Louisville, Kentucky Hurricane Insurance Dispute Lawyers
Forceful representation when hurricanes destroy homes and businesses in Kentucky
Hurricanes do hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of damage each year, and insurance companies know it. If your insurer is slow walking your hurricane claim or has offered an unfair settlement, McWherter Scott & Bobbitt can help. Our Kentucky hurricane insurance dispute lawyers fight for residential and commercial property owners all over the Southeast. Call us in Louisville today for help.
How can we help?
How are hurricanes classified?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), classifies hurricanes according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale:
- 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 immediate steps should I take before, during, or after a hurricane?
The single most important thing to do is ensure your own safety. That could mean leaving your home or business and evacuating the area or ensuring that your properties are secured so that you can stay. The safety of you and your loved ones should be paramount.
Before
- Ensure you have plenty of fresh, clean water and shelf-stable food.
- Purchase extra batteries, flashlights, and portable chargers (which should be fully charged themselves).
- Bring in any loose yard furniture or items.
- Fill your car’s gas tank and pack it with extra blankets, water, and shelf-stable food.
During
- Wait out the storm in the highest story of your home or property.
- Secure all shutters. If you don’t have shutters, board the windows.
- Use batteries, not candles.
- Take pictures of the rooms of your home and your items within those rooms.
After
- Leave the property if unsafe.
- Take photos of videos of any damage you sustained and save them to cloud storage.
- Do not go near any downed power lines.
- Contact the insurance company and report any damage.
- Call your own inspector to review and assess any damage.
Will my insurance policy cover hurricanes?
It should. Standard policies for residential and commercial properties cover storm damage. There may be times, however, when an insurer will try to lowball a hurricane claim because the hurricane triggered a flood. Floods aren’t covered by standard insurance policies; you need a separate policy for that.
You may also need a wind endorsement on your policies to cover any wind damage caused by a hurricane. You should also review sewer backup coverage with your agent.
Commercial property coverage, including coverage for business interruption, inventory loss, and more, should cover any claims stemming from the hurricane.
What types of disputes do you handle on behalf of Kentucky hurricane victims?
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we’ve lived through Hurricane Bill, Katrina, Dennis, and Erin. We’ve helped hundreds of policyholders obtain insurance loss coverage after natural disasters. Some of the many issues and disputes our Kentucky insurance dispute lawyers handle include:
- Exclusion defenses. Often, insurance companies will try to say your claim is excluded. Our lawyers are ready to argue that hurricane damage is included unless it is specifically excluded in writing by the insurance policy or an endorsement.
- Temporary expenses. Your homeowners’ or commercial property insurance should provide advances for temporary lodging and necessary expenses while your home or office building is being rebuilt. We hold insurance companies to their duty to advance the costs you need to survive after a hurricane. You should keep a record of all your expenses – preferably a collection of all your receipts.
- Determining the amount of the deductible. When hurricanes cause damage, the amount of the deductible may be a percentage of the claim – not a specific dollar amount.
- The assessment of your claim. We review any estimates by the insurance company about the value of your claim. Many times, essential information is not included. We work with trusted professionals with years of experience who can verify what the property damage is; whether repairs, reconstruction, or replacement are necessary; the timeline for any necessary work; and the full amount of your damage claim.
Our team can steer you through each phase of your claims. We work with building experts, engineers, architects, roofing experts, water damage experts, appraisers, and many other professionals. Many insurance disputes involve determining which expert’s evaluation to use – yours or the insurance company’s. We’re skilled at showing why our experts are more reliable.
Do you have a Kentucky hurricane claim lawyer near me?
Our office is located at 2950 Breckenridge Ln, Suite 13-200 in Louisville. We also discuss claims by phone and through video. We do visit your home or business when necessary. We’ve helped many insurance loss victims just like you. We’ll address all your concerns and fight for all the compensation you deserve.
Call our Kentucky insurance claim lawyers for immediate help after a hurricane
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we understand how stressed you are. Many hurricane victims need to rebuild from scratch or spend months making quality repairs. Our Kentucky insurance claim lawyers understand the unique challenges involved with hurricane damage claims. We’ll guide you through each step of the claims process. We’ve helped numerous victims of natural disasters obtain the full compensation they deserve because they paid their premiums. To discuss your hurricane insurance claim, please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We represent hurricane victims throughout the Southeast.