Pensacola Flood Damage Attorney

Experienced Legal Help for Flood Damage Victims

Flooding can be absolutely devastating. Whether the water comes from hurricanes, rainfall, flash floods, rising sea levels, a negligent neighbor, or a burst pipe, flooding can totally upend your life. Beyond the trauma and physical harm that flooding can cause, it can also cause significant damage to your home and property. 

Even beyond the immediate mess and property destruction, once the water clears, you’re often left with much more extensive, longer lasting, and costlier damage. This could include major appliances that may need to be replaced (including washers/dryers, furnaces, water heaters, fridges, and stoves), as well as larger issues that require comprehensive repairs and abatement measures, such as roof, floor, and wall damage; plumbing and electric wiring damage; toxic mold; and structural weakening. 

At Crawford Law, we understand what you’re going through and are here to help you. Our experienced team of attorneys has extensive knowledge of the law and will work hard to help you get the compensation you’re entitled to in order to repair your home and replace any destroyed items. 

Put our years of experience and success with flood damage cases on your side by calling us today at (850) 220-2098 or completing our online form to schedule a consultation. With Crawford Law, you can rest assured knowing that you have experienced professionals working with you every step of the way.

Filing a Flood Damage Claim in Florida

In the direct aftermath of a major flooding event, you may be disoriented, scared, and unsure of what to do. As overwhelming an event as this may be, you must take prompt action in order to file a flood damage claim.

Here are some steps you should take:

• Immediately contact your insurance provider and let them know about the flooding event. You will need to provide photos of the damaged property as evidence, so be sure to document everything thoroughly with pictures and notes on the damages. 
• Your insurance provider will likely have an adjuster come out to assess the damages — be present at this inspection or ensure someone is onsite to answer any questions they may have about how it occurred and what was lost/damaged. 
• Make sure your insurance company is providing you with a proper estimate of what it will cost to repair and/or replace the damaged items. If not, contact them immediately and ask for an updated estimate.
• Once all the above steps are taken, you should begin filling out the flood damage claim form provided by your insurance provider. Provide as much detail as possible when describing what happened and what damage was sustained, so you can get the most accurate reimbursement possible. 
• After filing the claim form with your provider, wait for their response regarding coverage and payment options. They may require additional documentation or evidence before proceeding, in which case, you should be sure to provide this promptly in order to expedite the process. 

At this juncture, you should very strongly consider contacting an attorney who specializes in flood damage claims and getting a consultation about your case. While the process of filing a claim for flood damage should be relatively simple and should be something the average person can do on their own, it is often awfully complicated and difficult to process. Having a professional on your side with extensive knowledge of the law and what you're entitled to can be invaluable in helping you receive the compensation you deserve from your insurance company. 

Disputing Insurance Company Payouts or Denials

Having insurance coverage for flood damage should be straightforward and uncomplicated. After all, when your home or property is damaged or destroyed by a flood, you need help restoring it as quickly and completely as possible. Comprehensive insurance plans should provide adequate protection in these cases, enabling you to take advantage of their coverage to repair the damage caused by flooding. 

Unfortunately, insurance companies can be difficult to work with, and they may not provide the coverage you need or that is outlined in your policy. Insurers are often actively looking for any reason possible to invalidate or not fully pay your claim. Making a small error or wording a claim a certain way could result in an outright denial. Meanwhile, insurance adjusters can poke holes in your claim — even if it’s 100% truthful — and use that to cast doubt and argue against your payout. Having an advocate who is familiar with the field and can help you with every step of the process can make all the difference. 

Our Pensacola flood damage attorneys can help:

• Interpret your insurance policy
• Get professional damage appraisal and documentation, and make sure all filings are exact and in order
• Prepare a legal, comprehensive claim that is worded correctly to maximize your chances of success 
• Negotiate with the insurance company on any disputes or denials 
• Go to bat for you and advocate for your case against any resistance put up by your insurance company

If you are facing flood damage in the Pensacola area, Chris Crawford and the attorneys at Crawford Law are ready to help. With an extensive base of knowledge about flood damage and insurance claim law, they can easily untangle even the messiest of cases. What’s more, the attorneys at Crawford Law aren’t afraid to go to trial and have the reputation among insurance companies to show for it. 

Don’t let an insurance company mistreat you by denying or not fully paying your claim. Let the experienced team at Crawford Law fight for your rights. Call (850) 220-2098 or complete our convenient form to schedule a consultation. We are here to help!