Water damage is a serious risk for homeowners in Florida. Water damage may occur due to a wide range of factors – from leaky roofs and burst pipes to heavy rainfall and flooding caused by hurricanes and tropical storms. To protect your property against these risks, water damage insurance is vital.

Different Types of Insurance Coverage for Water Damage in Florida

Homeowners’ Insurance

Homeowners’ insurance in Florida typically covers water damage caused by sudden and accidental incidents like burst pipes, plumbing leaks, roof leaks, washing machine or dishwasher malfunctions, and accidental overflow from bathtubs or sinks. If water damage occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, your homeowners’ insurance policy is likely to cover the resulting property damage and other related losses.

Many people want to know: Can homeowners insurance cover water damage caused by floods? You should remember that most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage. In order to protect your property against flood-related water damage, you need to purchase flood insurance separately. 

In addition, you should check whether adequate personal property coverage is included in your home insurance or dwelling coverage policy. If not, you may purchase a separate policy in addition to the standard homeowners insurance policy.

Flood Insurance

Flood insurance in Florida can cover a water damage insurance claim caused by flooding for the following types of damages:

  • Structural Damage: Damage to the foundation, walls, floors, ceilings, and other structural components
  • Contents Damage: Damage to personal belongings and contents within the insured property
  • Electrical and Plumbing Systems: Damage to electrical and plumbing systems within the insured property – including wiring, outlets, switches, circuit breakers, plumbing fixtures, water heaters, and more
  • HVAC Systems: Damage to HVAC units, ductwork, vents, and related components
  • Appliances: Damage to major appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, washing machines, and dryers

Flood insurance policies are available in Florida through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as well as private insurers.

Excess Flood Insurance

Excess flood insurance – also referred to as flood insurance excess coverage – provides additional protection above and beyond the limits of a primary flood insurance policy. If the cost of flood-related damage exceeds the limits of your primary policy, excess flood coverage can kick in to cover the remaining expenses.

Excess flood insurance also offers broader coverage for certain types of water damage that might not be covered under a standard flood insurance policy. This could include coverage for water damage caused by sewer backups, sump pump failures, groundwater seepage, and other risks that might not be covered by your primary policy.

Water Backup Insurance

Many insurance companies in Florida offer optional water backup coverage as an endorsement to homeowners’ insurance policies. This coverage protects against the damage caused by sewer backup, drain backup, and sump pump failures. It typically covers the cost of cleanup, repair, and restoration efforts necessary to repair the damage and restore the insured property to its original condition.

How Our Florida Insurance Lawyers Can Maximize Your Recovery in Water Damage Insurance Claims

Here is how our Florida water damage lawyers can help you with the claims process.

Assessment of Damage: We will send our team of experts to your place to assess and document the extent of water damage. We will gather all the necessary evidence and documentation to support your claim.

Claims Preparation: We will carefully review your policy documents, take coverage limitations and exclusions into account, and determine what kind of compensation and other benefits you are entitled to under the policy. Based on our assessment, we will prepare a water damage claim that meets the requirements set forth by your insurance company.

Negotiation: In the event of disputes or disagreements with your insurance company regarding coverage or claim settlement, we will escalate the matter and pursue resolution through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. We will leverage our legal expertise, industry knowledge, and vast experience in handling water damage claims to negotiate tactfully with your insurance company to recover the compensation you are owed.

Going to Trial: If your insurance company refuses to offer the compensation you rightfully deserve, we will initiate legal action against them by filing a lawsuit in court and fight aggressively to get the compensation you are entitled to. We have a proven track record of success in litigating insurance claims and we know how to achieve favorable outcomes for our clients.

Tips for Minimizing the Risk of Water Damage in Florida

  • Get your pipes checked by a plumber for signs of leaks, corrosion, and other problems at least once a year.
  • Inspect your roof regularly for signs of damage like missing or damaged shingles, cracks, or deteriorating flashing. Repair any issues promptly to prevent water from infiltrating the roof and causing damage to the interior of your home.
  • Keep gutters and downspouts clean and free of debris to ensure proper drainage of rainwater away from the property. Consider installing gutter guards to prevent leaves and debris from clogging up the gutters and causing water backup.
  • Maintain landscaping around your property to promote proper drainage and prevent water from pooling near the foundation.
  • Inspect the foundation of your property for cracks and other signs of water infiltration. Seal any cracks and make sure the foundation is properly waterproofed to prevent water from seeping into the basement or crawlspace.
  • Regularly inspect appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters and maintain them properly to prevent leaks or malfunctions that could lead to water damage.

Our Tenacious Florida Water Damage Lawyers Can Maximize Your Financial Recovery 

Dealing with water damage claims can be overwhelming, especially if your claim is delayed or disputed by the insurance company. At Larry Moskowitz, PA, we have over 35 years of experience in handling accidental water damage claims as well as flood related water damage claims.

We have a strong “Boots on the Ground” team that can visit your home or business to accurately assess the extent of water damage. We can make sure your claim is not undervalued by your insurance company and you are fully compensated for the losses you have suffered.Notably, you do not have to pay anything for the water damage assessment done by our experts. We work on a contingency fee basis and we will not charge you anything upfront. We get paid only if we recover compensation for you. Call us today at 866-312-0708 to schedule a free case evaluation.