“This storm will kill you … evacuate, evacuate, evacuate,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned coastal residents.

MIAMI—Meteorologists are calling it an “extremely dangerous” hurricane. With Category 4 winds ranging from 130 mph to 156 mph Hurricane Matthew is storming toward Florida shores Thursday afternoon.

Weather experts expect Matthew to make landfall around midnight on Florida's East Coast. But storm surge from the already-deadly storm could stretch as far 550 miles north to South Carolina.

“This storm will kill you … evacuate, evacuate, evacuate,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned coastal residents. North and South Carolina governors joined Scott in declaring a state of emergency.

Gina Clausen Lozier, associate with Berger Singerman and member of the firm's dispute resolution team, tells Globest.com after hurricane events like Matthew attorneys with insurance expertise can help commercial real estate owners that suffer damage. Specifically, these legal gurus can assist with expediting a claim decision and avoiding delay in payment.

“The attorney can also assist in compiling documents responsive to an insurance company's request, ensuring the proper submission of claim forms and working with the insurance company to obtain advanced payment to resume operations as soon as possible following a hurricane,” Lozier says. “Additionally, if the insurance company denies or underpays the claim, an insurance attorney can advise of the available remedies to seek proper coverage and compensation for an insured's losses.”

David White, an attorney at Thompson & Knight, in Dallas agrees. In his experience, an attorney familiar with the ins and outs of claims management can be helpful not only in the planning process but also in the aftermath of a hurricane.

“Insureds should aim for at least an interim or partial payment of the claim within a few weeks or months following the storm, realizing that receiving the full payment may take a lot longer,” White tells GlobeSt.com. “Usually, business interruption coverage is the most disputed part of the claim. Companies should make sure their business records go back at least several years in order to help prove typical profits that were prevented by the storm.”

Stay tuned to GlobeSt.com for more storm coverage. Want more info now? Read my column from earlier this week: After a Hurricane Strikes.

Weather experts expect Matthew to make landfall around midnight on Florida's East Coast. But storm surge from the already-deadly storm could stretch as far 550 miles north to South Carolina.

“This storm will kill you … evacuate, evacuate, evacuate,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned coastal residents. North and South Carolina governors joined Scott in declaring a state of emergency.

Stay tuned to GlobeSt.com for more storm coverage. Want more info now? Read my column from earlier this week: After a Hurricane Strikes.

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With Matthew Coming, You May Need a Hurricane Attorney

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