Commercial Roof Damage Insurance Claim Lawyers
If the rooftop of your commercial building was damaged by a natural disaster or severe weather such as a hurricane, strong winds, a tornado, hail damage, fallen trees, or other element of dangerous weather conditions, you, as the commercial property owner, may be faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to file your roof damage claim with your insurance carrier. Unfortunately, insurance companies are reluctant to cover roof damage claims in many instances and make the claims process as difficult as possible for many policyholders. If you are facing challenges or have had your claim denied or delayed by the insurance company, we advise you to retain professional legal representation from experienced attorneys in the practice area of storm damage claims and negotiations with insurance companies.
Stormlex Law Group is a San Antonio-based law firm uniquely tailored to helping policyholders and business owners seek fair compensation from their insurance company providers after their properties have been damaged in a covered event. If your claim has been denied or delayed, you do not simply need to accept the explanation provided by your insurer. As your legal representatives, we will protect your legal rights and provide various legal options if you feel you were wrongfully denied coverage for a valid claim.
To learn more about our legal services and how we can help you recover compensation for costly roof damage, please contact our law office to schedule your free case review today. In your free, no-obligation case evaluation, we will review your insurance policy and help you determine your legal options as you pursue a satisfactory outcome to your case. Don’t delay; contact us today.
Do You Need Special Roof Damage Insurance from Your Insurance Company?
In most cases, you don’t typically need special insurance policies to seek coverage for roofing damage in Texas. Most insurance policies have some provisions for roof damage. However, there are certain factors that you should consider that may influence your decision on whether to purchase additional coverage.
Most homeowners’ insurance policies cover roof damage caused by specific perils, such as fallen trees, hail damage, and high winds. However, there are excluded perils that may not be covered. Additionally, your commercial property insurance may differ.
Your insurance provider will also consider the age and condition of your roof when determining whether to honor your claim for insurance policy coverage. If your roof is old or has already suffered pre-existing property damage, they may offer you less or outright deny your claim.
Because natural disasters and severe storms occur frequently in Texas, some insurance companies in the area might offer special hail and wind damage coverage. This coverage is optional but may provide extra peace of mind.
What Should You Do if Your Commercial Property Roof Suffers Storm Damage?
If you have discovered damage to your rooftop or flat roofing, you must thoroughly investigate and review the damage to your property when you are safely able to do so. Once you have determined the overall extent of the property damage, you can begin to value your insurance claim accurately. To help support your claim, take as many photos and videos of the damage sustained as you can.
In some cases, we recommend that our clients hire their own contractors and public adjusters to investigate the damaged commercial property and arrive at an accurate estimate of its value.
Once the damage has been thoroughly reviewed and documented, you should then file an insurance claim with your provider. The policyholder will get a claims number in response, and a designated representative will be in charge of investigating and communicating on behalf of the insurance company. The insurance adjusters will investigate the damaged property and return to their employers with a report to help the insurer make an informed decision during the claims process.
What Are Signs That Your Commercial Roofs Are Failing?
Many people would rather replace certain roofing materials than worry about replacing the whole roof. A roof replacement is, of course, more expensive than repairs done by a professional roofer. However, in some cases, repairs may not be enough, and your roof may need to be replaced.
It is wise to ensure that your property is properly maintained and that you check for damage or issues to the building and structure on a regular basis. If problems are discovered early, repairs can be easier and cheaper.
The following signs may indicate that it is time to consider having your roof replaced:
- Corroded metal roofing materials: a corroded roof can’t protect your commercial property like it was designed to do. This could result in water damage, wind damage, and infestation of animals and critters
- Damaged and missing shingles: regularly check your rooftop for wear and tear to your shingles. You do not want shingles that are curling, breaking, or balding. If your shingles are missing entirely, it may be time to have your roof replaced
- Loose or missing fasteners: holes from fasteners that have gone missing could lead to roof leaks. If this problem is caught early on, it can be a quick and easy fix. However, if the problem lasts too long, you may need to consider an entire roof replacement
- Missing or damaged flashing: flashing is the material around objects that protrude from your roof, such as chimneys, skylights, vents, and other pieces of your property. If the flashing has been damaged or has gone missing, it cannot do its job correctly
- Tears in the roof membrane: when roofing materials get old or damaged, they can begin to tear. Torn roof membranes can lead to water damage and increased energy bills
Are You Allowed to Make Temporary Repairs While Awaiting a New Commercial Roof from the Insurance Company?
If your roof has suffered structural damage or minor damage due to a storm, you are likely waiting for the insurance company to respond to your claims request. However, this may take some time, during which your roof leak may get worse, and other damages may also worsen. To mitigate further damage or threats to yourself and your staff, you are allowed to make minor repairs while awaiting a decision from the insurance company.
When you make these minor repairs, be sure to keep all documents and receipts related to the repairs so that you can submit them with your claim to the insurance company.
What Types of Roof Damage Does Insurance Typically Cover?
Homeowners and commercial policyholders can expect certain roof damage to be covered by their insurance providers. However, certain specifics may apply, and damage caused by excluded perils will not be covered. Before filing your claim, reread your insurance policy to familiarize yourself with its benefits and limitations.
Some of the types of roof damage that your insurance provider may cover include the following:
- Fallen trees or branches
- Fire damage
- Hail damage
- Lightning strikes
- The weight of snow and ice
- Vandalism and malicious mischief
- Wind damage
What Roof Damage and Roofing Materials May Not Be Covered by Your Insurer?
Water damage, including roof leaks, ponding, and standing water, is not typically covered by commercial insurance policies because a covered event may not have caused the damage. However, if a hailstorm caused the water damage, it may be possible to link one to the other for your insurance claim.
Commercial property roof damage claims may also not be covered if the insurance company believes the roof is too old. In most cases, roofs 20 years or older are typically regarded as too old.
If the property owner damages their roof, intentionally or otherwise, the insurance policy may not honor the claim.
Your insurance policy may not cover certain roofing materials that are highly expensive or easily damaged.
Why Might Insurance Companies Deny Your Valid Claim of a Damaged Roof?
Even with a valid claim, your insurance company may deny or delay your significant damage claims, leading to frustration and the need to consider legal action.
Common reasons for denying a roof damage claim include:
- Deductible threshold
- Excessive and inaccurate claims seeking maximum compensation
- Excluded perils
- Insufficient evidence to support the claim
- Insurance policy limitations
- Lack of adequate coverage
- Late reporting of the roof damage
- Misrepresentation of the facts
- Neglect or poor maintenance
- Regular wear and tear
What Are Bad Faith Tactics That an Insurance Provider May Employ to Avoid Paying What You Are Rightfully Owed?
In some cases, insurance companies will consider various bad faith practices to help them avoid paying the policyholders what they are owed.
Examples of bad faith practices include:
- Excessive and unwarranted documentation requests
- Failures in communication between the insurance agent and the policyholder
- Incomplete or inadequate investigations of commercial property
- Lowball settlement offers
- Misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the insurance policies
- Only making partial payments
- Retaliation
- The cancellation of an insurance policy for unreasonable or unfair cause
- Threats or intimidation tactics
- Unreasonable delays
- Wrongful denials
How Can TX Roof Damage Attorneys Be of Legal Assistance?
At Stormlex Law Group, your satisfaction is our top priority. We want to help you through the claims process and make things as simple as possible as you pursue the most satisfactory outcome to your legal matters.
We can help evaluate your claim, gather the necessary evidence to support your claim, communicate with all professionals involved, negotiate with the insurance company, and contend with any bad faith claims that the insurance providers may have.
Our law firm has a proven track record of success helping previous clients with all sorts of property damage claims. To learn more about our legal services, we encourage you to schedule a free case review today.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our San Antonio Law Firm to Discuss Your Roof Damage Claim Today
Our law office has extensive experience representing clients in complex property damage claims cases, including those where insurance companies are reluctant to pay what policyholders require for roof repairs and replacements. As your legal representatives, we will fight tirelessly for the most optimal outcome for your case.
To learn more about how we may be of legal assistance to you during this difficult time, please contact our San Antonio law firm to schedule your free consultation today. You may reach us at 877-890-6372
