Filing An Insurance Claim For Tornado Damage Fort Myers

Tornadoes aren’t as prevalent in the media as hurricanes are but what they lack in their damage, they make up for in frequency. For instance, there are around 66 tornadoes on average per year in Florida. 

Even if they’re not as destructive as hurricanes, you’re looking at some significant damage if your house or property is in the path of a tornado. 

Tornado damage Fort Myers can be quite high, with several previous instances where storms tore apart homes, dropped trees on cars, and so on. 

No matter the extent of the damage, your insurance must cover it. Here are some tips for filing an insurance claim for tornado damage Fort Myers from experienced insurance adjusters.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

Since you can’t control the weather and can’t stop the tornado from deciding to stop by your street, natural disasters are covered by your homeowners' insurance. However, there is an important factor at play here. This insurance usually doesn’t cover flood damage (aka water damage from storms), and you must purchase this coverage separately.

To illustrate, your homeowner's insurance will cover tornado damage Fort Myers such as a damaged roof. But, if a tornado also caused flooding, insurance won’t make up for it unless you have a separate flood damage policy.

With that important distinction out of the way, let’s break down the steps of filing a tornado damage Fort Myers insurance claim.

How To File A Claim

To ensure the best results, make sure to follow all of these steps:

1. Contact your insurance company

To begin the process, you need to contact your insurer right away. Provide them with your policy number and your contact information. After a disaster like a tornado, insurance companies will send their adjusters to people who suffered severe damage to their property.

You should also be ready to provide a description of the property damage or any other circumstances that might make your property a priority. 

Ask when you could expect the adjuster to arrive so you can prepare yourself.

Lastly, if you suffered any water damage, contact the agent who provided you with the policy to start processing the claim.

2. Document everything

Tornado damage Fort Myers can be devastating, and even though the adjuster will inspect the damage, you should document it yourself too. Take photos of all the items that got damaged and find the corresponding receipts. If you cannot find any documentation, an inventory of items will suffice.

Since you’ll have to show the damaged items to the adjuster, don’t discard anything. But what if your municipality requires you to do so? Then simply take photographs of the items you have to get rid of and inform the insurance company.

3. Inquire about any emergency services

Tornado damage Fort Myers can be extensive due to the geographical location of this city. If you need any emergency assistance with removing water from your home, boarding up doors or windows, or covering your roof, contact your insurance company. They may have a list of pre-approved companies that can help protect your property from further damage. 

Keep in mind that if your home was rendered inhospitable by the storm, your insurer may cover the costs of alternative lodging and eating out. 

4. Put together a claim diary 

Keep records of everything and list down every individual you’ve spoken to about your claim. Don’t forget to include the date and the issues that were discussed. 

How To Avoid A Disastrous Claim

With the basics out of the way, there are a few tips you should be aware of so you don’t hit any rough patches when trying to fix the tornado damage Fort Myers:

1. Make sure that the insurance company doesn’t pay the contractors themselves. Demand that they pay you first and avoid signing over your payment to a third party contractor. If possible, ask for an advance payment so you can start making temporary repairs.

2. Most insurance companies have a specific depreciation calculation as they pay on an actual cash value basis. This includes replacement costs minus depreciation. Sometimes, they might even depreciate property by 70%, which can drastically reduce your final payment. If your building is new, it shouldn’t be depreciated as much, and you can negotiate this percentage with your insurer.

3. Don’t forget that the materials required to fix the damage will increase. Unfortunately, your insurer may estimate a lower price, even if the actual demand has skyrocketed. You can ask for the right amount of money at the beginning to avoid going back and asking them for additional funds once you start your repairs.

The Problems You May Encounter

Unfortunately, there is always a chance that you do everything right and still run into problems with your insurer. In many cases, insurance companies are in it for the money, so they will try their best to undervalue your claim. In the worst-case scenario, you may even get denied. 

Alternatively, they may try to disagree with you and trick you about their policy coverage. For instance, they might address only a portion of the damage instead of covering everything, like paying for a portion of your roof instead of fixing the whole thing. It goes without saying that this can put you in a serious financial problem.

Last but not least, insurance companies are notorious for claiming that the damage isn’t as extensive as it is or that it already existed. 

How A Private Adjuster Can Help You

Your home is the most valued possession you have, both price-wise and emotion-wise. Nevertheless, when living in Florida, natural disasters are something you can never be too prepared for. 

Tornado damage Fort Myers has the unwelcome potential for serious wreckage, and repairing the property can put your finances under significant strain. 

This is why you should be familiar with the process of filing insurance claims and know exactly which things to look out for. The sad truth is that even the best claims can sometimes receive the short end of the stick. 

The best way to avoid this altogether is to have someone on your side from the start. Continental Public Adjusters can help simplify the entire process and see to it that your property is restored as soon as possible. 

Our priority is backing up your estimates with facts and helping you recover the money you are entitled to under your policy. Call (800) 989-4769 or fill out our contact form to work with your own insurance adjuster and get compensated fairly.