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Flood and Water Damage Claims for Ohio Homeowners

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When Disaster Strikes, a Water Damage Lawyer Helps You Get Compensation

When water gets into your home, the damage is extensive and expensive. It seeps into carpet, wood, drywall, insulation, anything porous or absorbent.

It warps floors, rots walls, short-circuits and rusts your appliances. Over time, it leads to more problems, inviting mold and termites.

Water damage is one of the most common causes of homeowner’s insurance claims, second only to wind and hail. Water led to 27 percent of all property damage losses between 2018 and 2022, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The cost is high. The average loss is about $14,000.

While typical homeowner’s insurance policies cover some forms of water damage, filing a claim can be tricky depending on how water got into your house.

If the water came from a burst pipe, an overflowing sink or toilet, or a leaky roof, your homeowner’s insurance may cover it. Or they may try to say that neglect or poor maintenance contributed to your water damage claim and turn you down.

And if you suffered a flood from weather conditions outside your house, homeowner’s insurance won’t help at all. You need special flood insurance for that.

When you’re wrestling with a flood damage claim, the homeowner’s insurance claim lawyers at Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal (HNB) can help you make the right decisions to claim the fullest financial assistance you’re covered for, and get back to normal.

If you live in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton or anywhere in Ohio, give us a call. We’ve helped thousands of Ohioans secure millions in claims.

We want all our clients to be able to say, “Helping me, that’s HNB.”

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    Flood Damage Claims vs. Water Damage Claims: What’s the Difference?

    Insurance claims related to water being where it doesn’t belong in a home fall into two distinct categories. Coverage is very different for each, and you need to know which one applies to you to successfully file a property damage claim.

    Water Damage

    When you have leaks or breakdowns in your plumbing, or when a leaky roof or broken window lets in rain or snow, water can damage your home. This type of sudden or accidental water intrusion is typically covered by homeowner’s insurance.

    Think of it as water that doesn’t first touch the ground.

    When you have an active leak in your house, you’ll want to take immediate action.

    Find the source of your water—either the main valve to your house or the stop valve that controls flow at the site of the leak—and shut it off.

    Insurance companies will want to see that you took every possible measure to reduce the damage.

    Part of taking action is taking care of your house. Insurance companies will want to see that you didn’t let your plumbing fall into disrepair or let your roof fail.

    As you file a water damage claim with your insurance company, you may need a water restoration company to clean out and repair your home.

    But don’t hire such a company before you have a written payment agreement from your insurance company. Otherwise, you’ll be on the hook for the cost.

    Flood Damage

    When water flows into your home from torrential rains or a nearby overflowing creek or river, this kind of damage is considered flood damage. It’s not covered by homeowner’s insurance.

    Flood insurance is different from homeowner’s insurance. You can buy it through private insurers, but it’s run by the National Flood Insurance Program, which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

    Filing insurance claims, especially when it’s not entirely clear how the insurance company will define your flood, can be a challenge.

    Having an experienced property damage lawyer at your side helps you navigate the process without missing opportunities to get everything you deserve to restore your home.

    At HNB Law, we’ll take a first look at your case, giving you a roadmap for how to proceed, for free.

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    How to Fight Denials of Water Damage Claims Under Homeowner’s Insurance

    You buy insurance on your home so you can rest easier knowing you are cushioned from financial ruin in the event of a disaster.

    But insurance companies sell policies to make money. Sometimes your goals and their goals don’t align.

    When water damages your home, insurance companies will look for ways to avoid paying if they don’t have to.

    Several scenarios can lead to your claim being denied. Some common ones include:

    • Exclusions: Read your insurance policy carefully. Some may have clauses that exclude specific types of water damage.
    • Neglect: Insurers may deny a claim if they say evidence shows the damage happened over time. This can be a signal that the homeowner failed to address a long-running leak or repair a roof that let in water over several storms.
    • Incomplete Applications: The more evidence you provide, the better your chances of winning a claim. The opposite is also true. Insurance companies look for reasons to deny claims that are incomplete or contain errors. It’s important to document the damage, that you did all you could to prevent it, and how you repaired it.

    If your insurance claim was denied, the water damage lawyers at HNB can help.

    We will revisit your case and the damage to your home. We’ll review your policy and what it should cover. We’ll call out unfair positions from the insurance company about the maintenance of your home.

    Our skilled Ohio homeowner’s insurance lawyers will appeal their denial. And if we have to, we’ll sue the insurance company on your behalf.

    Protecting the homes of Ohioans is important to us. HNB has a statewide reputation of sticking up for our neighbors who do the right things—take reasonable care of their homes, buy insurance coverage—but still get shut out when they need help.

    Let’s fight to get the award you need to restore your home to its proper condition.

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