Mississippi Flood Insurance Dispute Lawyers
Helping Mississippi flood victims obtain the insurance proceeds they need to repair or rebuild
Torrential downpours, days of constant rain, proximity to various rivers, dam and levee breaks, and other events often cause flooding throughout Mississippi. You need to be prepared. Preparation means having flood insurance which is distinct from home or commercial property damage insurance. While some private insurers may provide flood damage coverage, property owners must generally obtain flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we understand the different types and levels of damage that flood waters can cause. Our Mississippi flood insurance lawyers help assess the damage, provide advances for temporary lodging, and obtain the full compensation that flood insurance covers.
How can we help?
- What initial steps should I take after a flood in Mississippi?
- What is the National Flood Insurance Program?
- What types of disputes occur when flood insurance claims are filed in Mississippi?
- How do you fight for Mississippi flood victims?
- Do you have a Mississippi flood insurance claim lawyer near me?
What initial steps should I take after a flood in Mississippi?
Floods normally cause extensive damage to many properties in a community. FEMA officials and Mississippi state officials will usually establish rules and procedures for inspecting the damage across a community and at individual locations.
Common safety precautions include turning off the water supply and the electricity. Property owners normally need to find temporary living quarters.
Our Mississippi flood insurance claim lawyers work with these federal and state officials. We help you notify the insurance carrier, which should also explain what emergency steps you need to take to prevent further damage to your home, building, and possessions. We also have working relationships with our own flood damage inspectors who will inspect the flood damage where you live or work.
To the extent possible, you should take videos and photographs of the damage. These images should help show how deep the floodwaters are and the area that is flooded. Once the water is removed, a second visual assessment of the damage will be required.
What is the National Flood Insurance Program?
According to FEMA, the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program is a federal program that permits property owners in “participating communities” to buy flood insurance. The program also requires that state and local governments “enforce floodplain management ordinances that aim to reduce flood damage.” Without flood insurance, you need to pay for the cost to repair, rebuild, and replace damaged property out of your own pocket.
Flood insurance provided by FEMA generally covers foundations, plumbing systems, electrical systems, and water heaters. Contents coverage should cover “clothing, furniture, personal electronics, and portable and window air conditioners.” Your insurance agent should help you obtain the appropriate coverage.
We’ll explain which insurance covers your damage. Some flooding damage may be covered by other insurance policies depending on how the flooding occurred. Generally, you should obtain flood insurance for:
- The foundation of your property
- Plumbing and electrical systems
- Permanently installed carpeting
- Appliances
- Sump pumps
- Window blinds
- Solar energy equipment
- Heating devices and fuel tanks
What types of disputes occur when flood insurance claims are filed in Mississippi?
Our Mississippi flood insurance lawyers anticipate and skillfully prepare for the different types of disputes that arise when you file for flood insurance compensation. Some of these disputes include:
- Obtaining advance payments. Our lawyers work to obtain advance payments for lodging, loss of use, and other necessities while your property is being repaired or rebuilt or you look to move to a different location because the damage is too extensive.
- Identifying the damage. We work with flood damage professionals who identify all the damage, including hidden damage, utility damage, foundation damage, and other types of damage.
- Determining the value of the damages. We review whether your property, fixtures and other covered items can be repaired and who should do the repairs. We also review how the cost of repairs or obtaining replacements will be valued.
How do you fight for Mississippi flood victims?
Whatever type of property you own (from a single-family home to a condominium complex) and whatever the use of the property, our Mississippi flood insurance claim lawyers thoroughly and persuasively handle the following issues:
- Verifying that your property is covered by flood insurance.
- Coordinate your insurance claims. We work to coordinate your flood insurance claim with your insurance company.
- Arrange to have your home and business property inspected.
- Assist in determining the cost to repair property that can be fixed and value property that can’t be repaired.
- Assess related damage. Floods usually cause mold and mildew damage. We work with professionals who will assess the damage, verify that the mold and mildew damage is flood-related, and determine the cost to manage the damage.
We work to assess the smells from sewage, garbage, and other causes and the cost of managing those odors. If you have business interruption insurance, we work to get your business up and running and compensate you for your losses.
Do you have a Mississippi flood insurance claim lawyer near me?
Our Mississippi flood insurance lawyers meet insurance policy claimants at our offices located at 600 Main St., Suite 301 in Tupelo and 4780 I-55 N, Suite 100 in Jackson. We also consult with clients by phone and video. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we’ve helped many insurance claimants obtain the full recoveries they deserve.
Get help now. Contact our respected Mississippi flood insurance lawyers today
Flood damage changes lives overnight. One day, you’re sleeping calmly in your home. After a flood, you’re looking for a place to live and worried about whether your home or business can ever return to normal. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, our insurance loss lawyers, step-by-step, identify your damages, assess the work that needs to be done, seek compensation for your damages, and negotiate your claim with the insurance companies. We do try cases before arbitrators and in court when necessary to obtain just compensation for all your flood damage. For help now, please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent insurance claimants throughout Mississippi and the Southeast.