Howell and Christmas, LLC, ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS' INSURANCE TIPS FOR THE 2009 HURRICANE SEASON
As the 2009 season approaches the Charleston South Carolina accident and injury lawyers at Howell and Christmas would like to offer some vital insurance tips to help you get the maximum recovery for your personal injuries and property damages should a loss occur.
1) Keep telephone numbers with you for all Charleston area government services (e.g. hospitals, ambulance, police, etc.). You will need the the hurricane causes an accident that results in injuries or death.
2) Take pictures or video of all valuables now, and also take pictures of any post-hurricane property damage to ensure that they are accurately documented. The more organized you are the less problems you may have. Making an itemized list will help with maximize your potential recovery.
3) Remember to review your homeowners insurance policy. Most homeowners forget that changes to your home such as adding a room or expanding a room may increase the value of your home and ultimately affect your coverage.
4) Make sure to check out windstorm coverage. As residents of a coastal area many insurers may offer such coverage.
5) Remember that Flood Insurance is not covered by homeowners policies. If you live in an area that could suffer a storm surge make sure you have Flood Insurance. Even if you are not located in a flood-prone area you may want to look into Flood Insurance. Remember, all areas are susceptible to flooding (Fact: 25% of flood claims come from non flood-prone areas).
6) Make sure to contact your insurer as soon as possible and let them know the severity of your property damages. Most insurance cases are prioritized, thus a home with less damage will get less attention than that of a home with more damage.
7) Call your lawyer if the insurance company gives you any problems when filing your claim for damages.
Howell and Christmas, LLC, analysis and commentary: It has been 20 years since a serious hurricane has struck the coast of South Carolina. From a historical perspective, we are due. These storms have caused serious injury and damages in Charleston and the low country. Now more than ever it is prudent to have a good hurricane plan in place for you and your family and to watch the weather on the Atlantic and be on the lookout for serious storms. This list above only addresses insurance and property issues. Make sure you have considered all related evacuation and other issues to keep safe this hurricane season. Best of luck.
