Florida has always been an attractive place for people to settle down because of it’s gorgeous weather. After all, it is referred to as the sunshine state. However, the good can also sometimes come with the bad. Florida’s humid subtropical climate can be a breeding ground for unwelcome guests such as mold.
Unlike water and other kinds of damage, molds are difficult to detect. So, they could be in one’s house for a very long period without it being noticed. One of the ways mold can happen is through weather-related events such as hurricanes. After hurricane Irma, Floridians had to wait for weeks before their homes were examined. Many homes had been infiltrated by mold, and the cost of repairs was quite high.
Other than weather-related events, one’s home can be susceptible to mold through a broken pipe. For example, if a homeowner fails to repair a leaky pipe, the continuous drip, especially in a dark and enclosed cabinet, is a perfect breeding ground for mold.
Does Homeowner’s Insurance cover Mold?
Here is one question that is readily on people’s lips because the answer will determine whether they get compensated for mold damage.
As long as what caused the mold is already covered in your insurance policy, home insurance will cover mold damage. Some of the covered perils that can cause a homeowner’s insurance policy to cover mold are:
- Fire
- Frozen pipes
- Theft
- Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
- Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from plumbing, heating, or other household appliances.
Below are examples of real-life scenarios that can make an insurance company cover the cost of mold removal and repair:
- A pipe burst into your home and makes the floor and walls extremely wet. Mold starts to form before you put a call through.
- An ice dam forms in a roof gutter during a rough winter. As a result, water moves into your attic, gets your attic floor and insulation soaked, and then causes mold.
- A washer hose leaks and gets damaged behind your washer. It is a new water hose, and you were able to stop the leak and report the damage immediately it happened, but not before the mold started to form.
There are instances your home insurance policy will cover mold damage. There are also instances it won’t. Some of these are:
- Your basement pipes freeze and burst, but you notice it after a few weeks have passed. Now, there are about six inches of water on your floor, and mold is growing as well.
- Mold begins to form in your shower, but you do not pay it much attention until one day you realize that it looks unpleasant, and you begin to worry about the health implications.
- Your 50-year-old roof cracks and allows water into your attic. Water begins to saturate wood or insulation and leads to mold growth in the attic.
In such cases, an insurance company would most likely not cover the damage because you are expected to take care of your house, including ensuring proper ventilation in the bathroom, replacing an old roof, and regularly inspecting your basement.
It is surprising, though, that some insurance companies will avoid settlement after mold damage when, in fact, the peril that led to the mold growth is such that the insurance company covers it. These insurance companies will reduce your claim and make it seem like the mold growth happened due to a peril not covered by your insurance policy. This is why you will need a mold damage claim attorney.
Mold Damage Claim Attorney in Florida
In Florida, there are several competent mold damage claim attorneys that can come to your rescue if your insurance company refuses to give you that which is rightfully yours. Some of the things you stand to enjoy when you employ their services include:
- Examination of your insurance policy. One of the important things your mold damage claim attorney would do for you is a thorough examination of your insurance policy. This would be done to determine your coverage and the payment your insurance company should make to you. They would not just determine your payment; they would also spell out to you in simple terms all you are supposed to benefit from the insurance. There would not be a case of the insurance company trying to get away with cheating you.
- Simplicity. Another benefit you will have by hiring a property damage attorney from the Louis Law Group website for your mold damage claim is the simplification of the process. Mold damage claim attorneys understand that dealing with an insurance company can be very difficult for you because many of them have made the process of filing and receiving an insurance claim a daunting task. Most of them hope that you will abandon your claim, especially after being denied compensation. No way! Your mold damage claim attorney will ensure you get compensated irrespective of whatever tactic your insurance company tries to employ.
- Strong, well-supported mold damage or wind damage insurance claim. How else can you make a strong, well-supported mold damage claim if not with the help of a mold damage claim attorney? You need a competent attorney to prepare one that cannot be refused for you, and you need it fast. It is advisable to allow your attorney to do this with their years of experience.
Conclusion
Mold growth might not be easily detectable, unlike others, but that does not reduce its devastating effects. It is advisable always to inspect one’s home and property regularly, especially places with easy access to water, to reduce the damages that come with mold growth.
