Does My Insurance Policy Cover Flood Damage in New York State?
Many home insurance policies protect you in case of fire damage, wind/storm damage, and theft/vandalism. Unfortunately, not many policies cover water/flood damage, and if they do, it is very limited. Insurance companies will likely do everything in their power to deny you the compensation that you rightfully deserve, even if the damage is due to no fault of your own. To understand whether your policy cover flood damage, continue reading and see how one of the experienced New York residential flood damages insurance attorneys can work on your behalf for the best outcome possible.
How do I know if my policy covers flood damage in New York State?
While a few insurers offer home policies that cover flood damages, they are usually overwhelmingly expensive. So, it is an unfortunate truth that the standard policy does not cover or limit coverage of flood damage.
There is one bright spot of this: there are some exceptions where water damage may be covered by your standard home policy. Such notable exceptions read as follows:
- The water damage was caused by wind-driven rain or rain that caused damage through intrusion.
- The water damage can be proven to have not been flood-related.
- The language in your policy regarding flood damage is vague or unfair, and thus warrants the right to obtain coverage.
- You have a “surplus lines” excess policy that does not exclude flood damage.
How does the National Flood Insurance Program work in New York State?
Because many policies exclude flood insurance, one option you can take is to purchase additional insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Through NFIP, flood insurance is available to anyone who has a federally-backed mortgage in New York State, meaning that their community adheres to the federal stormwater and flood plain management rules. And with this separate policy, you can purchase flood insurance for up to $250,000 in damages to your homes or garages. This will cover the following:
- Clean up.
- Repairs.
- Debris removal.
- Mildew, mold, and fungus removal.
If you require assistance with attaining compensation for your flood-damaged property, it is important that you retain the services of one of the skilled New York residential property damage claim attorneys. Our team is prepared to walk you through each step of the legal process ahead and to assist you in any capacity you may need us. Give our firm a call today.
Contact our experienced New York City firm
If you require quality assistance after having suffered a property loss due to a fire, a flood, a severe storm, or a robbery, please do not hesitate to contact The Law Office of Craig A. Blumberg to schedule a free initial consultation.
