what is hazard insurance for home

What Is Hazard Insurance for Homeowners and What Does It Cover?

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Property Insurance

As a homeowner, one of your biggest priorities is making sure your property is protected. But with so many insurance options, it can be tough to figure out exactly what you need. It’s an important part of your homeowner’s insurance and can really help when disaster strikes. In 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported weather-related disasters caused a staggering $93 billion in damages across the U.S. From wildfires to storms, these events are unpredictable and happen more often than we’d like. So, what is hazard insurance for home going to protect you against? It’s the coverage that helps you recover if your home is damaged by things like fire, severe storms, or even sinkholes. But what exactly does it cover, and how does it work? What Is Hazard Insurance for Home? It is a type of coverage that protects homeowners from damage caused by a variety of natural disasters and events. Essentially, it’s the insurance that covers your home from physical damage brought about by things like fires, severe storms, hail, snow, and even sinkholes. As long as the event is covered under your specific policy, hazard insurance can help cover the costs of repairing or replacing …

how many homes were destroyed by hurricane ian

How Many Homes Were Destroyed by Hurricane Ian in Florida?

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Hurricane damage

In September of last year, Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc on the southern United States, causing significant damage and loss of life. The storm was one of the costliest in US history, and it had a particularly devastating impact on Florida. In this blog, we will answer the question of how many homes were destroyed by Hurricane Ian in Florida and explore resources available for homeowners affected by the storm. What Category was Hurricane Ian? Last September, Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida as a powerful storm, wreaking havoc and causing over $112 billion in damage in the United States. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ian briefly reached maximum Category 5 status with winds estimated at 161 mph (259 kph) on September 28, making it one of the most powerful tropical cyclones on record. However, after passing by the Dry Tortugas islands, Ian weakened to a Category 4 storm, with winds of 150 mph (241 kph), before hitting Florida later that day. Although it was downgraded to Category 4, Ian’s impact was still incredibly devastating. It caused over 150 deaths directly or indirectly and was declared the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history and the third-costliest hurricane …

how much is a traumatic brain injury worth

How Much Is a Traumatic Brain Injury Worth?

RRBHLAWZENInsurance Litigation, Personal Injury Lawyer Florida

Wondering how much is a traumatic brain injury would be worth? This article shares information about calculating damages for traumatic brain injuries.  A traumatic brain injury or TBI can have devastating effects. The most common cause of death and disability in children aged 15 to 44 is traumatic brain damage.  Some of the impacts they may cause can be subtle, but others are not. Therefore, it is important to be proactive in pursuing brain injury compensation because if you don’t, you could suffer various health and financial problems.  What is a Traumatic Brain Injury? A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a severe injury to the brain that can cause significant long-term problems. The most common type of TBI is an accident that causes the head to hit something hard, such as the ground. Other kinds of TBI include being hit in the head by a ball or being shot. Even mild TBI can cause long-term problems, including memory loss, trouble concentrating, and difficulty speaking.  How Much Is a Traumatic Brain Injury Worth? There is no way to tell how much your case will settle for, but it will likely be between $100,000 and $7 million in the worst cases of …

House after rain property insurance lawyer

Citizens Managed Repair Program: Do I Need a Florida Property Insurance Attorney?

RRBHLAWZENProperty Insurance

Do you need a Florida property insurance lawyer? If you are a Citizens Property Insurance Corporation policyholder, you might. Here’s why you should consult a property insurance lawyer. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is encouraging homeowners to use the Managed Repair Program intending remediation of non-weather-related property damage for less than what is required under Florida law. If you are a part of this program, it is essential that you consult an experienced Florida property insurance attorney who can help you understand your rights. Citizens Managed Repair Program: What You Should Know Citizens’ Managed Repair Program helps customers whose homes have been damaged by water. The program consists of two services: emergency water removal and a managed repair contractor network, both of which are available for customers with new and renewal homeowner (HO-3) and dwelling property (DP-3) policies only. Covered by Citizens, once water is removed and dried up for covered damages, contractors are on site to fix your home with a 5-year workmanship guarantee. According to Citizens, a policyholder may refuse or limit participation in the managed repair program. They advise, however, that it may impact the cost of the claim (excluding Emergency Water Removal Services). For example, if you …

can i sue my child's school for an injury

Can I Sue My Child’s School for an Injury in Florida?

RRBHLAWZENPersonal Injury Lawyer Florida, Slip and Fall

Can I sue my child’s school for an injury? If you live in Florida, you need to know how a lawsuit against a public entity like a public school works. Here’s what to know. You remember what it was like. Playing on the playground with your friends was fun. The gym class was a blast, especially dodgeball, right? Kids got to be kids. Now that you have kids yourself, though, would you feel comfortable letting them do the same kinds of activities you did? Maybe not. Children are resilient, but even they are not invincible. Even if your children are not involved in potentially dangerous extracurriculars, they can still get hurt. Freshly mopped floors without a caution sign in sight. Loose handrails on the stairs. The question is, can you hold the school accountable if your child is hurt because of their negligence? So, can I sue my child’s school for an injury? Yes, you can. Your child’s school has a duty of care, so if they acted negligently, you can pursue damages against them. One important detail, however, may change how your case proceeds—whether the school is a private entity or a public entity. If your child attends a …

Need a Lawyer for Hurricane Insurance Claim? Only If You Want a Fair Settlement

Need a Lawyer for Hurricane Insurance Claim? Only If You Want a Fair Settlement

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance

Should you hire a lawyer for your hurricane insurance claim? It depends on your situation, but your settlement could benefit. Here’s how. This year is going to be another busy Atlantic Hurricane Season, according to the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project. “We anticipate that the 2021 Atlantic basin hurricane season will have above-normal activity,” Dr. Phil Klotzbach, the leading scientist on the project, wrote in the 2021 report. If you have not already begun preparing your home and yourself for the possibility that your home could be damaged, you should begin doing so as soon as possible. You should also educate yourself about what to do following a hurricane. If you want a fair settlement, here are a few reasons you might need to hire an attorney. Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer for Hurricane Insurance Claim When you are considering whether to hire an attorney to handle your hurricane insurance claim, you might have a few questions. How will an attorney help me with my claim? Will it be worth it? Hurricane insurance claims can be time-consuming, complicated ordeals. Having a lawyer on your side can make the process easier and more streamlined. Here are a few things that …

Roofers roofing after settlement with help from an insurance claim lawyer

4 Things Your Homeowners Insurance Company Won’t Tell You (But Your Homeowners Insurance Lawyer Will)

RRBHLAWZENblogHomeowners' Insurance

Homeowners insurance is notoriously complicated and confusing. In fact, many policyholders hope they never have to use theirs because they do not understand the ins and outs of their coverage. The insurance companies are counting on your confusion. Will you let them get away with denying coverage, or will you hire a homeowners insurance lawyer to clear things up? If you haven’t had to think too much about your homeowners insurance, consider yourself lucky. Being able to forget about what your policy covers means you have not had to file a claim in some time (perhaps ever). Then again, if you haven’t had to use your coverage recently, that means you might need a refresher on what your policy covers and what it does not cover. And even if you know what is included in your policy, do you really understand how it all works? Your insurance company would rather keep you in the dark about some pretty important aspects of your policy. Here are a few. You May Be Entitled to Replacement Rather Than Repairs If you purchased a policy that stipulates you are entitled to the replacement cost of a damaged item or part of your home, you …

insurance litigation

Insurance Litigation: What Can I Expect When I Sue My Insurance?

RRBHLAWZENblogHomeowners' Insurance, Insurance Litigation

When you file a claim with your insurance company, you have to hope that the amount they decide to pay will be fair. One of the most common reasons that we pursue lawsuits against insurance companies is for “bad faith” practices, where your company fails to act in your best interests. Your company may refuse to settle or negotiate your claim, instead betting on the idea that you will back down and avoid challenging their decision. If the settlement you get is not fair, you might have to consider insurance litigation. Suing your insurance company might seem like a daunting task. They’ve probably got a team of lawyers. They deal with this type of thing all the time. Meanwhile, you have probably never had to handle a lawsuit ever before in your life. It’s enough to discourage you from pursuing a settlement that is rightfully yours, but should it be? You pay your insurance to cover you when disaster strikes, and you deserve compensation when they fail to fulfill your duty. The litigation process can be stressful, for sure, but you can get through it if you know what you’re in for. Here’s what to expect when you decide that …

insurance litigation attorney

Hurricane Irma Court Case: How an Insurance Litigation Attorney Can Help

RRBHLAWZENblogHomeowners' Insurance, Insurance Litigation

Every year, many insurance policyholders have to decide whether to hire an insurance litigation attorney. The question: take the award amount and cut their losses, or take the fight to the courts to get the compensation they deserve? Recently, a Miami federal judge ruled on a case that involved two insurance policyholders, the insurance company, and a disagreement over the award amount the insurance company wanted to pay. The insurance company claimed that the initial award (which was much higher than the revised award) offered to the plaintiffs was preliminary—the court should thus reject the plaintiffs’ stance that the initial offer should be upheld. Daniel J. Rodriguez of RRBH Law was on the case. The Case When Lazaraly Guzman and Larry Rosado claimed that their dwelling was damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017, they couldn’t have expected how much resistance they would get from their insurance company, American Security Insurance, Co. From the start, the insureds and representatives of the insurance company could not agree on the cost of the damage from the storm, so Guzman and Rosado started the litigation process. When the parties agreed to an appraisal per the insurance policy’s instructions, the court stayed the case until …

Birds eye view of neighborhood property insurance attorney

How Do I Know If I Need A Property Insurance Attorney? 3 Things to Know Before Settling

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Insurance Litigation

Deciding whether to hire a property insurance attorney for your home insurance claim can seem like a tricky choice. In reality, though, it’s quite simple. Here in the Miami area, we see first-hand some of the worst home damage that this country has seen. From hurricanes to sinkholes, it seems that Mother Nature always has something up her sleeve. As an insurance litigation attorney, I deal with the fallout from these and other scenarios, and let me tell you—you do not want to go up against the big insurance companies alone. Even small regional insurance companies have the legal know-how to take you for a ride. Still don’t think you need a property insurance attorney? Here are three things to know before settling: If Your Home Insurance Provider Denies Your Claim Insurance companies are in the business of making money, so anytime they see an opportunity to not pay on a claim—perhaps by reinterpreting the legal language of your contract—they’re going to take it. When this happens, do not give up. Hiring a qualified insurance attorney to pursue your case will give you the opportunity to get the money that they owe you. If Your Home Insurance Settlement Is too …

A young businesswoman protects a house from the elements - rain or storm and sun. Blackboard drawing top view.

Does Your Insurance Policy Cover Your Roof? It Depends…

RRBHLAWZENHomeowners' Insurance, Insurance Litigation

Here in Miami, we all probably know someone who has had to deal with the insurance companies over storm damage to their home. As we recently saw on Wednesday, August 2, even a relatively small weather system like Tropical Storm Emily (technically downgraded to a tropical depression at that point) can cause major damage. As the forecast is showing, we’re not done with hurricane season quite yet.  Not even close, since forecasters are expecting an very active season as the waters warm up. Not surprisingly, one of the questions I get asked most often as an attorney whose cases often revolve around storm damage is “does my insurance cover damage that my roof sustains during a storm?” In fact, because the roof is susceptible to damage from high winds, hail, lightning strikes, and falling debris, one of my primary jobs as an attorney who handles insurance litigation is to get the insurance companies to cover the costs of various types of damage. You’d be surprised by what they try to get away with (or maybe not; they’re insurance companies, after all). While I’d like to be able to tell every single person who has asked me this question, “yes, your …