s Property Insurers But Yet Florida’s Property Insurers are Still Seeking to Increase Rates that Hard Working Floridians Pay to Insure Their Property

4057088004_866e2f3189.jpgAn annual insurance company gathering at Monte Carlo is funded by Florida’s extensive spending on insurance and reinsurance. This expensive gathering is paid by the two thirds of property insurance premiums that now leave Florida as unregulated payments to largely offshore companies that sell hurricane protection to insurers and that operate without rate control or consumer oversight.

These unregulated companies determine how much Floridians must pay for property insurance, and whether property insurance is available at all in Florida.

Florida’s increased reliance on this unregulated market is eroding the industry’s ability to withstand the inevitable disaster that a major hurricane will inflict on Florida.

Meanwhile, Florida’s insurance companies are pleading poverty today despite the fact that Florida has not been hit by a major hurricane in 5 years. This costly dependence on reinsurers will only hurt Florida especially since the reinsurers only play by the rules established on Wall Street and fail to play any role in insuring the risk here in Florida.

Indeed, former Gov. Jeb Bush set aside his free market ideology to conclude that Florida could not “be at the mercy of people who hope for catastrophes to keep their rates high” purely for profit and to the detriment of all Floridians.

This problem is highlighted by the fact that from 2004 to 2009, Florida carriers’ reinsurance bill nearly tripled, from $1.4 billion a year to more than $4 billion.

The portion of homeowners’ premium devoted to reinsurance in that time increased from 37 percent to 64 percent, according to an analysis conducted of 70 Florida-only property insurers. The national average is only 19 percent.

That in turn drove up the cost of coverage for all of Florida’s homeowners. Quarterly premium reports show the average Florida homeowner pays 72 percent more today than in 2003. The average premium has nearly doubled or more in nine coastal counties.

And despite all of this, the State of Florida is nonetheless poised to aid these insurance companies to the detriment of Floridians across our great state.
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EXTENDED BODY:
Consider Your Options. Contact Us Today.

Before opening our law firm in 2006, our attorneys worked for some of the state’s, and nation’s, largest law firms, and worked representing the insurance companies for years. Our attorneys are now uniquely positioned to use that experience to assist individuals and businesses alike throughout Florida with their insurance claims. As a result, our attorneys are well versed in the impact insurance has on businesses, condominiums, and individuals alike. Our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to tackle your insurance claim.

Given our extensive experience litigating for, and against, insurance companies, our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to provide aggressive, efficient and effective representation on a broad spectrum of insurance claims in Florida for local, national, and international clients. We are prepared to advocate insurance claims at the pre-suit stage, trial, appellate and arbitration levels.

If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Call us today toll free at 1-866-518-2913 or at 305-263-7700.

Sinkhole Claims are Driving Property Insurance Reform

4266221777_808f7c2878.jpgThis past week Florida state legislators turned their attention to a problem that is becoming increasingly more expensive: questionable sinkhole claims. These claims are purportedly driving up the costs of insurance premiums for Florida homeowners.

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee heard testimony, but did not take action on the bill which is similar to one that was vetoed by Charlie Crist last year. The bill is aimed at making homeowners’ policies more affordable by establishing a more competitive private insurance market.

Senator Garret Richter of Naples stated that all he was trying to do was let the marketplace work and proposes that the bill would allow consumers to choose the product and insurer they want. Sen. Richter was the legislator who steered the previous insurance bill through the halls of the Florida legislature. Former Gov. Charlie Crist stated he vetoed that bill because it was “not consumer-friendly enough”.

The last major hurricane to hit Florida was in 2005. Since then, sinkhole claims have exponentially increased. In the past three years sinkhole claims have totaled $2 billion. Also, premiums for sinkhole claims have tripled in the last three years for homeowners across the state. However, two-thirds of claims arise from Hernando, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties.

Some amendments to the bill were challenged because legislators felt they were too favorable to the insurance industry. Senator Mike Fasano of New Port Richey believes that if the reins are loosened too much, insurers will have the ability to refuse to provide sinkhole coverage.

Although the committee adjourned before finishing work on the bill, they plan on starting back up again.
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EXTENDED BODY:
Consider Your Options. Contact Us Today.

Before opening our law firm in 2006, our attorneys worked for some of the state’s, and nation’s, largest law firms, and worked representing the insurance companies for years. Our attorneys are now uniquely positioned to use that experience to assist individuals and businesses alike throughout Florida with their insurance claims. As a result, our attorneys are well versed in the impact insurance has on businesses, condominiums, and individuals alike. Our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to tackle your insurance claim.

Given our extensive experience litigating for, and against, insurance companies, our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to provide aggressive, efficient and effective representation on a broad spectrum of insurance claims in Florida for local, national, and international clients. We are prepared to advocate insurance claims at the pre-suit stage, trial, appellate and arbitration levels.

If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Call us today toll free at 1-866-518-2913 or at 305-263-7700.

Florida Legislators Begin to Tackle Property Insurance Legislation that Will Hurt Florida Consumers and May Lead to Higher Insurance Rates and Fewer Payouts to Floridians

3198716696_6a1fdb1acd.jpgOne of the main objectives of the newly elected Governor, and many legislators, is to re-visit a property insurance bill that was vetoed by Governor Crist last year. The vetoed bill was supported by the insurance industry, but Governor Crist vetoed the bill and called it “anti-consumer” and stated that it was wrong to allow the insurance companies to raise insurance rates during these very tough economic times.

Newly elected Florida legislators are intent on re-visiting this issue as soon as possible. Indeed, an ambitious re-write of the bill that was vetoed by Governor Crist will get its first public hearing this week as many lawmakers grapple with again trying to reduce costs for the industry.

This new bill (SB 408), sponsored by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, will make it harder for public adjusters to re-open old claims to holdbacks of payouts pending proof of repairs.

Among other provisions found in the bill include the following:

• Allowing insurance companies to hold back a portion of claims payments until the policyholder shows proof that repairs and replacements are indeed taking place. Insurers have argued that Florida is one of the few states that requires insurers to pay claims up front and does not require proof that claims are not simply being pocketed.

• Reducing to three years the length of time a policyholder can re-file a claim, down from the five year window now on the books.

• Shifting the burden of proof in contested sinkhole cases from an insurance company burden to prove damage wasn’t caused by a sinkhole to a policyholder burden to prove it was. It also would require sinkhole work to be under contract before full payment is made.

• Placing restrictions on public adjuster advertising and capping commissions public adjusters can take on re-opened claims.

• Allowing an insurer to cancel a policy within 45 days if state regulators determine the cancellation serves the public or policyholder’s interest.

This legislation would be a major win for insurance companies and a major slap in the face for homeowners. As our Miami insurance dispute attorneys have reported, property insurance companies are already pushing double-digit increases past regulators, despite no major storm damage in the last five years and plummeting property values. Still, companies are claiming rates are not high enough to match risk and pay claims.
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EXTENDED BODY:
Consider Your Options. Contact Us Today.

Before opening our law firm in 2006, our attorneys worked for some of the state’s, and nation’s, largest law firms, and worked representing the insurance companies for years. Our attorneys are now uniquely positioned to use that experience to assist individuals and businesses alike throughout Florida with their insurance claims. As a result, our attorneys are well versed in the impact insurance has on businesses, condominiums, and individuals alike. Our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to tackle your insurance claim.

Given our extensive experience litigating for, and against, insurance companies, our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to provide aggressive, efficient and effective representation on a broad spectrum of insurance claims in Florida for local, national, and international clients. We are prepared to advocate insurance claims at the pre-suit stage, trial, appellate and arbitration levels.

If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Call us today toll free at 1-866-518-2913 or at 305-263-7700.

State Farm Insurance Continues its Purge of Florida Homeowners

state farm.jpgState Farm is in the process of finalizing which policies it will drop in the State of Florida. State Farm is the largest private-sector property insurer in the State.

Homeowners with State Farm policies will find out in coming weeks if they’ve made the cut. Currently, the insurer is in the final stages of notifying 125,000 homeowners that they’re being dropped. This process began about a year ago and has forced many Floridians to run to the state’s insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance.

The purge of policies was part of a deal that State Farm cut with Florida Insurance Commissioner in 2009. The deal was made so that State Farm wouldn’t completely leave the Florida market. As part of the deal, State Farm could keep about 700,000 homeowners policies. In return, the Insurance Commission allowed State Farm to institute a 15 percent rate increase.

The purge has targeted homes within 5 miles of water. A State Farm spokesman confirmed that most of the dropped policies are close to the coast and in places where the company has a high concentration of loss exposure.

According to the spokesman, non-renewal letters have been going out for the past 11 months. One month remains in this process. State Farm is providing its customers with at least six months notice of the non-renewal. Even with these cutbacks State Farm will remain the largest private-sector property insurer in Florida.

More troubelsome yet is the fact that many homeowners, including those dropped by State Farm, could end paying higher insurance premiums but with less coverage.

It is believed that more than 4 million Florida homeowners are about to get hit by rate hikes and shrinking coverage. Even though we have not been hit by a hurricane in five years, the State’s insurance regulators have already approved $718 million in rate increases, as well as allowed State Farm to abandon many homeowners forcing many of them to get insurance coverage from Citiznes – Florida’s insurer of last resort.
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EXTENDED BODY:
Consider Your Options. Contact Us Today.

Before opening our law firm in 2006, our attorneys worked for some of the state’s, and nation’s, largest law firms, and worked representing the insurance companies for years. Our attorneys are now uniquely positioned to use that experience to assist individuals and businesses alike throughout Florida with their insurance claims. As a result, our attorneys are well versed in the impact insurance has on businesses, condominiums, and individuals alike. Our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to tackle your insurance claim.

Given our extensive experience litigating for, and against, insurance companies, our insurance litigation practice group is prepared to provide aggressive, efficient and effective representation on a broad spectrum of insurance claims in Florida for local, national, and international clients. We are prepared to advocate insurance claims at the pre-suit stage, trial, appellate and arbitration levels.

If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Call us today toll free at 1-866-518-2913 or at 305-263-7700.

Insurance Companies are Gearing Up to Push Through Legislation That Will Result in Insurance Companies Paying Florida Homeowners Less Money on Sinkhole Claims and Making it Harder for Homeowners to Bring a Claim Against Their Insurance Company

sinkhole-2.jpgIn an effort to reduce costs for insurance companies, the State senate is pushing forward a bill which addresses sinkhole damage claims, as well as other claims.

The new bill is expected to contain many of the provisions found in a bill which was vetoed by Governor Charlie Crist. One of these provisions includes a time limit on filing claims after a hurricane and one which will make the rate approval process easier to navigate. It is also expected to address other cost drivers such as fraud.

The new bill will include provisions targeted at reducing what insurance companies are paying out for sinkhole claims. The insurance industry claims that many sinkhole claims are not legitimate. However, part of the reason for the surge in sinkhole claims is due in large part to the recent explosion in real estate development throughout Florida, especially in South Florida. Over development has left the ground susceptible to sinkholes. Plus, while sinkholes occur in other U.S. states, Florida is more prone to sinkhole related problems because of underground limestone that dissolves under certain conditions, especially in areas that have never been over developed, according to many leading geologists.

The state Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee is expected to release an interim study on the state’s sinkhole insurance climate. Between 2006 and 2010, $2 billion in claims have been paid out. This payout amount nears the amount paid out in a small hurricane.

Insurance companies are concerned about these costs due to the large number of claims for foundation cracks that are attributed to sinkholes. However, the insurance industry states that these claims may not be sinkhole related. Because insurance companies contend that they cannot often rule out that the damage was caused by a sinkhole, especially in light of all the over development that has taken place over the past few years, tens of thousands of dollars are being paid out by the insurance companies to resolve these claims.

Our Miami insurance dispute lawyers handle sinkhole claims for homeowners. Our attorneys represented insurance companies before 2006, when we opened a firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of consumers. We understand how insurance companies work. And we have the knowledge and experience necessary to represent homeowners in disputes over an insurance claim.

The new bill is expected to contain language which will define structural damage from a sinkhole. It is also expected to contain language on what is and what is not covered by insurance policies. Governor-elect Rick Scott is expected to support this bill which may further regulate public adjusters.
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EXTENDED BODY:
If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP toll free at 866-518-2913 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Insurance Companies Are Gearing up to Seek Rate Increase Despite the Fact that Florida Has Not Been Stricken by a Major Storm in Five Years

business-profit-growth-graph-c-thumb5491320.jpgHomeowners who have Citizens Property Insurance may have to prepare for a hike in insurance rates. According to a press release, outgoing Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said the inequity in homeowners’ insurance rates must be addressed. Currently, Florida residents are subsidizing those who own homes in coastal areas. Notwithstanding Sink’s views, a return to sound actuarial levels for Citizens may signal a rate hike.

CFO Sink stated that Citizens Property Insurance’s actuarial studies show there are homeowners out there whose rates are being subsidized 40% to 50% by other Floridians. According to CFO Alex Sink, that’s the inequity that has to be addressed going forward in some kind of measured way that does get to the point that the people who are living in places that are riskiest are bearing more of their share of the risk.

In light of the current economic environment, the state will have a problem facing this issue because it must strike a balance between consumers’ wallets and reducing Florida’s financial risk if we are hit by a hurricane.

Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed a bill that would have capped a rate adjustments for reinsurance costs, financing products, and an inflation trend fact. Governor-elect Rick Scott has promised to return Citizens to actuarially sound levels and to end its reliance on assessments to pay claims following a major disaster.

The top five writers of homeowners multiperil insurance in Florida in 2009 were: State Farm Group with a 15.09% market share; Citizens Property Insurance Corp., with 13.44%; Universal Insurance Holdings Group with 8.62%; USAA Group with 5.9%, and St. Johns Insurance Co. Inc. with 4.59%.
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EXTENDED BODY:
Our Miami insurance dispute lawyers handle insurance claims for homeowners. Our attorneys represented insurance companies before 2006, when we opened a firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of consumers. We understand how insurance companies work. And we have the knowledge and experience necessary to represent homeowners in disputes over an insurance claim.

If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP toll free at 866-518-2913 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Florida Legislators Will Tackle Major Property Insurance Reform During the 2011 Legislative Session

regulation.jpgA new property insurance bill is in the works in Florida. Insurers are hoping the new bill will gain the support of new Governor Rick Scott. The new bill could be taken up by the state legislators in early 2011.

Earlier this year, the insurance industry supported a bill which addressed many non-hurricane-related cost drivers for insurers. This bill overwhelmingly passed through the state House and Senate, but was ultimately vetoed by the former governor.

Governor Crist vetoed the bill despite a plea from Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty that he sign the bill into law to cut down on some of the expenses that insurers say is making it hard for them to do business in Florida. Crist, however, called the legislation “anti-consumer” and said it was wrong to allow for rate hikes during tough economic times.

The vetoed bill changed the time period to file claims resulting from hurricane damage. Rather than five years, the bill proposed a 3 year time limit. It proposed regulation of public adjusters. It also gave the Office of Insurance Regulation more oversight over affiliated reinsurers and addressed expedited filings for the cost of reinsurance.

The bill that passed this past year did not address sinkhole claims, which is becoming a bigger and bigger concern for carriers. The final bill also did not include a change in how much in replacement costs insurers must initially pay for personal items. There will likely be a push to address both those issues in a new bill.

Although we haven’t been hit by a substantial hurricane in the last 5 years, nearly 40 percent of property insurers posted surplus losses the first six months of this year. Almost 60 percent of insurers reported underwriting losses.

There is also an initiative specific to Citizens, the State’s insurance company which was created to fill the void created by insurers who stopped insuring homes in Florida. The initiative supposedly proposes changes which would make it harder for residents to get coverage from the last-resort insurer. Citizens has grown to become the second-largest property writer in the State. It has an 11.4 percent market share. State Farm is the largest with a 12.8 percent market share.
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EXTENDED BODY:
Our Miami insurance dispute lawyers handle insurance claims for homeowners. Our attorneys represented insurance companies before 2006, when we opened a firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of consumers. We understand how insurance companies work. And we have the knowledge and experience necessary to represent homeowners in disputes over an insurance claim.

If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP toll free at 866-518-2913 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Danielle? Earl? Fiona? Our Firm Stands Ready to Help Miami Homeowners if a Named Storm Strikes South Florida

So far this year there have been three named storms and two tropical depressions. Any of these storms are strong enough to do significant damage. However, only Bonnie reached South Florida and her impact was minimal.

Tropical depressions are storms with winds of up to 38 mph and are identified only by numbers; tropical storms are given names and have winds form 39 to 73 mph and hurricanes have winds above 74 mph.
569818_tormenta_tropical.jpg
Storms so far in 2010 have included:
-Hurricane Alex: Reached speeds of 100 mph and made landfall in Mexico.
-Tropical Depression Two: Speeds of 35 mph and followed Alex’s path into Mexico.
-Tropical Storm Bonnie: The only real threat so far to South Florida, she reached speeds of 40 mph.
-Tropical Storm Colin: Reached speeds of 60 mph in the mid-Atlantic but never threatened land.
-Tropical Depression 5: Formed off Southwest Florida and wandered through the Gulf of Mexico before breaking apart.

Our Miami hurricane damage lawyers urge you to take the South Florida hurricane season seriously and properly prepare for the safety of you and your family. Our staff will be available around the clock in the event of a serious storm and can assist you in filing claims or handling disputes with your insurance carrier.

Storms are named in order of the alphabet each year, except for the letters q, u, x, y, and z, which are omitted. Whenever a storm causes serious damage, like Wilma or Katrina, the name is retired and replaced.

Names for 2010 are:

Alex
Bonnie
Colin
Danielle
Earl
Fiona
Gaston
Hermine
Igor
Julia
Karl
Lisa
Matthew
Nicole
Otto
Paula
Richard
Shary
Tomas
Virginie
Walter
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EXTENDED BODY:
If you are facing a dispute over an insurance claim in Florida, contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP toll free at 866-518-2913 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

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