Hailstorms can create significant damage to buildings and motor vehicles that require costly repairs. Unfortunately, many commercial business owners who make claims to their insurance companies for damages are met with unacceptable delays and inadequately low offers. If your insurance company has denied your hail damage insurance claim, you need the help of a commercial hail damage attorney in Houston.
The main goal of insurance carriers is to pay out as little as possible for your commercial hail damage. We know how to protect your rights against these insurance companies and hold them accountable. Contact a Houston bad faith insurance lawyer at Dax F. Garza, P.C. as soon as possible for help obtaining compensation for your hailstorm damage.
Commercial Property Damage Claims After a Hailstorm
Hailstorms are common in Texas, with the state submitting the most hail damage insurance claims in the country last year. The high number of property damage claims is largely because of the severe and costly roof damage and other devastation that hailstones can cause. It is important to make a damage claim through your property insurance after a natural disaster such as a hailstorm so you can get your business back up and running as quickly as possible.
Types of Hail Damage
Hail damage can range from minor to severe. Even what appears on the surface to be minor property damage can compromise the integrity of your commercial building. Common types of hail damage you should look for after a hailstorm include the following:
- Dents, cracks, tears, and holes in the roof
- Missing or split roof shingles
- Cracked roof tiles
- Dented roof flashing
- Broken windows, frames, and / or shutters
- Dented garage doors
- Dents or tears in outdoor furniture
- Damaged landscaping or hardscaping
- Siding damage
- Dented or scratched company vehicles
- Damaged HVAC units
After a hailstorm, it is important to have an experienced roofer examine your commercial building for damage. It is also important to have any damage repaired as soon as possible. Damage left unrepaired can lead to additional problems, including water intrusion, that can interrupt your business operations and cause obstacles in making insurance claims.
Why You Need to Have Your Commercial Property Hail Damage Repaired
There are several reasons why it is important to have your commercial hail damage repaired as soon as possible. First, the statute of limitations in Texas for filing a property damage claim is two years from the date of the hailstorm. Second, the longer your repairs are delayed, the more damage that can occur to your commercial property.
In some instances, you may need to make temporary repairs while you wait for your insurance company to fully process your claim. If this is the case for you, be sure to at least consult with your insurance provider first so they do not deny your claim based on the temporary repairs you made. Prior to making any repairs, including temporary fixes, take photos of the damage to your building and other property.
What To Do After Hail Has Damaged Your Commercial Property
It is important that you take certain steps after a hailstorm to protect your rights and maximize your damages. You want to be sure to cover all your bases and protect yourself against denials and other difficulties from your insurance carrier. The following are steps you should take after your commercial building is impacted by hail damage:
- Assess the damage: Check the building and its surroundings for dents and other damage. Do not forget to check the roof.
- Protect the building from additional damage: Cover any holes in the roof or broken windows to prevent water intrusion and theft.
- Document your losses: Take photos and videos of the damage to your commercial building caused by hail.
- Make temporary repairs: Make only repairs that are necessary for your safety or to prevent additional damage. Be sure to keep records of all work that was completed.
- Review your insurance policy: It is a good idea to have a general understanding of what damages are covered so you will know what to expect after making an insurance claim and how long you have to file a claim.
- File a claim with your commercial or homeowner’s insurance: Call your insurance adjuster as soon as you suspect hail damage.
- Retain evidence: Keep all documentation and receipts showing any repairs you have made.
- Choose a repair company: Once the insurance adjuster completes their survey of your damage, select a reputable company to complete repairs.
- Retain a hail damage attorney: If the insurance company denies your claim or offers you an unacceptably low amount for your hailstone damage, retain a hail damage claims attorney to help you get the coverage you deserve for your commercial hail damage.
Making an Insurance Claim for Commercial Hail Damage
The process of making an insurance claim for commercial hail damage is similar for most policyholders. After making a claim, an insurance adjuster will come to your property to assess the damage done by the hailstorm. You may consider hiring an independent adjuster to review the damage as well, so you have estimates to compare.
While all insurance companies have their own processes and procedures for submitting claims, it is important for policyholders to submit claims for commercial property hailstorm damage to their insurance company as soon as possible. Many insurance companies require claims for insurance coverage to be made within one year of the date the damage occurred. It is also beneficial to file your claim quickly because you will receive the adjuster’s determination sooner and will know whether it is necessary to hire an attorney from Dax F. Garza, P.C. who knows the ins and outs of insurance law and can fight to get you fair compensation for your hailstorm damage claim.
How a Hail Damage Attorney Can Help Business Owners Achieve Fair Compensation
There are many benefits to retaining a hail damage lawyer from Dax F. Garza, P.C. after suffering commercial hail damage in Houston. As mentioned, insurance companies are known to delay, underpay, or deny policyholders’ claims for damage to their commercial property. Insurance claim lawyers can ensure the insurance company treats you fairly or can file a bad faith lawsuit, if necessary, to help you obtain fair compensation after your commercial hailstorm losses.
Why Commercial Hail Damage Insurance Claims are Denied or Underpaid
Property damage claims made by business owners are often denied and underpaid. There are common reasons an insurance adjuster may deny or underpay your claim after a hailstorm. Some of these reasons for denied and underpaid claims include the following assertions by the insurance carrier:
- There is no legitimate damage, and it is only cosmetic.
- The damage to your commercial property was already present.
- The dents in your roof and gutters are not structural but are, rather, superficial.
- Missing shingles do not constitute real damage.
- Your damage is not significant enough for the amount of losses you claimed.
If your insurance provider does approve your claim, it is possible that they will undervalue it, which may force you to settle for a cheap repair that does not fix the problem. A cheap fix may only temporarily resolve the damage and could leave your commercial property vulnerable to damage. Denied and underpaid claims may be indicative of bad faith insurance practices.
Bad Faith Insurance Practices
Texas law requires property owners to pay certain premiums in exchange for their insurance companies honoring legitimate claims made on their policies. When an insurance company does not act in good faith and does not adhere to its contractual obligations, however, it may be considered a breach of contract and bad faith. Bad faith insurance practices include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Denying claims for legitimate damages caused by hailstorms or thunderstorms without offering a valid reason
- Making unreasonably low offers for commercial hail or storm damage
- Delaying payment for damage from hailstorms or wind
- Failing to promptly investigate your commercial hail damage or perform adequate investigations and evaluations
- Misrepresenting the language contained in the insurance policy
- Demanding a higher deductible for hail damage than is explicitly stated in the policy
- Applying excessive depreciation amounts to a commercial property value
- Denying insurance coverage based on policy exclusions like poor maintenance, construction defects, or wear and tear
- Presenting biased engineering reports from their own consultants
- Misapplying co-insurance penalties
- Claiming that commercial properties do not meet the requirements of applicable building codes
The Texas Department of Insurance regulates the Texas insurance industry and ensures the claims process for hail and other damage is properly and lawfully handled. Insurance companies are required to demonstrate a reasonable basis for denying or delaying your commercial hail damage claim. If your claim for damages after a hailstorm has been denied, delayed, or disputed, we can help you receive fair compensation.
How We Can Help You Get Fair Compensation for Your Hail Damage Claim
Insurance adjusters know that the average Houston property owner will not negotiate or fight for their rights after their claim is denied, underpaid, or delayed. Rather, most property owners will simply pay their deductible and take what is offered to them by the insurance company. They are not equipped to handle insurance disputes because they do not know what Texas law requires of insurance companies.
A hail damage lawyer from Dax F. Garza, P.C. can fight for your rights after the denial of your commercial property damage claim. We have significant experience dealing with insurance companies and are familiar with their tactics to pay property owners the least amount possible. We can help you get fair compensation for your hail damage claim in the following ways:
- We can review your insurance policy to determine what should be covered and what claims should be paid.
- We can help you properly document the hail damage to your commercial property.
- We can refer you to consultants who can accurately assess and value your hailstorm damages.
- We can investigate the historical value of your commercial property.
- We can correspond with the insurance adjusters on your behalf.
- We can review the relevant Houston weather records.
- We can research the insurance laws in Texas that pertain to your insurance policy.
- We can dispute and appeal the insurance company’s denial of your claim.
- We can negotiate a reasonable offer for your hailstorm damages.
- We can hire qualified experts to prove causation and damages in your hail damage claim.
- We can put pressure on the insurance company to handle your hailstorm damage claim properly and promptly.
- We can file a bad faith insurance lawsuit if necessary.
Contact Dax F. Garza, P.C. Today to Discuss Your Commercial Hail Damage Claim
Understanding Texas insurance law is critical in helping to ensure you receive fair and reasonable compensation for your hail damage claim. An experienced attorney at a Houston hail damage law firm can review your insurance policy and evaluate the applicable laws to hold your insurance company accountable for paying what you are owed after your commercial property suffers hailstone damage. If your hail damage claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid, contact our team at Dax F. Garza, P.C., as we are ready to meet with you to discuss how we can help you get the compensation you are owed under your insurance policy and get your business back up and running in a free initial consultation.
