When strong winds from storms blow through your neighborhood, they can leave a devastating path of destruction in their wake. High, violent winds can cause significant damage to the roof and siding of your home, warranting insurance compensation. Adequately assessing wind damage to roofs and siding ensures a fair settlement for property damages incurred.
Speak with an experienced wind damage claims attorney to explore your legal options to secure the money you need to fix your house. They can provide peace of mind by filing your wind damage claim or appealing a denied one.
Assessing Wind Damage to Roofs
Assessing wind damage to roofs involves inspecting the roof from the ground by walking the perimeter of your home. Document noticeable signs of roof damage, including the following:
- Missing shingles
- Curling or lifting shingles
- Flipped or bent shingles
- Broken shingles
- Granule loss from shingles (most visible in gutters)
- Large debris on your roof
- Torn flashing around chimneys, vents, and roof penetrations
Another aspect of assessing wind damage to roofs is a walkthrough of your home’s interior. You must check ceilings for visible signs of leaks and water damage after a wind storm. If you have an attic, you should check for signs of water infiltration, wet areas, and damaged insulation.
If a rooftop inspection is safe, homeowners can better gauge the extent of the wind damage to their roofs. However, having a professional inspector assess those damages due to experience and having proper safety gear is always advised. Your wind damage lawyer will want a professional inspector to evaluate and document wind damage to roofs and siding for maximum compensation.
Assessing Wind Damage to Siding
Assessing wind damage to siding involves walking around your home for a thorough inspection. Take a close look at all sides of your house, paying close attention to corners, seams, and areas with higher wind exposure. Signs of wind damage to siding include:
- Missing siding panels
- Partially detached siding panels
- Splits and cracks running along the siding
- Small pieces of broken-off siding (chipping)
- Holes in siding panels from wind-driven debris
- Dings and dents on the siding—caused by wind-blown debris
- Large areas of peeling paint from wind-driven rain moisture damage
Taking clear photos with a digital or high-quality cell phone camera provides solid evidence to support your wind damage claim. Capturing details from every angle, including up-close and wide range, provides a more comprehensive evaluation of damages. A professional inspector will bring a camera and may record video footage when assessing wind damage to roofs and siding.
Common Difficulties With Wind Damage to Roofs and Siding Claims
While assessing wind damages to roofs and siding seems easy enough, the claims process can be complex. Several factors may make the process more challenging, including:
- Overlooking damages when assessing wind damage to roofs and siding
- Rushed or incomplete roof and siding wind damage assessments
- Wind damage claims that involve multiple liable insurers
- Claims that damages are pre-existing
- Claims that damages are caused by improper maintenance
- Disagreements over repair and replacement costs
- Disagreements over insurance coverage
- Unnecessary delays in wind damage claims
- Undervaluing wind damages to roofs and siding
- Denying valid wind damage claims
These difficulties can overwhelm homeowners who want to be fairly compensated for their damages and make the necessary repairs to restore their homes and prevent further damage. Having an experienced lawyer navigate the intricacies and surprises that pop up during claims processing is highly beneficial and advised.
Why You Need a Wind Damage Lawyer
If your wind damage claim is complex or you don't understand your policy, you'll want to speak to a lawyer immediately. They will review and explain your policy, provide a comprehensive assessment of your damages, and negotiate higher settlements on your behalf.
Policy Review and Interpretation
Some homeowners struggle to understand their insurance policy's coverage and limitations. Wind damage lawyers are familiar with and can provide a clear understanding of your policy. After thoroughly reviewing your policy, they will understand and explain your coverage, including exclusions and clauses that may affect your claim.
Multiple Liability
Liable parties are sometimes discovered when assessing wind damage to roofs and siding. For example, a windstorm causing a fallen tree to crash into your roof might make your neighbor partially or fully liable for your damages. In that case, your insurance claims attorney will file a claim with their homeowners or property damage insurance. Multiple liable parties can complicate your case.
Comprehensive Damage Assessment
Your attorney will comprehensively calculate all damages in your wind damage claim. These damages will include repair and replacement costs of roofs and siding. However, they may also involve hotel expenses while your home is being repaired and out-of-pocket costs for emergency or temporary repairs.
Bad-Faith Insurance Tactics
Insurance companies sometimes utilize bad-faith tactics to minimize their company's financial losses. Having a wind damage claims attorney helps deter bad-faith insurance practices, including:
- Denying valid claims
- Unfairly delaying claims
- Sending low offers that don’t cover total damage costs
- Misrepresenting policy terms
Contact an attorney if you believe your insurance company is employing bad-faith tactics with your claim. They will handle all the steps to report necessary tactics and take legal action under the law.
Negotiations With Insurance Companies
Liable insurance companies may attempt to minimize company losses by sending low-ball offers on your wind damages. Your wind damage lawyer will demand a fair settlement. They are skilled negotiators who confidently reject insulting offers. Negotiations can take time and may last a few rounds before all parties agree on settlement terms.
Litigating Your Case in Court
When insurance companies, attorneys, and clients cannot agree on a fair settlement amount, your case may require litigation. Your attorney will represent your legal interests in court if your claim moves to trial. Due to the insurer's failure to promptly pay your claim, your lawyer may add additional losses, including delayed repairs and increased living or lodging expenses.
Handling Denied or Undervalued Claims
If your insurance company denies your wind damage claim and you believe you have a valid claim, contact an insurance claims attorney immediately. After reviewing your case and determining its validity, they will create a plan for your appeal.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
Schedule a free consultation with a wind damage claims lawyer if you need help filing a complex claim or if your claim was denied. They will listen with compassion while determining a plan to recover compensation to repair your home.