Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th, so even if your home wasn’t damaged from Hurricane Laura, it may be wise to look over your insurance policy to make sure that you’re covered.
While several hazards are covered under the standard portion of your homeowner’s insurance plan, certain weather-related events qualify for coverage in different ways, and some may not be covered at all.
Keep reading to learn whether your homeowner’s insurance policy will help pay for the damages to your home as a result of Hurricane Laura.
Your Policy
Whether your property is covered all depends on your specific insurance policy. Most people who live along the Gulf of Mexico have a hurricane deductible. Additionally, people who live in areas prone to wind-related events like tornadoes also have a wind/hail deductible. Your policy may even include both.
Depending on the specifics of your plan, your hurricane and/or wind deductible may be anywhere from about 1% to 5% of the total value of your insurance plan. That means if your home is insured for $200,000 and you have a 2% hurricane deductible, you’ll be responsible for paying for the first $4,000, no matter how much the cost of the damage amounts to.
This is why it’s so important to purchase insurance based on the replacement cost of your home, rather than its market value.
Flood Coverage
More than half of U.S. homeowners are unaware that most homeowners’ insurance policies exclude flooding from coverage. That is unfortunate since just one inch of water can result in upwards of $25,000 worth of damage.
Document Everything
While it may be too late this time around, it’s a good idea to take photos and document the condition of your home and your belongings before a disaster hits. That way, you have proof of what you own, as well as a record of the shape everything was in before the disaster.
If you’re unable to prove the condition of, for example, your now-missing back door, it could cause hiccups or denials in the claims process if the insurance company has any reason to believe that the door was not adequately maintained.
If your home was damaged due to Hurricane Laura and your insurance claim was wrongfully denied, we may be able to help you receive the compensation you deserve. Our team here at The Voorhies Law Firm has helped many other people with their denied claims, and we may be able to help you, too. Don’t delay—contact our office with your case right away.
Call our office today at (504) 875-2223 to discuss the details of your case and schedule a free consultation.
