The Aftermath: A Community Left in Limbo
When the hurricane-spawned tornado tore through Avenir and surrounding areas, it upended lives and left a swath of destruction in its wake.
Homes in Avenir, Palm Beach Gardens, and surrounding areas were battered, roofs ripped apart, and entire structures faced severe compromise.
Yet, for many homeowners, the real storm began after the skies cleared—navigating an insurance system designed to protect them but too often working against them.
Insurance companies should step up in times of crisis, yet many Avenir and surrounding community homeowners are facing delayed claims, undervalued damage assessments, and unfair denials.
At Tighe P.A., we are fighting back, ensuring that homeowners receive the full compensation they are owed.
When insurers attempt to cut corners or dictate how homes should be repaired, we step in to hold them accountable.
The Major Insurance Companies We’re Dealing With
Florida’s property insurance market is dominated by a handful of companies. Among the major insurers handling claims in Avenir and nearby areas, we have seen troubling patterns in how claims are processed:
- Delays in inspections and payments – Some homeowners are waiting months just for an adjuster to assess the damage.
- Denials based on pre-existing conditions – Even clear tornado-related damage is being dismissed as wear and tear.
- Lowball offers – Settlement amounts falling well below the actual cost of repair.
Among the key insurers we are dealing with are Olympus Insurance, Citizens Property Insurance, Universal Property & Casualty, and Florida Peninsula. Their tactics have left homeowners stranded in the fight to rebuild.
The Scope of Damage We Are Addressing
Impact Beyond Avenir: The Larger Picture
While Avenir was one of the hardest-hit areas, it was not alone. Communities throughout Palm Beach County—including Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and surrounding neighborhoods—also faced severe storm damage. Many homeowners in these areas are encountering the same insurance claim delays, lowball offers, and denied coverage that we’re seeing in Avenir. At Tighe P.A., we are working with homeowners across the region to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve.
This widespread devastation underscores the importance of thorough inspections and fair insurance settlements. The tornado’s impact extended across multiple communities, and each homeowner deserves a full and fair evaluation of their losses. The most common damages homeowners in Avenir and surrounding communities are facing include:
- Roof Damage – Lifted shingles, torn-off sections, and underlying structural harm.
- Window Failures – Extreme wind pressures have shattered glass and compromised seals.
- Stucco Cracks and Separation – Structural weakening that worsens over time.
- Water Intrusion – Hidden moisture damage leading to mold and rot.
- Garage Door Failures – Impact damage and wind pressure issues compromising safety.
- Structural Issues – Intense winds and pressures can shift or damage structural elements of a home like roof trusses.
A thorough, expert-backed inspection is crucial to uncovering hidden damage before homeowners accept a lowball insurance settlement. Tighe P.A. is ensuring that no damage goes overlooked.
Composite Case Study: A Homeowner’s Fight for a Fair Payout
Meet John and Lisa Carter (names changed for privacy), a couple who had lived in Avenir for over a decade. After the tornado, they were left with a severely damaged roof, shattered windows, and widespread interior water damage. Their insurer, Olympus Insurance, initially offered them a mere $8,500, citing that much of the damage was “pre-existing.”
With mounting repair costs and no resolution in sight, they reached out to Tighe P.A.. Our team:
- Pushed back against the lowball estimate, bringing in independent experts to assess the true extent of the damage.
- Challenged the pre-existing condition argument, proving that the tornado was solely responsible.
- Negotiated aggressively, ultimately securing a $92,000 settlement, covering all necessary repairs and temporary housing costs.
Stories like these are all too common, and without legal representation, homeowners risk walking away with only a fraction of what they are owed.
The Olympus Insurance Issue: Forced Contractor Assignments
One of the most troubling trends we are seeing is Olympus Insurance requiring homeowners to use its own network of contractors. While this might seem convenient, it often leads to subpar repairs, lack of transparency, and homeowners being left out of crucial decisions regarding their property.
Why This Is a Problem:
- Lack of choice and oversight – Homeowners lose the ability to select their own contractors.
- Questionable repair quality – Insurer-approved contractors often prioritize cost-cutting over quality.
- Limited homeowner involvement – Homeowners have little say in how and when repairs are done.
At Tighe P.A., we are actively fighting against these forced assignments when appropriate, ensuring that homeowners can retain their right to choose who restores their homes.
Recovering Loss of Use: Compensation for Uninhabitable Homes
For many Avenir and surrounding area residents, tornado damage rendered their homes unlivable for weeks or even months. Yet, insurers are dragging their feet in providing Loss of Use coverage—a policy benefit that reimburses homeowners for temporary housing, food, and transportation expenses.
Many homeowners are:
- Facing delays in reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses.
- Receiving unfair denials based on vague policy interpretations.
- Struggling to afford long-term displacement costs.
Loss of Use coverage is not optional; it’s a right. We are ensuring that insurers uphold their end of the policy agreement.
Unique Challenges of Tornado Claims
Unlike standard hurricane claims, tornado damage exerts unique pressures on structures that are not always immediately visible. This includes:
- Uplift and Vacuum Pressures – Tornadoes create rapid shifts in air pressure, affecting windows, walls, and roofing systems in ways that may not appear until months later.
- Hidden Structural Weakening – Internal load-bearing walls and supports may suffer stress fractures.
Insurance companies often fail to account for these nuances, leading to misclassified or underestimated claims. That is why we insist on comprehensive engineering-backed inspections to assess the full extent of damage before homeowners accept a settlement.
Homeowners Need an Advocate—Tighe P.A. Is Here to Help
For Avenir and surrounding community homeowners, this fight is about more than just repairing property—it’s about fairness, financial security, and the right to rebuild. At Tighe P.A., we are:
- Holding insurance companies accountable.
- Challenging unfair denials and lowball offers.
- Securing the full coverage homeowners are owed.
If your insurance company is stalling, underpaying, or denying your claim, contact us today for a free consultation.
“Insurance companies should not be playing games with people’s lives.” – Dan Tighe, Esq., in an interview with CNN
Relevant Resources and Citations
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR): https://www.floir.com
- FEMA Disaster Assistance: https://www.fema.gov/disaster-assistance
- Consumer Federation of America – Insurance Claims Advice: https://consumerfed.org
- Florida Department of Financial Services – Insurance Consumer Helpline: https://www.myfloridacfo.com
