According to news reports, we should get ready for a hectic hurricane season this year due to higher surface water temperatures. Also, South Florida is at a greater risk to be hit by a storm than in years past. Their meteorologists predict we will see 15 named storms. Of those, 8 should become hurricanes and 3 should become major hurricanes – meaning they will be at least Category 3 storms.
This is considered busy because the average season will bring 10 named storms, six which will become hurricanes and two of those being major hurricanes. Although the US was spared in the busy 2010 season, two storms caused enough damage that their names will never be used again.
Forecasters don’t like to make landfall predictions, but they are able to say that certain areas may be more prone to being hit by a hurricane this year. South Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas are being pinpointed as areas where chances of landfall are greater.
It’s certainly frightening to hear that South Florida is at great risk year to be struck by a hurricane. We’ve been spared over the last few years, but hurricanes are a fact of life in South Florida. Although this often leads us to brush off hurricanes, it’s important to be prepared.
One way of ensuring that you’re prepared is to make sure to having everything in place to contact your insurance company in the event of a windstorm because we have a duty to immediately notify our insurers of a loss. Whatever you do, and no matter how slight the damage, call your insurer if your home has been damaged by a windstorm.
However, there are times when immediate notice is still not enough because an insurer will treat their policyholder unfairly by wholly denying a valid claim or by not fully covering their insured’s loss. Realizing that most people are unaware of their rights, insurers may take advantage of their policyholders.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you believe that your insurance company is treating you unfairly, don’t hesitate to contact Alvarez & Barbara, LLP. We have considerable experience dealing with insurance companies and working to make sure our clients get what they are owed.