Hurricane Damage Claims in Dallas

Helping Dallas Property Owners Understand the Storm Damage Claims Process

Dallas, Texas, is far enough inland that it is generally spared from direct hurricane strikes from storms coming up from the Gulf. However, the resulting rain, storm, and wind fallout from tropical storms can cause real property damage to homes and businesses in the area. These storms can also spawn strong thunderstorms and tornadoes that can cause catastrophic damage to your property’s structure. Your first thought after suffering storm-related property damage is probably to call your insurance company. But what do you do if it denies your claim or undervalues your damages? Understanding your rights and how the insurance claims process works can prepare you to fight back and ensure you receive fair compensation.

When you need experienced legal representation to help you challenge your insurance company’s findings or hold it accountable to deadlines, the team at Stormlex Law Group is here to help. We serve clients in (877) 890-6372 and the surrounding areas, and you can schedule an appointment with an attorney to talk about your claim by calling (877) 890-6372.

What Happens Next When Your Property Is Hit by a Storm?

Hurricanes from the Gulf can bring strong thunderstorms, heavy rains, damaging winds, lightning storms, and even tornadoes to the Dallas area. After a storm, it’s essential to assess your property to determine if there was any damage and, if so, its severity. If the damage was enough to warrant a property insurance claim, the next step is to notify the insurance company and document the damage.

Take photos and videos of the structural and content damage, and ensure you get this evidence before you do any cleanup. Once you have the initial record, you can and should take care of any temporary repairs, such as putting a tarp over missing shingles or having a tree that fell on your house cut down. Ensure you keep receipts for supplies you need or work that was done. In most cases, the insurance company will also reimburse you for these expenses.

Once you submit your claim, the insurance company has 15 days to acknowledge it. This is generally when an insurance adjuster will be assigned to your case, and the investigation will begin. The insurance adjuster will usually come to inspect the damage in person and determine an estimate for any repairs. Having copies of estimates from contractors in the area can help you get a fair valuation for your claim.

When you’re dealing with an insurance claim, there’s generally a flurry of activity when you’re submitting the claim and responding to requests for additional documentation. Then, it can seem like you’re waiting forever. Remember that insurance companies have deadlines they must adhere to. If the company is unreasonably denying your claim, talk to a property damage claim attorney.

Does Standard Property Insurance Cover Hurricane-Related Losses?

Homeowners and commercial property owners in the Dallas-Fort Worth area don’t generally need to worry about some of the most common types of hurricane damage, such as devastating storm surges or winds in excess of 100 miles per hour. The city’s location, which is 300 miles inland, keeps it protected, and most storms rapidly weaken into tropical storms or bands of heavy thunderstorms as the hurricane makes landfall.

For this reason, most Dallas property owners don’t need separate policies for hurricane damage. However, you can usually file a property damage insurance claim for storm-related damage. For example, strong winds can cause trees to fall or large limbs to hit your property, and driving rain can infiltrate your home after the wind blows off shingles. A hailstorm can also cause roof damage, break windows, and destroy siding. All of these examples would generally be covered under a standard property insurance policy.

One thing that homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover is flooding. Most insurance companies specifically exclude water damage from rising waters or overflowing bodies of water, such as lakes or rivers. You will generally need a separate flood policy to protect your home or business against this kind of damage.

Do Dallas Property Owners Qualify for TWIA Policies?

After a storm comes through, you may hear people talking about TWIA policies. TWIA stands for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, and these policies protect properties in specific coastal areas of Texas by providing coverage specifically for wind and hail damage. These policies can be beneficial for property owners along the coast because these homes and businesses often won’t qualify for traditional insurance policies due to the high risk of damage from a hurricane. To be eligible for TWIA coverage, the property must be in one of the 14 first-tier coastal counties in the state, so Dallas properties don’t qualify.

However, if your insurance company is attempting to deny your wind or hail damage claim, an attorney can help you get the compensation you’re entitled to through your policy. It’s common for insurers to initially deny coverage, hoping property owners will give up and the company won’t have to pay. The attorneys at Stormlex Law Group are familiar with these tactics, and our team knows how to counteract them.

How Can You Maximize Your Insurance Benefits After a Hurricane?

The best way to maximize your insurance benefits after a hurricane system moves through is to be prepared beforehand. Regularly documenting the state of your property, inside and outside, with photos or videos, can provide the insurance company with important “before” pictures. This can help show that damage was caused by the storm and not another issue, such as a lack of maintenance. If you don’t have these, surveillance camera footage and even photos from Google Maps can help show what your property looked like before the storm. Documentation after the storm is equally essential. Before you clean up, take pictures of the damage from multiple perspectives.

Insurance will generally only pay for other expenses, such as those for temporary repairs to mitigate further damage, if you have receipts. It’s essential to keep all of your records related to the storm and the property damage. This ensures you have what you need for reimbursement if your policy covers it.

Insurance adjusters may undervalue claims by lowballing repair estimates. However, proactively getting estimates from a few independent licensed contractors in the area can help you understand the actual cost of repairs so you can be ready to fight a low valuation.

Lastly, it’s crucial not to give up. You have rights as a policy owner, and you’ve faithfully paid your premiums for a reason. If the insurance company isn’t doing its part, a property damage claim attorney can help. Our lawyers can help you file an appeal or additional supplemental claims to ensure you get everything you’re owed. We’re also prepared to take action against the insurance company itself, if necessary, through a bad faith action claim.

Could Your Insurance Company’s Actions Be Considered Bad Faith?

If you’re wondering why it’s so challenging to get your claim approved or paid and you’re running into roadblock after roadblock when dealing with your insurance company, it could be acting in bad faith. Bad faith actions for insurance companies include denying claims without reason or without inspecting the property, intentionally and unreasonably delaying payment, and refusing to negotiate a fair settlement. If these are the tactics you’re dealing with, our firm can help.

It is possible to hold the insurance company accountable for its actions, and in some cases, you may even be able to get additional compensation in the form of attorney fees or punitive damages. Our attorneys can evaluate your situation, review your policy, and help you determine if your insurance company is acting in bad faith. If so, we will walk you through the process of filing a formal complaint and potentially a lawsuit.

The Hurricane Damage Attorneys at Stormlex Law Group Can Help

When your property has been damaged due to a hurricane or a related storm system, you don’t have to battle the aftermath alone. Our attorneys are here to help you understand your policy, navigate the legal jargon, and get you the money you need to repair your property. We know what strategies work to fight the insurance companies and win, and we’re here to help those in Dallas get what they’re entitled to through their insurance policies.

Whether hurricane-related damage is keeping you from being able to live in your home or run your business, taking action to ensure you get fair compensation from the insurance company is the first step. Call Stormlex Law Group at (877) 890-6372 to speak to a Dallas property damage lawyer and find out more about the legal services we offer.