South Florida Hail Damage Attorney

Hail strikes South Florida less often than wind and rain, yet a single storm can bruise shingles, crack tiles, puncture underlayment, dent gutters, and flood interiors. When a carrier downplays the loss, a hail damage attorney will build solid proof, apply Florida’s deadlines, and push for coverage that actually fixes the problem.

Kuhn Raslavich. P.A. handles first-party property insurance disputes every day in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and throughout the state. A seasoned lawyer at our firm will focus your claim on policy language, code items, and fair pricing so you do not end up with patchwork repairs.

Hail in South Florida: What Insurers Look For

Adjusters often point to wear and tear, prior repairs, or “no functional damage” to limit roof payments after hail. A careful attorney will counter that position by separating cosmetic scuffs from bruised matting, displaced granules, and punctures that shorten a roof’s service life. Photographs, test squares, and contractor reports give that argument weight.

South Florida roofs face repeated heat and UV cycles. Hail that might appear minor can still break seals, open pathways for water, and push a system past the line where replacement is the proper fix. A lawyer will present dated photos, slope-by-slope findings, and code requirements so the file reflects the true scope.

Local code upgrades also matter. If hail damage triggers replacement under building codes, those costs should be included in the estimate. An attorney will match code items to policy provisions and request the insurer’s written position when a carrier refuses to price them.

Claim Deadlines and the One-Year Notice Rule

Florida sets strict timelines for reporting property damage. For any covered peril, policyholders must give notice of an initial claim within 1 year from the date of loss, and supplemental claims within 18 months. Hurricane claims use the event date confirmed by NOAA. Those rules appear in Florida Statutes § 627.70132. 

A missed notice can nullify your claim. A lawyer will calendar the loss date, promptly send written notice through the carrier’s portal or by email, and request a claim number the same day. If a supplemental scope emerges later, an attorney will give notice within the 18-month window and explain why the additional damage ties back to the hail event.

Florida’s notice statute does not change how long you have to sue for breach of the insurance contract. That separate deadline is five years from the date of loss for homeowner’s insurance claims. A lawyer will weigh that litigation clock if negotiations stall. 

What Your Policy Covers and Common Exclusions

Coverage often turns on definitions and endorsements. Many policies cover direct physical loss to the roof, interior water damage that follows an opening created by hail, and related code upgrades if you purchased Ordinance or Law coverage. An attorney will read the declarations page and endorsements to confirm those protections.

Some Florida policies allow a windstorm exclusion if the homeowner elects to remove that coverage. A lawyer will verify whether your policy still includes windstorm and hail, or whether a prior exclusion affects the claim. 

Actual Cash Value (ACV) versus Replacement Cost Value (RCV) can change outcomes. Under RCV, payment should reflect the cost to replace with like-kind and quality, subject to the deductible and depreciation rules stated in your policy. An attorney will align professional estimates with the proper basis of loss.

Florida’s Prompt-Pay and Investigation Timeframes

Insurers also face deadlines once you report a claim. Carriers must acknowledge claim communications within seven days, start to investigate the claim within seven days after receiving your proof-of-loss statements, and pay or deny in whole or in part within 60 days of notice (absent factors outside their control). Late payments accrue statutory interest. A lawyer will cite these benchmarks when a file drags. 

Physical inspections must occur within set periods, and adjusters should disclose license numbers at inspection. An attorney will request those details in writing and maintain a timeline so the record shows whether the carrier complied with the statute.

If the carrier denies or underpays without a clear policy basis, it must provide a written explanation tied to facts and policy language. A lawyer will demand that letter and respond point by point. 

How Kuhn Raslavich Can Support Your Claim

Kuhn Raslavich. P.A. represents property owners across Florida in first-party insurance disputes, including wind, hurricane, hail, water, and mold claims. Our legal professionals excel in policy analysis, evidence development, negotiation, and litigation. We will review your policy, prepare claim documents, and coordinate inspections so the appropriate proof supports each coverage element.

Carriers often challenge roof totals, interior scopes, and code items. A lawyer will gather line-item estimates, photographs, and testing, and will compare those materials against adjuster notations and policy provisions. The goal is fair payment that actually restores the property.

Policyholders frequently need help when an insurer delays or makes a low offer. We will keep the file moving with written status requests tied to the statutory timeframes, and will escalate to appraisal, pre-suit notice, or litigation when required by law. 

Estimating Damage and Building a Clean File

Strong files win claims. A methodical lawyer will ask you to create a dated record that shows damage, temporary repairs, and costs. Organized documentation shortens reviews and reduces disputes.

Licensed professionals offer the best scope of work. An attorney will request line-item estimates that separate materials, quantities, labor, code items, and overhead. Matching those lines to the language in your policy strengthens the case for payment.

Consider this simple checklist while the claim proceeds:

• Photograph every slope, facet, gutter, and vulnerable surface, and save the images in a dated folder.

• Keep invoices and receipts for emergency mitigation.

• Retain your policy’s declarations page, endorsements, and any correspondence.

• Maintain a contact log with dates, names, and summaries of each call or email.

A lawyer will use that bundle to rebut “no functional damage” arguments and to support full replacement when repairs cannot restore performance.

Disputes, Appraisal, and Pre-Suit Notice

Many property policies include appraisal for scope and price disputes. An attorney will evaluate whether an appraisal helps or whether direct litigation makes more sense given code issues or coverage denials.

Florida also requires a pre-suit “notice of intent to initiate litigation” for residential and commercial property insurance lawsuits. The notice must be filed with the Department at least 10 business days before filing suit and only after the carrier has made a coverage determination. A lawyer will file the notice on the state form and meet all timing rules so the court can hear the case. 

The strategy shifts if the insurer responds to the notice with a revised offer or demands an appraisal. An attorney will weigh that response against your evidence, then advise whether to accept, appraise, or proceed to litigation. 

Pricing Disputes, Code Upgrades, and Roof System Realities

Roof systems fail in many ways after hail: bruised shingles, fractured tiles, compromised seals, and torn underlayment. A detailed attorney submission will tie each mechanism of damage to line items and code citations rather than generic photos.

Ordinance or Law coverage pays for required code upgrades, up to the selected limit. Carriers sometimes treat these costs as “nice to have.” A lawyer will cite your endorsement and local code provisions so upgrades appear as mandatory scope, not optional add-ons.

If the carrier insists on spot repairs that void manufacturer warranties or leave the roof mismatched, policy language and Florida building standards may support replacement of full slopes or the entire system. An attorney will present manufacturer literature and installer statements to help the insurer understand why partial repairs will not restore full function to the damaged areas of your home.

Working With Kuhn Raslavich

Kuhn Raslavich. P.A. centers every claim on policy terms and proof. We will read your policy front-to-back, build a timeline that tracks statutory deadlines, and coordinate with licensed professionals to generate credible estimates. Our firm keeps our strategy grounded in Florida’s current statutes and the realities of claims handling.

Policyholders deserve clear communication and steady momentum. An attorney will send routine status letters tied to the relevant benchmarks, request the adjuster’s license and inspection notes, and push for a written coverage position that can be tested against facts. If the loss falls within appraisal, a lawyer and client will weigh that option together; if not, an attorney will prepare the pre-suit notice and proceed.

Kuhn Raslavich. P.A. professionals can help at any stage of your claim – from first notice to supplemental scope to denial. We can also shape the next steps of that claim using evidence and policy language.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the deadlines for a hail damage claim in Florida?

You must give notice of an initial and re-opened claim within 1 year from the date of loss. Supplemental claims must be filed within 18 months of the loss date.

How do insurers often try to limit roof payments after hail damage?

Adjusters commonly point to pre-existing wear and tear, prior repairs, or claim there is “no functional damage” to limit the scope of the roof payment to less than the full replacement cost.

Will a Florida hail damage attorney help ensure local building code upgrades are covered?

Yes. If the hail damage triggers a replacement under local building codes, an attorney will cite your policy’s Ordinance or Law coverage and local code provisions to ensure these mandatory upgrade costs are included in the estimate.

Speak With an Experienced Hail Damage Attorney in South Florida

Kuhn Raslavich. P.A. stands ready to help with valuation, code items, and negotiations from first notice to resolution. One of our hail damage attorneys will pursue the payment needed to restore your home. You can schedule a no-cost case assessment online in minutes or call 877-352-7767.