Mississippi Hurricane Insurance Dispute Lawyers
Accomplished representation in Mississippi when hurricanes damage your property
Hurricanes are tropical cyclones that form over tropical and subtropical waters. Common characteristics include high winds, heavy rains, thunder, and lightning. A tropical cyclone with winds of 74 mph or more is called a hurricane. Hurricanes are rated from 1 (least severe) to 5 (most severe). Hurricane season starts on June 1 and ends on November 30, though hurricanes can occur outside this time frame. Hurricanes can cause extensive damage, including the destruction of homes, buildings, movable structures, and unmovable structures.
Our experienced Mississippi hurricane insurance lawyers are ready to advise you as soon as a hurricane happens about the immediate steps you need to take to prevent further damage, how to document your damages, and how to file your claim. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we’re skilled at holding insurance carriers to their duty to pay full value for all the damage loss covered by your insurance policy.
How are hurricanes classified?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricanes are classified according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricanes can cause fatal storms, floods, and tornadoes. Hurricanes are categorized as follows:
- Category 1. Sustained winds of 74-95 mph.
“Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding, and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap, and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.”
- Category 2. Sustained winds of 96-110 mph.
“Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.”
- Category 3. Sustained winds of 111-129 mph.
“Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.”
- Category 4. Sustained winds of 130-156 mph.
“Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted, and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”
- Category 5. Sustained winds of 157 mph or higher.
“Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.”
What should I do after a hurricane occurs in Mississippi?
Our Mississippi hurricane insurance claim lawyers begin our representation by advising you about the initial steps you need to take. We’ll help you with these steps, including recommending professionals who are experienced in hurricane damage safety precautions, damage identification and valuation, and documentation.
Some of the steps that McWherter Scott & Bobbitt recommends include:
- You should take photos and videos of your home, building, and personal possessions – before the hurricane strikes. These images should be stored in the cloud or away from home so they’re not destroyed by the hurricane.
- You should take new pictures and videos after the hurricane. These images should show the visible damage that occurred.
- You should also have an inventory of all your possessions before the hurricane that can be compared to your post-hurricane inventory.
- Evaluating the damage. We work with building and other property damage experts who can analyze:
- What damage occurred, including hidden and structural damage.
- Whether the damage can be repaired or whether your damaged property should be replaced. Replacement means building your home from the ground up.
- The time necessary for the rebuild or the replacement.
- The materials that will be used for the restoration.
- All other costs and out-of-pocket expenses to restore your property and possessions to their pre-hurricane condition.
If your home can’t be repaired or rebuilt, we work with appraisers who can place a value on the cost of buying a new home. We also explain whether you’re entitled to the value of your home/possessions or the cost to replace them. Replacement costs may be much higher than the actual value cost.
What types of hurricane insurance disputes do you handle in Mississippi?
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, our Mississippi insurance lawyers understand the damage hurricanes can cause. We’ve seen the devastation that Hurricanes Katrina, Barry, Nate, Zeta, and many others caused.
Our Mississippi hurricane claims lawyers guide you through each phase of your insurance claim. Some of the many issues we help you with include:
- Contesting unwarranted defenses. We fight attempts by your insurance company to improperly or incorrectly assert that an exclusion applies to deny or limit your claim in any way.
- Obtaining benefits for temporary housing, additional living expenses, and/or business interruption. Many hurricane victims need to move to a new residence or place of work until the repairs on their property can be finished, the property can be rebuilt, or the victims can find a new place to live. You should keep receipts and records of all your expenses. Businesses might be able to claim reimbursement or advance costs to notify clients, customers, and the people they work with, rent or buy new technology, and other essential business costs.
- Placing a proper value on your claim. A key part of our representation is identifying all your property that is damaged, working with experts to assess what steps need to be taken to restore your property and possessions to their pre-hurricane condition, and what compensation you should be paid to ensure your property and possessions are properly repaired, rebuilt, or replaced.
We work with building experts, appraisers, engineers, architects, experts skilled with specific types of damage (such as roof damage, mold, flooding, and other damage), and other professionals. Many insurance disputes revolve around the reports and testimony of our experts compared to the experts the insurance companies employ.
We handle any other damage claim that is hurricane-related, such as property damage caused by falling trees.
Do you have a Mississippi hurricane claim lawyer near me?
Our Mississippi insurance loss claims lawyers meet hurricane victims at our offices located at 600 Main St., Suite 301 in Tupelo and 4780 I-55 N, Suite 100 in Jackson. We also conduct consultations by phone and video. Our lawyers have helped many insurance loss victims just like you. We’ve obtained more than $100 million for our insurance claim clients.
Did a Gulf Coast hurricane damage your property? Contact our experienced Mississippi insurance claim lawyers now
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we understand how anxious you are. We’ll answer all your questions, help you obtain the temporary benefits you deserve, and help you properly document and verify your damages. We’re skilled insurance claim negotiators and trial lawyers. We’ve helped many environmental disaster claimants like you obtain the full compensation they deserved. To assert your rights under your insurance policies, call us or use our contact form to schedule an appointment. We represent hurricane victims throughout Mississippi, including Jackson and Tupelo.