Along with rain and wind, Florida’s many storms bring around 1.2 million lightning strikes annually. For Florida homeowners and business owners, lightning strikes are a real risk, and the damage they leave behind isn’t always easy to see.
Whether it’s destroyed appliances, burned wiring, or damage that isn’t immediately visible, the aftermath of a lightning strike is often confusing and overwhelming. You may assume your insurance will step in, but many policyholders find claims undervalued, delayed, or denied outright.
If you’re denied the support your policy promises, there’s no reason to fight alone. Since 1997, The Nation Law Firm has advocated for the rights of Florida policyholders, pushing back against insurance providers that refuse to honor their end of a contract. We’re here to help you navigate the process with experience, compassion, and no upfront costs.
Get started today with our free case evaluation.
Common Types of Lightning Damage
Lightning strikes happen in the blink of an eye. They’re loud, dangerous, and can leave behind extensive damage that isn’t always apparent. In many cases, the damage is initially invisible, hidden in your electrical system, behind walls, or within appliances that stop working days later.
Here are some of the most common types of lightning damage:
- Electrical System Damage: A surge can overload your home or building’s wiring, damaging circuit panels, outlets, and underground wiring.
- Destroyed Electronics and Appliances: Televisions, HVAC systems, refrigerators, and computers are especially vulnerable during a strike, even if they’re turned off.
- Plumbing Damage: Lightning can travel through a structure’s piping system, cracking fittings or weakening seals, which may lead to future leaks or flooding.
- Fire and Smoke Damage: A direct hit or electrical overload can start a fire inside walls or attics, sometimes without immediate signs.
- Roof or Structural Damage: In rare cases, a bolt can strike directly, causing visible damage to shingles, framing, or masonry.
You might not realize how extensive the losses really are until weeks later, when appliances fail, wiring shorts out, or new issues appear. Thorough documentation and early inspection are so important, even if the damage seems minor at first.
How Lightning Damage Is Covered by Insurance
Standard homeowners and business insurance policies in Florida often list lightning as a covered peril, but that doesn’t always mean your claim will be simple. The type of damage, how it was caused, and what’s documented can all affect how your insurance company responds.
Here’s how lightning damage is typically handled:
- Direct Strikes: If lightning hits your home, building, or nearby utility line, damage to electrical systems, appliances, or structures is usually covered, as long as it’s properly documented.
- Power Surges: Damage caused by a surge from a nearby strike may also be covered, but insurers often challenge these claims if there’s no visible entry point or if surge protection wasn’t installed.
- Fire Damage: Fires caused by lightning are generally covered under the fire protection portion of your policy.
- Secondary Issues: Coverage for related damage, like water intrusion or mold, depends on how your policy defines “resulting losses” and what steps you take to prevent further harm.
Unfortunately, even the most straightforward claim can find itself in limbo because of an insurance company’s mishandling. If your claim is being questioned or undervalued, our team is here to help.
6 Steps to Take After Experiencing Lightning Damage
The moments after a lightning strike might be confusing, but it’s important that you’re conscious of your surroundings and the next steps. Here’s what to do:
- Prioritize Your Safety: If you suspect electrical damage or smell smoke, exit the property and contact emergency services.
- Document the Damage Thoroughly: Take clear photos and videos of all visible damage, including affected appliances, scorch marks, electrical panels, and damaged roofing or siding. Even if the damage seems minor, these records could become important later.
- Get an Electrical Inspection: A licensed electrician can check for hidden damage and provide documentation that supports your claim. This step is especially important to check if wiring or circuit panels were affected.
- Notify Your Insurance Company Promptly: Most policies require timely reporting. File your claim as soon as possible and keep written records of all communication.
- Prevent Further Damage: If you can safely do so, take steps to prevent additional losses, like turning off breakers, securing open roof areas, or removing damaged electronics from the home.
- Keep Receipts: If you have to stay elsewhere, replace essentials, or pay for temporary repairs, keep receipts. These may be reimbursable under your policy.
If you follow these steps and still find your insurance provider pushing back, The Nation Law Firm can help you fight back and advocate for fair value.
Challenges in Filing Lightning Damage Claims
Lightning damage claims are often more complicated than you’d expect. Even when the damage is real and falls under your policy’s coverage, your provider may push back, delay payment, or undervalue your losses.
Here are some of the most common hurdles policyholders face:
- Undervalued Claims: Insurers may only offer partial coverage or low estimates, especially for appliances, wiring, or electronics that don’t show visible damage but no longer function correctly.
- Disputes Over the Cause: If your evidence doesn’t link the damage to a lightning strike clearly, or if the damage developed gradually, insurers may try to deny coverage.
- Lack of Immediate Signs: Many forms of lightning damage aren’t visible right away. If you start noticing damage days or weeks later, your insurance company may try to argue the link between the strike and your damages.
- Delays in Payment or Communication: Insurers may drag their feet on sending adjusters or finalizing your claim, slowing down essential repairs and leaving you in limbo.
These roadblocks can be frustrating, especially when you’re already dealing with costly repairs and uncertainty. If your claim is being questioned, delayed, or undervalued, The Nation Law Firm can help you cut through the red tape and hold the at-fault provider accountable – so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Proving Lightning Damage
Definitively proving that lightning caused your property damage can be one of the most important and difficult parts of your claim. Along with deadline requirements, you need to collect strong evidence that, without a doubt, links the damage you’ve sustained to the lightning strike.
Here’s how you can strengthen your claim:
- Get a Licensed Electrical Inspection: Electricians can look for hidden damage, test your systems, and provide written documentation that links damage to a lightning strike.
- Request a Lightning Verification Report: These reports use weather data to confirm whether lightning struck near your property on the date of loss. Your attorney or a weather expert can help request one if you’re unsure.
- Take Detailed Photos and Video: Photograph all damaged electronics, wiring, outlets, panels, and any visible burn marks, even if the damage seems minor.
- Save All Receipts and Warranties: Keep records for damaged appliances or devices to validate the items’ condition and replacement value.
- Keep a Written Timeline: Note when the storm occurred, when you discovered the damage, and when you first contacted your insurer. This helps prevent disputes later about delays or inconsistent reporting.
Solid documentation gives you the leverage to dispute an inaccurate assessment of your situation. Our team can help you build a strong foundation, advocate strongly, and protect your right to full coverage.
Power Surges and Electrical System Damage
Lightning doesn’t need to strike your home directly to cause damage. A nearby strike can cause a surge that travels through utility lines and silently damages your electrical systems, appliances, and devices.
These scenarios are common, but they’re also commonly disputed. To support your claim:
- Get an electrician’s report confirming surge damage
- Take photos of affected panels, outlets, and devices
- Save receipts or proof of value for damaged items
- Request a lightning strike report for the date of loss
Insurance companies may claim the damage was unrelated to the storm or try to reduce your payout by undervaluing affected electronics. Your claim deserves to be taken seriously, and our team can help ensure it is.
Addressing Fire and Structural Damage from Lightning
Lightning can start fires inside walls, attics, or roofs, sometimes in an instant. Even small fires can lead to smoke damage, weakened framing, or long-term structural issues, making rightful compensation important.
If you suspect fire damage after a storm:
- Request a fire inspection from the local fire department or a licensed contractor
- Document all signs of damage, including scorch marks, odors, or smoke staining
- Take photos of structural damage inside and outside the home
- Keep records of repair estimates and emergency mitigation efforts
Your provider may not treat your claim fairly. Delays, denials, and lowball offers are numbers in their computer, but to you, it’s the compensation you need to get back to normal. If you’re running into an insurance company that won’t honor your claim, The Nation Law Firm is right around the corner, ready to support.
Mold and Secondary Damage from Lightning-Related Water Intrusion
Lightning strikes to roofs, siding, windows, or plumbing can open the door for water intrusion during or after a storm. In Florida’s heat and humidity, it doesn’t take long for moisture to create the conditions for mold, mildew, or rot, especially in small places.
Insurance coverage for secondary damage depends on whether the mold or water intrusion directly resulted from the lightning strike. Detailed photos, contractor assessments, and mold inspections can help confirm the source and timeline of the issue.
If your provider still refuses to cooperate, it’s not the end of the road. Our team can help you change the narrative and bring the truth to light, helping you reach the best possible outcome as quickly as possible.
Bad Faith Practices in Lightning Damage Claims
Insurance providers are legally required to treat claims fairly. When they don’t, their behavior is classified as “bad faith,” and victims can seek legal action to hold them accountable.
Common signs of bad faith in lightning claims include:
- Unexplained delays in inspections or payments
- Denying a claim without reviewing all available evidence
- Offering a settlement that doesn’t reflect the true value of your losses
- Misrepresenting what your policy actually covers
- Ignoring follow-up communication or appeals
Unethical providers try to conceal this behavior, hoping you won’t notice or choose not to fight back. There’s no reason to take this path, especially because The Nation Law Firm can help you through this for no upfront costs. Since 1977, we’ve helped Florida policyholders challenge bad faith behavior and hold insurers accountable, so you’re not left paying for covered damage out of pocket.
Legal Support for Lightning Damage Insurance Disputes
When lightning damages your property, you expect your insurance company to do the right thing. But if your claim is delayed, undervalued, or denied outright, it’s time to get support from someone who knows how the system works and how to hold insurers accountable – like The Nation Law Firm.
Since 1997, we’ve helped Florida policyholders recover the compensation they’re owed after lightning strikes their home or business. From investigating the cause of damage to negotiating a fair settlement or preparing for legal action, our team is here to guide you through every step of the process, with no upfront costs.
Get started today through our free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of damage are commonly caused by lightning strikes?
Lightning can damage electrical systems, appliances, roofing, plumbing, and even structural components of your home or business. It may also spark fires, trigger power surges, or create hidden water intrusion issues.
Does homeowners' insurance cover damage caused by lightning?
Most homeowners and business insurance policies in Florida list lightning as a covered peril. However, coverage may depend on the nature of the damage and whether it was properly documented. If you're unsure, speak to your provider or our team for further information about your protections.
What steps should I take immediately after my property is damaged by lightning?
Prioritize your safety first, then document all damage with photos and videos. Contact a licensed electrician, notify your insurer promptly, and keep records of all repairs and expenses for future reference.
How can I prove that lightning caused the damage to my home or business?
Strong evidence includes an electrician’s report, a lightning verification report, photos of affected areas, and receipts or warranties for damaged items.
What should I do if my insurance company undervalues my lightning damage claim?
Request a detailed explanation and provide additional documentation, such as expert assessments or repair estimates. If they refuse to adjust the payout, our team can help you push back.
Does insurance cover electrical system repairs due to power surges caused by lightning?
Yes, if you can definitively prove the surge was caused by a lightning strike. You may need to show documentation from an electrician and weather verification data to support your claim in more complex scenarios.
How can I claim for secondary damage, such as mold, after lightning damage?
First, you must gather documentation that shows how the lightning strike caused the secondary damage, along with evidence of the damage itself. Professional inspections can help you establish this link strongly.
What are the most common reasons insurance companies deny lightning damage claims?
Common reasons include a lack of documentation, disputes over the cause of damage, or claims of wear and tear. Delayed reporting can also give insurers an excuse to deny coverage.
Can an attorney help me with a delayed or denied lightning damage claim?
Yes. Our team can challenge the insurer’s position, present additional evidence, and negotiate for a fair settlement, or escalate to legal action if needed.
How long does the lightning damage claims process typically take?
It varies by case, but many policyholders wait weeks or months. Complex claims involving electrical or structural damage may take longer, especially if disputes arise.
