If a hurricane insurance claim is denied in bad faith or illegally, the affected property owner may be entitled to participate in a new class action lawsuit investigation. The estimated insurance losses related to Hurricane Florence are expected to run well into the billions.

The maximum wind speeds associated with hurricane Florence hit 140 mph on Sept. 10. The storm made landfall on Sept. 14 near Wrightsville Beach, N.C., and rain in excess of 30 inches was recorded in certain portions of North Carolina that were hit by the storm.

As people begin to gather their evidence after they return home from evacuation, they could face a long and painful process attempting to recover compensation through their hurricane insurance claims. In many recent natural disasters, policyholders who assumed they were protected have had claims delayed or denied.

Disaster experts say the total insurance losses from hurricane Florence will be in the billions. One company that estimates insurance losses believes that the total damage for hurricane Florence could be as high as $5 billion, and that estimate does not include the ongoing flooding and related damage associated with affected areas.

Although these are early insured loss estimates, those consumers making hurricane insurance claims may be concerned about how best to protect their rights and interests going forward.

If your property, home or business has suffered serious damage from a natural disaster but your hurricane insurance claim is denied, you may be in a position to take legal action against the insurance company.

You may be concerned about receiving full and fair compensation for your losses through your hurricane insurance policy. It is often common to feel overwhelmed or confused about what to do next. In the event that your hurricane insurance coverage is denied, or if certain portions of the damage will not be covered, a consultation with an experienced insurance lawyer can help you determine your next steps.

The amount that you will receive for a settlement of your hurricane insurance claims will depend on numerous variables, including the kind of policy you have, the limits of that policy, the cost to repair or rebuild the property in question, the temporary living expenses required by you and your family, and more. Business owners may qualify for coverage of lost business income.

Some of the damages may already have been paid to you by your hurricane insurance company. But it is important to review the specifics of your individual case to verify whether or not you have been paid all the benefits you’re entitled to under your policy and applicable law.

If you were improperly compensated by your insurance company for the damage that was caused by a hurricane, you could be eligible to participate in a disaster insurance lawsuit investigation. If you have questions about initiating your hurricane insurance policy coverage, or if you have already attempted to make a claim and been unsuccessful in recovering the compensation that you were fairly owed under the policy, consulting an insurance attorney can help determine your next steps.