1. Call Your Insurance Company: call your insurance company as soon as possible. Tell them about the extent of the damage. It can take 90 days or more to process a hurricane claim.  Make sure you give the insurance company all of your contact information: Work phones (general number and direct number), cell phones, or phone. You may even provide them with your close family members’ cell phones and let the insurer know that these alternative phone numbers are available to reach you. The point is to make it as easy as possible for the company to contact you.
2. Stay Where It Is Safe:  Sounds obvious, but your home may be uninhabitable after a hurricane. If you have to stay somewhere else, then you generally have the right to some cash. Insurance companies will reimburse you for additional cost of living expenses. This reimbursement will even cover restaurant meals within reason. The key to reimbursement is reasonable.  A reasonable safe motel will suffice, for example, over a luxury hotel.
3. Document Your Losses: Photographs. Create lists -- an inventory. Think about it by going through room by room in your home. Stay organized. Remember, you have the responsibility to prove your losses. Keep a running diary – a log -- of every contact with all insurance company representatives. Make sure to list date and time and name of representative.  If you forget something, you can also call your credit card companies and ask each to send you a list of your purchases.
4. Make Temporary Repairs: You may generally make only temporary repairs before the insurance adjustor has a chance to come in and assess the damage. Of course you should not risk your safety. If, for example, you have a leaky roof, then perhaps putting a tarp on the roof or some buckets around temporarily solves the problem instead of having the damage fixed by a professional.  This is a way to make sure that you are reimbursed for any repairs.
5. Beware of Scams – They Come Along With Every Hurricaneyour home was destroyed by a hurricane, then remain vigilant and cautious. There are simply evil people in our world. They are dishonest and prey on victims and those in need. Some of these bad people are service providers who are as dishonest as the day is long. They make you believe they are in it with you – very friendly and charming. Do not be rushed into signing any contract with any contractor. Obtain their business cards (if they have them) and get written estimates for the proposed job. Beware of building contractors who encourage you to spend a lot of money on temporary repairs. Investigate the track record of any roofer, builder or contractor that you consider hiring. Look for professionals and get references..
6. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) oversees licenses for contractor and trades workers (i.e. plumbers, roofers, handyman, carpenter, etc.). You can verify that license here.  Never give anyone a deposit until you know what you need to know.
7. Fight Back  If your insurance company has failed to live up to its end of the bargain (i.e. remember those premiums you paid every month for the past ten years?), then take action.  You can go back to your insurance agent, provide your claims documentation, and send it to the claims supervisor.
8. WHATEVER YOU DO – DO NOT SIGN A RELEASE – IT WILL WAIVE YOUR CLAIMS AGAINST YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY FOREVER.  SPEAK TO A LAWYER FIRST.

If you have not received satisfaction, then contact a consumer lawyer and litigation attorney at our law firm investigate your bad faith claim. If your claim is valid, then we may be able to proceed with a property damage insurance lawsuit, bad faith lawsuit, or otherwise challenge and fight the insurance company abuse. If we succeed, then the insurance company will have to pay our fees. The initial consultation is free, and there is no obligation, so contact us.

We may team up with, co-counsel, or jointly prosecute, your bad faith claim with an insurance claims attorney whom we know and trust. We are sensitive to your needs, share your values, and work hard for you and your family to secure justice.