Insurance Claim
At The Morgan Law Group P.A., our insurance claims attorneys represent clients in California, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Puerto Rico, and know that each of our client’s home and property damage insurance coverage is unique. The one thing they all have in common is that it rains in each location — and sometimes, heavily.
After a series of devastating storms this winter, data reveals parts of California are 200% over the historical average for rainfall year to date, according to USA Today. These storms saturated the steep mountains and bald hillsides scarred from wildfires along much of California’s long coastline, causing hundreds of lands and mudslides.
Since New Year’s Eve 2022, the California Department of Conservation’s landslide mapping team has documented more than 300 mudslides. The question becomes — no matter where you live — who pays for the devastating damages?
The answer may surprise you.
When Does Homeowners’ Insurance Cover Landslides and Mudslides?
While every homeowner’s insurance policy is different, most include a list of perils that are not covered by the policy. These are often referred to as, “excluded perils.”
Unfortunately, homeowner’s insurance policies will never cover damage caused directly by landslides, mudslides, or mudflows.
Mudflows, which are more liquid than slides, are not covered because they fall under the same provision that excludes floods.
If you are in a high-risk area for mudslides, you may want to consider getting extra insurance protection should one happen, as the cost of the damage can be financially overwhelming.
To insure your home against landslides and mudslides, you will need additional insurance called a “Difference In Coverage” or DIC policy, often called gap coverage to cover damages that a standard property insurance policy will not. While not all insurance providers have DIC policies, when they are available, DIC policies can cover floods, earthquakes, landslides, and mudslides.
What Can I Do If My Insurance Provider is Denying My Mudslide Claim?
Insurance companies will often undervalue a homeowner’s insurance claim, or deny it altogether, to minimize their losses. In some cases, they may cite a natural incident as the cause of the damage, just so it is listed as an uncovered event, even though it may not be fully accurate.
If you believe your home or property damage should be covered by your policy contact our experienced insurance claims attorneys by calling 888-904-2524 to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you understand your coverage details and pursue the outcome you deserve from your insurance policy without further delay.
