Lightning fried your electronics, HVAC, or wiring? We make Florida carriers cover the full scope, not just the obvious damage.
Florida sees more lightning strikes per square mile than any other state in the country. When a strike hits your home or comes through a nearby utility line, the damage often extends well beyond what you can see: fried electronics, failed HVAC compressors, damaged wiring inside walls, compromised pool equipment, and surge damage to appliances. Insurers tend to pay only for the obvious losses and ignore the rest. Ilabaca Law represents Florida homeowners whose lightning claims have been denied, paid only in part, or delayed past the 60-day statutory deadline.
Lightning damage is a "covered peril" under almost every Florida homeowners policy, but it is also notoriously hard to document. The strike itself happens in microseconds. The downstream damage (a slowly degrading HVAC compressor, a wireless router that no longer holds connection, an oven element that fails three weeks later) is often invisible to the adjuster on inspection day. Without the right expert reports, those downstream losses get dropped from the claim entirely.
Direct strikes can blow out shingles or tiles, char attic structure, scorch siding or stucco, and create entry and exit wounds where the current jumped to ground. Surge damage, which is more common, follows utility lines and Cat 5 cables into the home and degrades or destroys electronics, GFCI outlets, breakers, surge protectors, smart-home devices, HVAC controls and compressors, well pumps, pool equipment, security systems, and appliances. Some of the damage is immediate; some shows up weeks later as components fail.
Lightning claim attorneys who chase the hidden damage carriers ignore.
Lightning claims typically turn on four levers:
NOAA strike data, neighbor statements, and electrician inspections confirm a strike or surge actually occurred at the loss location on the loss date.
Electrical engineers and licensed electricians document the full chain of failed components: HVAC, wiring, electronics, GFCIs, smart devices, and appliances.
For appliances and electronics, Actual Cash Value (depreciated) is paid first. Replacement Cost Value depreciation releases when the items are actually replaced.
If HVAC failure makes the home uninhabitable in Florida heat, ALE pays for the increased cost of living during repairs.
Pull NOAA or Vaisala lightning-strike data for the loss date and your address. Have a licensed electrician inspect the panel, breakers, GFCIs, and major circuits. Get HVAC service to evaluate the compressor, control board, and thermostat. Test every electronic device in the home, not just the obvious ones; surge damage often degrades components rather than killing them outright. Save receipts and serial numbers. We layer in expert opinions where the carrier disputes causation.
Adjusters frequently say there is "no evidence of a direct strike," that "items were already failing," or that "wear and tear" caused the failure. We counter with strike-data reports showing exactly when and where lightning hit, electrician and HVAC findings tying component failure to the surge, and timeline analysis showing items worked before the strike and failed after.
Florida property insurance law has hard deadlines that can extinguish an otherwise valid lightning claim.
1 year from the date of loss to give initial notice. 18 months to file a supplemental or reopened claim. Lightning often shows up in delayed component failures; the supplemental window matters.
After receiving complete proof of loss, the insurer must pay or deny within 60 days. We document each milestone so the carrier's clock is on the record from day one.
When an insurer denies or delays without a reasonable basis, Florida law provides a separate cause of action with extra-contractual damages.
We pull NOAA strike data, get electrician and HVAC reports, and rebuild the scope with full equipment listings and replacement values. We supplement for missed line items and any code-driven electrical upgrades the carrier omitted. Where the policy allows, we invoke appraisal or mediation; if the carrier stalls, we litigate and pursue bad-faith remedies as permitted.
Lightning claims are easy to underpay because the damage is scattered across many smaller items. Your best leverage is getting a lawyer involved early. Attorney Nicholas Ravinet builds evidence-driven files, protects the statutory deadlines, and negotiates from a position of proof.
Start your free case review today. Tell us what happened, send a few photos and any electrician reports, and Attorney Ravinet will follow up promptly.
Every lightning case is different. The best answers come from looking at your facts, electrician reports, and timeline. Contact Ilabaca Law for a free, no-obligation review and clear next steps.
Often no. Lightning surge damage is covered under most Florida homeowners policies even without a direct strike, as long as the surge originated from a lightning event. NOAA and Vaisala strike data showing a nearby strike, plus electrician findings showing surge-pattern damage, typically rebuts the "no direct strike" denial.
Most Florida policies cover damage to the dwelling, electrical system, HVAC, electronics, appliances, and personal property caused by lightning or lightning-induced surge. Some policies sub-limit specific categories (electronics, business equipment); we read the actual policy to confirm what applies.
A combination of NOAA strike-data reports for the loss date and address, electrician inspection findings showing surge damage at the panel or GFCIs, and a timeline showing devices worked before the event and failed after. For high-value items (HVAC compressor, smart-home hub, computers), manufacturer or third-party diagnostic reports help.
Delayed failure is common with surge damage. The supplemental-claim window under Fla. Stat. § 627.70132 (18 months) covers losses that surface after the initial claim. We work backward to tie the failure to the original event with manufacturer service reports and electrical diagnostics.
Florida law restricts how carriers can use lightning claims for non-renewal or premium increases, especially for first-time claims. The premium impact is rarely a reason not to file a meritorious claim, particularly when the damage is significant.
Under Fla. Stat. § 627.70132, 1 year from the date of loss for initial notice and 18 months for supplemental or reopened claims. Lightning surge damage often surfaces over time, which is exactly what the supplemental window is designed for.
Public adjusters can scope and negotiate, but they cannot litigate, file a Civil Remedy Notice, or pursue bad-faith damages. When your claim has been denied or materially underpaid, an attorney's leverage changes the carrier's behavior.
Nothing up front. Lightning cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, with no attorney's fees unless we recover for you. We will review the policy, the loss documentation, and the carrier's position before any commitment.
…and every county in between. Florida-only practice, statewide reach.
Florida deadlines are short. Get a free case review and a straight answer on what your claim is actually worth.
