After the storm, get an Orlando hurricane damage lawyer in your corner.
An Orlando hurricane damage lawyer makes your insurer pay what your policy covers after a Florida storm. Insurers blame flooding, old roofs or your deductible to pay less. We check how the hurricane deductible was applied, document the wind damage with independent experts and push for the full claim. No fee unless we recover.
After a hurricane, the insurer is counting on fatigue
We’re sorry about your home. After a storm like Ian or Milton, thousands of families file at once, adjusters rush through inspections and estimates come in low. Many people give up and take what they’re offered.
“That’s flood, not wind”
Insurers call wind-driven damage “flood” to push it outside your homeowners policy.
The drive-by estimate
A rushed inspection misses interior water damage, attic damage and the real cost of the roof.
The deductible math
A misapplied hurricane deductible can wipe out a payment that should have been thousands.
What waiting can cost you
The one-year notice
Even after a hurricane, a new claim must be reported within one year.
Water keeps coming in
An open roof means more damage with every afternoon storm.
Contractors are booked
Repair prices rise after a storm. Old estimates don’t cover today’s costs.
Paperwork piles up
Proof of loss, photos, receipts. Missing pieces give the insurer a reason to delay.
The insurance company has a team. Now you do too.
Get my free case reviewFlorida law, in plain words
How hurricane claims work in Florida
Hurricane claims follow Florida’s property insurance rules, with a few twists: a separate deductible, the line between wind and flood, and a rush of claims that gives insurers cover to cut corners.
The hurricane deductible
Most Florida policies have a separate hurricane deductible, often 2%, 5% or 10% of your dwelling coverage. It generally applies once per hurricane season, not once per storm.
Wind versus flood
Homeowners policies cover wind and wind-driven rain, but exclude flood. Flood insurance is a separate policy, usually through the federal flood program, with its own deadlines.
Your notice deadlines
A new or reopened hurricane claim must be reported within one year of the date of loss. A supplemental claim, for damage found later, has 18 months.
The insurer’s deadlines
Your insurer must acknowledge the claim within 7 days and pay or deny it within 60 days of notice, unless factors outside its control prevent it.
When you disagree on the amount
Florida’s state mediation program, the appraisal clause in many policies or, after written notice, a lawsuit can resolve a dispute over what the damage is worth.
Your hurricane deductible
2–10%
A percentage of your dwelling coverage, not a flat amount. On a $300,000 home, a 2% deductible is $6,000. We check that it was applied correctly, and only once a season.
Central Florida storms
Hurricane damage we see most
Central Florida isn’t on the coast, but storms like Charley, Ian and Milton still tore off roofs, dropped oaks on homes and soaked attics across Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties. We document the damage before it’s repaired, so the insurer can’t say it was never there.
Roofs and shingles
Missing shingles, lifted underlayment and damaged decking. Insurers often pay for a patch when the code requires more.
Wind-driven rain inside
Water that came through a storm-created opening into ceilings, walls and floors.
Fallen trees
Oaks and palms on roofs, lanais, fences and pool cages, plus the cost of removing them.
Living somewhere else
Hotel, rental and meal costs while your home isn’t livable, if your policy covers additional living expenses.
What a hurricane claim can cover
Every policy is different, so we start by reading yours. After a hurricane, these are the coverages insurers most often underpay or miss.
- Roof repair or replacement, including code-required upgrades if you have ordinance or law coverage
- Interior water damage from wind-driven rain
- Other structures: fences, screen enclosures, sheds and pool cages
- Tree and debris removal, as your policy allows
- Damaged belongings and spoiled food after a long outage, where covered
- Additional living expenses while your home is being repaired
Proof, not promises
Real people, real results
Recovered on a hurricane claim
[$X]
[Storm, city and year: one sentence on the first offer and the final recovery.]
Every case is different. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
“After Milton the insurance company offered us less than our deductible. Sunshine brought in their own expert and we ended up with enough to replace the whole roof.”
Placeholder result and sample review shown for layout. Replace with a verified result and a real Google review, approved under Florida Bar Rule 4-7, before launch.
Three simple steps
Your hurricane claim, in three steps
- 1
Send us what you have
A free call with an attorney, in English or Spanish. Photos, the policy and any letter or estimate from the insurer.
- 2
We document the storm damage
Independent adjusters, roofers and engineers inspect the home and price the repair at real post-storm costs.
- 3
We push for full payment
We negotiate hard, use mediation or appraisal when it helps and, if the insurer won’t be fair, file suit.
Where you end up: the morning after the storm
Before
- A damaged home and a low estimate
- Arguing wind versus flood alone
- Waiting while repair prices climb
With Sunshine
- The deductible applied correctly
- Independent experts on your side
- Your home repaired
Your home repaired
A payment that covers the real, post-storm cost of the work.
Your policy honored
Wind damage paid as wind damage.
Your costs covered
Tarps, tree removal and temporary housing included where covered.
Peace of mind
Ready for the next season, with no claim hanging over you.
Every case is different. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
Our promise
We treat your case as if it were our own.
What it costs, and why Sunshine
Hurricane claim attorneys who stay after the storm
After a hurricane, most Florida homeowners end up fighting an insurer that’s buried in claims and looking for reasons to pay less. Sunshine State Law Firm takes on that fight and keeps you informed every step of the way, so you can rebuild. No fee unless we recover for you.
- No fee unless we recover for you. The percentage is in writing before you sign, along with the Statement of Client’s Rights Florida requires.
- You’ll always know who’s handling your case, with updates by text, email and phone.
- Hablamos español, from the first call to the final check.
- No question is a dumb question. We explain every step in plain words.
Guides after a storm
Roof insurance claim denied in Florida? What to do next
Roof insurance claim denied in Florida? Why insurers deny roof claims, the deadlines that apply, and the steps to dispute a denial or lowball payment.
Read the guide
Florida Senate Bill 76: what homeowners need to know
Florida Senate Bill 76 changed how homeowners insurance claims and disputes work. What it did, what the 2022 reforms added and what it means for you today.
Read the guide
Your insurance company is not your friend. It's a business
Your insurance company is a business, not your friend. How adjusters work, what to say on a recorded statement, and how Florida homeowners protect a claim.
Read the guide
Hurricane claim questions we hear every day
No question is a dumb question. Here are the ones we hear most.
You must give your insurer notice of a new or reopened claim within one year of the date of loss, and of a supplemental claim within 18 months. Report damage as soon as you can, even if you’re still finding it.
It’s usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage, such as 2%, 5% or 10%, and it generally applies once per hurricane season. If you already met it earlier in the season, a second storm may fall under your regular deductible.
Homeowners policies exclude flood but cover wind and wind-driven rain. Many homes have both, and insurers sometimes label everything flood. Independent experts can separate the two so the wind damage gets paid.
Not always. If the insurer pays fairly and on time, you may not. If your claim was denied, delayed past 60 days or paid below your contractor’s estimate, an Orlando hurricane damage lawyer can review it for free.
Do I need an insurance lawyer? 5 ways to knowNothing up front. We work on a contingency fee: our fee is a percentage of what we recover, and you owe no attorney’s fee if we don’t recover. The percentage and how case costs are handled are in a written agreement you see before you sign.
Make emergency repairs to stop further damage, like tarping the roof and drying out the house, and keep every receipt. Photograph and video everything first, and wait for the inspection before permanent repairs.
Tell us your story. We’ll take it from here.
A free, personal conversation with an attorney. No pressure, no fee unless we recover for you.
Hablamos español · Consulta gratis