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Everything You Need to Know About Hail Damage Insurance Claims
Hailstorms can cause extensive damage to your property, including your home and car. If you have suffered hail damage, filing an insurance claim as soon as possible is essential. However, navigating the insurance claims process can be challenging, and you may only get the compensation you deserve with proper guidance. This article will provide a complete guide to hail damage insurance claims, including how to file a claim, what to expect during the claims process, and how to maximize your compensation.
In 2020, 6.2 million properties in the US experienced hail events causing 14.2 billion in losses. Texas had the highest number of properties affected by hail with over 1.5 million properties damaged. According to an April 2020 analysis by an insurer, Texas was the state with the most hail claims paid for auto and home insurance, with $474.6 million in losses.
When You Should File a Hail Damage Insurance Claim
Some hail damage is obvious, such as a cracked car windshield. But when inspecting your property post hailstorm, you may not know where to inspect for hail damage. The following are some common signs that may indicate that your property has suffered hail damage:
Claim for Hail Damage to Roof
- Dented gutters, gutter screens, or downspouts
- Cracks, gouges, dents, dings, chipped surfaces in:
- Shingles
- Metal Roofs
- Wood shingles
Hail Damage Siding Claim
- Cracked/chipped siding and windowsills/casings
- Air conditioner damage;
- Damaged decks or painted wood surfaces;
- Cracked windows
How to File a Hail Damage Insurance Claim
Filing a hail damage insurance claim can be daunting, but getting the compensation you deserve is essential. Here are the steps to take when filing a hail damage insurance claim:
- Document the Damage: Before filing a claim, take photos and videos of the damage to your property. This evidence will help support your claim and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
- Contact Your Insurance Company: Call and report the damage immediately. They will likely ask you for information about the damage and may send an adjuster to assess it in person.
- Schedule an Inspection: Once you have reported the damage, your insurance company will schedule an inspection to assess the damage to your property. Ensure to be present during the inspection and provide the adjuster with any documentation you have collected.
- File Your Claim: Your insurance company will provide you with a claim form after the inspection. Fill out the form as accurately as possible and provide additional documentation or evidence to support your claim.
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What to Expect During the Claims Process
The hail damage insurance claims process can be lengthy and complicated. Here's what you can expect during the process:
- Inspection: After filing your claim, an adjuster will inspect the damage to your property. They will assess the damage and determine the amount of compensation you are entitled to.
- Claim Evaluation: Your insurance company will evaluate your claim and determine the compensation they will provide. This amount may be less than you expected, so reviewing the evaluation carefully and understanding how they arrived at the amount is essential.
- Payment: Once your claim has been evaluated, your insurance company will compensate you for the damage to your property. The payment may be a lump sum or spread out over several payments.
Maximizing Your Compensation
To ensure that you get the compensation you deserve, here are some tips to maximize your hail damage insurance claim:
- Hire a Public Adjuster: Public adjusters can help you negotiate with your insurance company and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. They have experience dealing with insurance claims and can help you navigate the process.
- Keep Detailed Records: Keep detailed records of all communication with your insurance company, including phone calls, emails, and letters. This evidence can help support your claim and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
- Review Your Policy: Review your insurance policy to ensure you understand what is covered and what is not. Make sure to review the deductible and any exclusions in your policy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hail Damage
Q: Does homeowners' insurance cover hail damage?
A: Most homeowners' insurance policies cover hail damage to your home.
Q: What if my insurance company denies my claim?
A: If your insurance company denies your claim, you can appeal the decision. Hire a public adjuster to help you negotiate with your insurance company and maximize your compensation.
Q: How long does processing a hail damage insurance claim take?
A: The time it takes to process a hail damage insurance claim varies depending on your insurance company and the extent of the damage. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to receive compensation.
Q: Will my insurance premium increase if I file a hail damage insurance claim?
A: Your insurance premium may increase after filing a hail damage insurance claim. However, this depends on your insurance company and the specific terms of your policy.
Hail can cause catastrophic damage to your roof and all too often insurance companies undervalue or deny claims.
At The Cedrick D. Forrest Law Firm, our property insurance lawyers have a history of winning hail claims across Texas.
Our commercial and residential clients trust our property insurance lawyers for our track record of success. Our residential clients have confidence in our property insurance lawyers because of our fierce advocacy for their diverse communities. If you have hail damage you can trust The Cedrick D. Forrest Law Firm's hail damage insurance attorneys and experts to leave no hail stone unturned to maximize your settlement.
What if My Business Closes Due to Hail Damage? Business Interruption Claim
If your business closes due to hail damage and you have a loss of business income or had to incur extra expenses to continue operations, your policy may include coverage for such losses. Let the property damage attorneys at the Cedrick D. Forrest Law Firm review your policy and represent you in your claim for damage to your business property.
Does Insurance Cover Hail Damage Repair?
It is important to note that insurance coverage varies by company and by the policy. Like any other binding contract, the language and any addendums will be critical to determining coverage in the case of hail damage. With that being said, Texas homeowner's insurance policies will cover hail damage but many homeowners with valid claims find their insurance claim denied. If you are unsure if your policy covers hail damage repair have your policy reviewed by an insurance attorney for free.
Filing a Homeowners Insurance Claim for Roof Damage
Many factors determine the extent of covered damage to a roofing system, including age; installation features; slope; size, shape, firmness of hail; and wind speed. In assessing your claim, adjusters will invariably seek to determine the amount of damage to your roof caused by natural deterioration/wear & tear (not covered by insurance) versus natural forces such as hail damage (covered by insurance).
If your hail damage is covered, the degree of damage must be assessed to determine if your roof requires a full replacement or partial repairs. Insurance companies vary on their coverage decisions based on the frequency and size of hail damage to your roof. They may seek to do a partial repair without consideration for mismatched appearance.
Commercial Properties
As with a homeowners/dwelling policy, insurance coverage for hail damage to a commercial property is governed by the specific language of your insurance policy. Generally, there are three levels of commercial property coverage. Each level protects against different causes of damage. They are basic form policies, broad form policies, and special form policies. Click here to learn about each level of protection.
A careful review of your policy is necessary to understand your exact coverages. The skilled hail damage attorneys at the Cedrick D. Forrest Law Firm are more than capable to review your policy and identify all coverages applicable to compensate you for your hail damage.
Schedule your FREE policy or case review here.
What Can I Do After Having Hail Damage?
From the outset, it is important to understand that every case of hail damage has its unique circumstances that must be assessed individually. Assuming you have an insurance policy, your rights and responsibilities with respect to coverage should be specified in your policy.
The following are some suggestions for what to address following hail damage to your property.
Mitigate Damages.
Do not make any permanent or full repairs until your insurance company has had an opportunity to inspect your property.
Review Your Policy.
You should review your insurance policy to confirm that your property is covered for the type of event that led to the fire damage.
Preserve Evidence.
Preserve as much evidence as possible. Take pictures, videos, document damage, etc.
File Your Claim.
If coverage applies, contact your insurance company to file your claim. If you need help filing your claim, book a FREE consultation with our attorneys today.
Property damage claims can often be complex and daunting. It is important to contact a skilled property damage lawyer from the outset of your claim to ensure your rights are not jeopardized. The attorneys at the Cedrick D. Forrest Law Firm are always ready and able to assist you with your property damage claim.
Schedule your FREE policy or case review here.
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We handle all types of commercial and residential property insurance claims throughout Texas.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions about your claim.
What Can I Expect from My Insurer After Having Property Damage?
In Texas, insurers are legally required to abide by the deadlines set out in Texas Insurance Code §542.001, et. seq. in the assessment and resolution of your insurance claim. Failure to comply with these deadlines in the resolution of a covered claim can result in interest penalties and attorney's fees.
The following represent the statutory deadlines that your insurer must generally comply with:
15 days
Within 15 calendar days after receiving notice of your claim, your insurer must:
(1) acknowledge receipt of the claim;
(2) commence an investigation of the claim; and
(3) request from you all items, statements, and forms the insurer reasonably believes, at the time, will be required from you.
45 days
If your insurer could not make a determination within the above timeframes, they must accept or reject your claim within 45 days after they informed you of their need for additional time. Tex. Ins. Code. § 542.056.
5 days
If your insurer notifies you that it is going to pay your claim, then it must pay you within 5 business days after the notice is given. If payment of the claim, or part of the claim, is conditioned on you performing an act (e.g. providing a signed document), the insurer is only required to pay within 5 business days after you perform the act.
There are several legal nuances involved with your insurer's legal obligations to process your claim in good faith. It is important that you have a skilled property damage attorney to help navigate through the complex deadlines and responsibilities of your insurer.
Contact the skilled property damage lawyers at The Cedrick D. Forrest Law Firm today.
The Cedrick D. Forrest Law Firm and Hail Damage Insurance Claims
When greedy insurance companies fail to treat you fairly, the property insurance lawyers at The Cedrick D. Forrest Law Firm are here to step in and call out instances of bad faith.
Your home is your castle and our property insurance lawyers are here to protect your investment and give your case the attention it needs to bring about the settlement you are justly entitled to.
No Recovery. No Fee.
Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis for your insurance claim.
That means that when a case is taken on, we use our own money and resources to fight for clients. We will investigate, go to court, hire experts, and do whatever is necessary to win your case. We will never ask for any money upfront for contingency matters. No money is owed by the client to us if no monetary recovery is made. That is our promise.
How Much Will I Get Paid for Hail Damage to My Property?
Generally, your insurance company will only be liable for hail damage to your property up to the specified limits of liability under each available coverage of your insurance policy. These figures can most easily be identified on the declarations page of your policy.
After inspections and supported inventories, estimates of the damage to your property will give a precise calculation of your losses. However, the method in which your insurance company settles your loss depends on the language of your policy and the extent of the damage.
Your insurance company may pay you on an actual cash value or replacement cost basis up to your policy limits. Again, the language of your policy is key. If you have a replacement cost policy, your insurance company may pay your claim in two stages. First, they will pay you the actual cash value of your property. Actual cash value equals the replacement cost of your covered loss minus depreciation. This sum is often less than what is necessary to get repairs completed. However, most replacement cost policies require that you repair or replace your damaged property before your insurance company issues the rest of your claim money. Usually, repairs must be completed within a specified period of time.
If your insurance policy does not provide for settlement on a replacement cost basis, then you will probably only recover the actual cash value of your damaged property (replacement cost of your covered loss minus depreciation). This amount may be inadequate to replace your damaged property.
The attorneys at the Cedrick D. Forrest Law firm are experienced, willing, and ready to advocate on your behalf. We will fight to make sure that your rights are not jeopardized and that you are fully compensated for your fire damage.
Schedule your FREE policy or case review here.
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Having your insurance claim denied by the insurance company and navigating the dispute process can be stressful and confusing. Insurance companies count on you not understanding your rights and not seeking legal help. That's why we have made it as easy as possible to get your questions answered. Click the contact button to speak with an available attorney. It's fast, simple, and the first step to getting maximum compensation. We also offer no-contact video consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hail Damage Claims
Does homeowners' insurance cover hail damage?
Most homeowners' insurance policies cover hail damage to your home.
What if my insurance company denies my claim?
If your insurance company denies your claim, you can appeal the decision. Hire a public adjuster to help you negotiate with your insurance company and maximize your compensation.
How long does processing a hail damage insurance claim take?
The time it takes to process a hail damage insurance claim varies depending on your insurance company and the extent of the damage. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to receive compensation.
Will my insurance premium increase if I file a hail damage insurance claim?
Your insurance premium may increase after filing a hail damage insurance claim. However, this depends on your insurance company and the specific terms of your policy.