Tornado Insurance Attorneys

Tornadoes are a real threat in much of the United States. In fact, the country reports more tornadoes each year than any other country, and about 1,000 tornadoes touch ground each year. These storms have the power to destroy almost anything in their paths, leading to serious damages in property and injuring or even killing people. 

While technology for predicting these storms has improved, it is still difficult to know exactly when and where they will strike. This makes it near impossible for people to prepare their homes or businesses for tornados. To make matters even more complicated, tornadoes tend to be quick, short storms, forming, touching ground, and disappearing in only a matter of minutes. These few minutes, however, are enough for a tornado to leave a trail of devastation behind. 

Homeowners, business owners, and property managers can minimize their financial risk in the aftermath of a tornado with property insurance. If your insurance company denies or underpays your claim, the Law Offices of Michael B. Brehne, P.A. can help. We are a Florida insurance dispute law firm dedicated to helping our clients receive fair compensation from insurance companies for tornado losses.

Importance of Tornado Insurance in Florida

Having tornado insurance can help ensure that you aren’t left with the burden of being solely responsible for paying out of pocket for the damages your home or business sustains after a tornado. The good news is that most standard insurance policies cover tornado damages, unlike other natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, and sinkholes. However, homeowners and business owners should check their insurance plan policies to ensure that coverage is sufficient if extensive damage from a tornado occurs. If it is not, you’re advised to seek separate endorsement for tornado insurance.

Determining The Level Of Tornado Damage

The intensity of a tornado is determined by the damage it inflicts upon buildings using what is known as the Enhanced Fujita scale. The Fujita scale rates tornadoes from F0 (being the weakest) to F5 (being the strongest). F1 tornadoes have winds of 40-72 mph, while F5 tornadoes can reach winds in excess of 200 mph.

These are the common type of damages each one causes:

F0: Light damage to chimneys and signboards can occur.

F1: Roof surfaces are peeled off and mobile homes can be overturned.

F2: Roofs can be torn off of buildings and mobile homes destroyed.

F3: Roofs and even walls are torn off of buildings.

F4: Entire buildings can be leveled and some structures blown away.

F5: Homes can be completely destroyed, leveled, and swept away by the winds.

Common tornado damages to homes and buildings include:

• Damaged or missing roof and siding
• Cracked and blown out walls and floors
• Broken or bent framing, beams, or trusses
• Cracking or separation in the foundation
• Broken or missing windows and gutters
• Exterior damages to garages, fencing, landscaping, etc.

Contact our insurance attorneys for a consultation.

What To Do After A Tornado Has Struck?

When there is no longer danger from the storm and it is safe to remain on the property, it is important to take steps to prevent further damage and to get in touch with your insurance company. Necessary steps to take include turning off gas or water in case of leaks, making temporary repairs to avoid further damage, such as patching up holes in roofs or windows and drying wet items. You should also document all damages to your property and possessions, taking ample photographs and videos to provide your insurance company with copies to support your claim. You should also save receipts for any materials or items used for temporary repairs.

Tornado Insurance Coverage

Standard policies will cover tornado damage both inside and outside of your home. This includes damage caused by hail, rain, and lightning that can occur during a tornado strike. It’s also important to be aware that most policies require the insurance company to pay for the actual cost of replacement versus a depreciated cost of the structure before it was damaged. This means that an insurance company would be responsible for paying for a roof replacement despite what age it might have been.

Even if your property did not sustain major damage, the insurance company could be responsible for full replacements or repairs. This is because, with structures such as roofs, minute damage can lead to dangerous situations if not properly repaired. 

It is important to have your property thoroughly inspected after a tornado to catch these subtle damages which may result in costly repairs later for homeowners or business owners.

What If Your Insurance Company Denies Your Claim?

Sometimes, insurance companies may try to deny or underpay tornado claims. The denial will contain a long and technical explanation as to why it was denied, but these are often not legitimate reasons. If you encounter this issue, it is of the utmost importance that you contact an Orlando insurance dispute attorney. An attorney can review your case and determine whether there are grounds for appeal.

Insurance Dispute Attorneys in Orlando, FL

At the Law Offices of Michael B. Brehne, P.A., we protect our clients from illegitimate insurance denials on tornado damage claims. If your home or business property has suffered severe damages, we may be able to get you the compensation you need to repair and replace what is needed. 

During our free consultation, we can review your denial letter to determine if there is reasonable ground to appeal. If you decide to let us take on your case, we can work with experts in the fields of construction, engineering, forensic meteorology, and more to support your claim. Contact us today to speak with Orlando insurance dispute lawyers you can trust.