Putting Florida more in line with national practices
Putting Florida more in line with national practices

Stacey Clark walks around her Bethel Creek home with her dog Sweetie on Oct. 15 after a tornado tore through her home Oct. 9 before Hurricane Milton passed through the area. Clark was in her home with Sweetie when the tornado ripped her roof off.…
The other ‘mean season’ begins as insurers tally losses, decide whether premium hikes needed
The other ‘mean season’ begins as insurers tally losses, decide whether premium hikes needed

In mid-November, more than a month after Hurricane Milton’s Florida landfall rendered her Zephyrhills home uninhabitable, Jessica Fernandez was still wondering how her life could be returned to anything like it was before Mother Nature’s fury descended from the skies. She filed insurance claims the…
‘Insurance Coverage Law’ certification takes another step forward
‘Insurance Coverage Law’ certification takes another step forward

The Board of Legal Specialization and Education is poised to grant final approval of a proposed new “Insurance Coverage Law” board certification program, after sponsors agreed to make final revisions. “The BLSE approved the new certification area in concept, but the standards need additional work…
‘Board Certified’ Could Soon Be an Advertising Thing for Florida Insurance Lawyers
‘Board Certified’ Could Soon Be an Advertising Thing for Florida Insurance Lawyers

By this time next year, plaintiffs lawyers, who have frequently been held up as thorns in the side of the Florida property insurance industry for their sometimes-aggressive pursuit of policyholder claims litigation, could have a stamp of credibility to brandish in advertisements: “board certified in…
Florida Bar to vote on new certification in insurance coverage law
Florida Bar to vote on new certification in insurance coverage law

Proposal backed by key legal groups, aims to elevate insurance law expertise On Nov. 8, the Florida Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization and Education will vote on a proposed board certification program for insurance coverage law, which would recognize attorneys specializing in this area. Submitted…
Push for insurance law certification gains momentum
Push for insurance law certification gains momentum

Sponsors hope three major hurricanes this year will help convince the Board of Legal Specialization and Education to approve an “Insurance Coverage Law” board certification program when it meets November 8. “I am very optimistic that the full BLSE will agree that there is a…
‘No protection’: This Florida homeowner was dropped by his insurer after drone images indicated roof damage — here’s what you can do if your insurer threatens to cancel your policy
‘No protection’: This Florida homeowner was dropped by his insurer after drone images indicated roof damage — here’s what you can do if your insurer threatens to cancel your policy

When Mike Arman of Oak Hill, Florida, received notice that his home insurance policy wouldn’t be renewed, he was furious about the reason. Despite 52 years without a claim, his insurer claimed his roof was deteriorating based on satellite images, without conducting an in-person inspection.…
Things are changing fast in the home insurance market
Things are changing fast in the home insurance market

In the weeks after Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the Southeast, the price to rebuild has become a contentious topic in the home insurance market. For years, home insurers have identified climate change as a threat, cut coverage and increased premiums for properties in disaster-prone…
After hurricanes, the business of rebuilding lives means navigating the insurance claims process
After hurricanes, the business of rebuilding lives means navigating the insurance claims process

Now that the threat of Hurricanes Helene and Milton has receded, millions of homeowners and business-owners across Florida and the Southeastern U.S. are faced with traversing the often long and laborious process of using insurance to rebuild their lives. Immediately after disasters like these, property…
Navigating Insurance Claims After Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Navigating Insurance Claims After Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Insurance Claims After Hurricanes Helene and Milton: Quick Looks Understanding policies: Know your coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles to determine if filing a claim is worthwhile. Documentation is key: Keep detailed records of damages, expenses, and interactions with adjusters to support your claim. Seek professional…
Hurricanes Milton, Helene underscore potentially devastating gaps in home insurance coverage
Hurricanes Milton, Helene underscore potentially devastating gaps in home insurance coverage

Hurricanes Milton and Helene are exposing holes in the home insurance coverage that many Americans have leaned on for a sense of security in the face of natural disasters. Milton is currently headed for Tampa Bay, where — if the hurricane’s angle of approach is…
Homeowners Hit by Helene Are In for an Insurance Claim Shock
Homeowners Hit by Helene Are In for an Insurance Claim Shock

Homeowners are rushing to file insurance claims after Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction across six states. Many of them will likely be left empty-handed. Property insurers in recent years have hollowed out coverage and sharply increased rates to make up for steep underwriting…
Homeowners hit by Hurricane Helene face the grim task of rebuilding without flood insurance
Homeowners hit by Hurricane Helene face the grim task of rebuilding without flood insurance

The Category 4 storm that first struck Florida’s Gulf Cost on September 26 has dumped trillions of gallons of water across several states, leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction that spans hundreds of miles inland A week after Hurricane Helene overwhelmed the Southeastern U.S., homeowners…
Hit by Disaster? How to Get What You Deserve From Insurers or FEMA
Hit by Disaster? How to Get What You Deserve From Insurers or FEMA

If your home was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene, the most daunting challenge may still be ahead: Getting your insurance company, or the federal government, to give you the money you’re entitled to receive. That process can be infuriating and baffling, and it comes…
Where Helene victims can go for help rebuilding their homes and lives
Where Helene victims can go for help rebuilding their homes and lives

Insurance policyholders have a right to quick and full payment of claims As homeowners struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene, most will turn to their homeowners and flood insurance for relief. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and United Policyholders are sharing resources and tips…
Homeowners face threats to their property even after Hurricane Helene — how this disaster could cause insurance crisis for millions
Homeowners face threats to their property even after Hurricane Helene — how this disaster could cause insurance crisis for millions

“It’s a huge mess for everyone.” Even after it has subsided, Hurricane Helene continues to devastate homeowners throughout the Southeastern U.S. Beyond the billions of dollars in property damage and economic output, the record-breaking storm has further destabilized the insurance market. What’s happening? As The…
How Hurricane Helene could have widespread consequences for homeowners
How Hurricane Helene could have widespread consequences for homeowners

When Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida on Thursday night, it made landfall in the state’s sparsely populated Big Bend, far from the glittering cities with expensive waterfront property to the south. But that didn’t stop Helene from becoming another multibillion-dollar superstorm. The hurricane’s massive size…
A Florida homeowner was dropped by his insurer over drone images of his roof — here’s how to keep your policy intact
A Florida homeowner was dropped by his insurer over drone images of his roof — here’s how to keep your policy intact

When Mike Arman of Oak Hill, Florida, received notice that his home insurance policy wouldn’t be renewed, he was furious about the reason. Despite 52 years without a claim, his insurer claimed his roof was deteriorating based on satellite images, without conducting an in-person inspection.…