Insurance companies shudder whenever Florida is in the projection cone for a hurricane or tropical storm, because it means the probability of widespread damages that eat into their "reserves." Reserves are funds set aside to cover future losses, but if those losses don't happen, or we go an extended period of time without a storm, those reserves become profits.

An insurance company's potential loss of profits shouldn't be your concern...

... yet somehow it is.

The calamity that ensues following a hurricane makes it even more difficult than normal for the average homeowner or business owner to focus on figuring out how to navigate their insurance claim. They're focused on picking up the pieces of their life, or getting their business back to normal operations. Let us guide you through this trying time while you focus your attention where it's better needed.

What to Expect

You'll likely receive some kind of payment, but insurance companies will be hunting for any reason to try to claim your damage pre-existed the storm, or are unrelated. You can expect your claim to move slowly, as all resources for the insurance company, will be tied up. There will be nothing anyone can do to "speed things up." 

With such widespread damage, every insurance company and every insurance adjuster will have more work than they can handle quickly, so please be patient.

Often overlooked in the aftermath is that policies that cover hurricanes often carry significantly higher deductibles, usually some percentage of your policy limits, so expect several thousand dollars to come off the top. For commercial claims, and condominiums, these deductibles can be in the millions. We were called to a loss immediately following Hurricane Irma where a condo association had a windstorm policy with a $20,000,000 deductible.

There's plenty to watch out for, but we've been through this hundreds of times, and will have your best interest in mind. 

Commercial Claims

If you're making a commercial claim for a restaurant, hotel, condo association, homeowners association, or any other business, you're required to have a public adjuster. In Florida, if an entity is the insured, any individual who is filling out claim forms on behalf of that entity, other than the sole owner MUST BE A LICENSED ADJUSTER. This means that a contractor or property manager cannot assist in any manner with the insurance claim.

We have extensive experience in handling commercial claims and have the infrastructure of experts in place to make sure your claim runs smoothly. From documenting damage, to preparing estimates, to engineering evaluations, to forensic accounting regarding business interruption, VIP has you covered.