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Q: Can I begin repairing damages myself, or should I wait for the adjuster first?

A: Make whatever temporary repairs you can. Cover broken windows, damaged roofs and walls to prevent further damage. Save the receipts for supplies and materials that you buy, to give to your insurance company. It will reimburse you for reasonable expenses. Keep extra copies of the receipts for your records.

Q: Should I get repair estimates?

A: Get a detailed estimate for permanent repairs to your home from a reliable contractor and give it to the adjuster. The estimate should contain the proposed repairs, repair costs and replacement prices. Again, keep a copy for your records.

Q: What proof do I need to replace my personal belongings destroyed in the storm, such as furniture and TVs?

A: The claim will be easier to resolve if you have receipts or proof of what you owned before the hurricane. You likely won't get an argument if you say you had a few small items destroyed, but if you try to claim that you had just purchased a home theater system or top of the line computer, be prepared to provide receipts or documentation for those items. The best evidence of what you owned prior to the storm is a videotape of the interior of your home, showing all TVs, stereos, etc. with as much detail as possible. Photographs are a second choice, if you do not have a video recorder.

Q: Can I get reimbursed for items like jewelry, artwork, furs and antiques?

A: Problems can arise when the claim is for unusual items like jewelry, artwork, furs, and antiques without receipts or documentation. You should have separate insurance riders for expensive items, and appraisals for unique or valuable items such as works of art. Receipts and appraisal documentation belong in your safe deposit box. Most homeowners' policies exclude coverage for these items, even if destroyed in a hurricane. NOTE: Each claim is determined by the terms of your specific insurance policy. We will be glad to review your policy with you to determine if your losses are covered by your policy. We invite you to ask us questions about your hurricane claim for free, please call us at 863-533-5525 or complete our Quick Contact Form to receive a confidential consultation.

Q: If I hire your Firm to represent me, do I have to pay litigation costs on top of attorney fees?

A: Lilly, O'Toole & Brown will advance any litigation costs on your behalf. If we collect money for you, the litigation costs will be reimbursed to Our Firm from your recovery. If we do not obtain any money for you, you owe nothing.

Q: How much are litigation costs in the average hurricane claim case?

A: That question cannot be answered with certainty. It depends on the facts of the case, the location of witnesses, and the complexity of the dispute.

Lilly, O'Toole & Brown, LLP
Lakeland Office: (863) 683-1111
Bartow Office: (863) 533-5525M
Sebring Office: (863) 471-0003
Lake Wales Office: (863) 676-1991
Haines City Office: (863) 422-1282
Wauchula Office: (863) 767-1111

Also providing legal assistance to clients from:
Wauchula, Lake Placid, Avon Park, Plant City, Brandon, and Valrico, Florida.

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