Water Damage Insurance Claims: Covered or Excluded?

Major rain events — like the ones that have been plaguing Wisconsin this summer — get insurance companies busy denying homeowners insurance claims based on water-related policy exclusions.

Continuing the discussion about water damage insurance claims, Attorney Edward Beckmann, of Helmuth and Johnson, contributed the following guest posting about his favorite insurance law tongue twister: the anti-concurrent cause clause.

Hurricane Irma will go down as one of the most damaging storms in U.S. history. After leveling several islands in the Northern Caribbean, the powerful storm struck the Florida Keys and Gulf Coast. While significant damage also occurred in other states such as Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama, the lion's hare took place in the Sunshine State.

What started out as a tropical storm in the Atlantic quickly grew into a monstrous category 5 hurricane. With wind speed over 180 mph and powerful storm surges, Hurricane Irma hit Florida Friday, August 25, 2017. Only a few days before Hurricane Irma hit, Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Texas. More than a trillion gallons of rain fell in Harris County, Texas in just four days. Some places have reached more than 50 inches of rain, setting a record for the continental United States. The storm has left tens of thousands of people in shelters, wrecked homes and businesses, and has caused unbelievable flooding. The damage these storms have done is devastating, but there are ways that you can help the victims in these areas.

The devastating destruction that Hurricane Irma has left on Florida is unimaginable. Cleaning up after the storm will be a long recovery. Thousands of people will be filing insurance claims, but may be unsure on how to move forward with the process of filing an insurance claim after a hurricane.

Colder temperatures lead to frozen pipes, and a frozen pipe often bursts. It’s a good idea to know the steps to take if a pipe bursts in your building, and how to address the issue for insurance purposes. Here are some tips to help you along the way.

Hurricane Matthew has finally dissipated and, assuming your family is safe to re-enter your property, the process of cleaning up the damage has begun. If you're among the one million plus population that moved to Florida within the last 10 years and never experienced a hurricane, you may be lost on how to move forward with the process of filing an insurance claim after Hurricane Matthew.

When you experience business fire damage, it may become a front page headline, a six o’clock news story or an internet blurb. Such public awareness may bring a parade of contractors, fire restoration services, and other companies to your place of business. These professionals know you’ll need them sooner or later, so they may fill your mail slot or entryway with offers for inspections, courtesy estimates, and discounts.