Roof Damage Lawyers in McAllen Helping Individuals Obtain Fair Compensation for Their Claims

Damage to your roof is a serious structural issue. If not corrected as soon as possible, roof damage can lead to a whole host of other problems, including water damage, structural damage, and even bodily injury from a portion of the roof possibly caving in.

Frequently, roof damage claims are the result of serious weather events such as severe thunderstorms, hailstorms, or natural disasters such as hurricanes. Often, when these events occur, many other policyholders are also affected in your general area. Having to pay out a substantial number of claims can cause an insurance company to want to change or alter the terms of its policies in order to avoid a large financial payout.

The attorneys at Flores & Pelaez-Prada PLLC are all too familiar with the often-repeated tactics that insurers may attempt to use in order to save the insurance company money. Our hurricane damage attorneys can review your policies and help determine the best strategy in an effort to get the results that you deserve.

Contact our law firm by calling 855-STORMS-4 and schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team who can advise you of your rights and legal options.

What is an Insurer Looking For When They Inspect the Roof for Damage?

When the insurance company comes to inspect your roof for damage, there are several tell-tale signs that they first look for in order to make a determination about your claim. One characteristic they search for is that of hail damage or other severe weather-related damage.

The inspector is trying to determine if they can locate any “bruising” or dark spots on your roofing shingles where granules may be missing. Missing granules cause exposure to the underlayment or fiberglass. Excessive loss of granulation may indicate the integrity of the roof has been compromised.

If the damage to your roof is new, it will have a shiny appearance. Older damage will appear to be duller due to prolonged exposure to the weather. Hail damage can lead to several problems, such as accelerated granular loss and shingle aging. Hail damage can also void manufacturer’s warranties and lead to other problems as the roof ages.

Other more general aspects of a roof inspection include looking for missing or damaged shingles, dented venting, and damaged gutters. Dents in the venting and gutter can indicate the size, directionality, and frequency of hail damage.

One of the most crucial aspects that an inspector will check for during their roof inspection is signs of leaking. They will check for peeling under roof eaves, damaged or rusted flashing, rot, or buckling or curling. As a homeowner, you may also notice interior leaks on the ceiling. These leaks will present themselves as dark spots that may be accompanied by peeling interior paint.

What is the Difference Between Actual Cash Value and Replacement Cash Value in Regard to A Roof Damage Claim?

Depending on the type of homeowner’s insurance policy that you may have, there are two insurance terms that are important to understand when it comes to roof damage claims.

Actual Cash Value: In insurance terms, Actual Cash Value (ACV) refers to the value of a damaged or destroyed item at the time of loss. In the case of a roof, it may have a lifespan of 20 years and is ten years old at the time of loss. The Actual Cash Value is then 50% of the original value of the roof. If you have an ACV policy, 50% of the roof’s overall value will be kept by the insurance company and, as such, will not be paid to the homeowner. The amount withheld by the insurer is called depreciation.

Replacement Cost Value: Again, in insurance terms, the Replacement Cost Value (RCV) is the value of damaged or destroyed items at the time of loss, including depreciation. Unlike that of Actual Cash Value, with this type of policy, you do not lose 50% of the value of your roof.

A great deal of the time, the legal language that is written into insurance policies may be overly complicated and extremely difficult to understand. Insurance companies are not concerned as to whether or not you understand all of the terminology included in their policies. This is why it is imperative that you seek the counsel of an attorney who has the experience and understands roof damage claim laws.

The law firm of Flores & Pelaez-Prada PLLC has attorneys who can explain the legal language that is included in your policies and help you make a determination as to how to proceed when dealing with your insurance company.

How Can an Attorney in McAllen, TX Help Me With My Roof Damage Claim?

Dealing with a damaged or destroyed roof is overwhelming enough without having to worry about the insurance company not wanting to pay your claim. As a policyholder, you have come to expect that the insurance company will be there to help you in your time of need. In spite of the fact that you have always been faithful in paying your premiums, often, the insurance company will attempt to delay or deny your claim.

The attorneys at the law firm of Flores & Pelaez-Prada PLLC can help you by eliminating some of the stress that you are going through in dealing with the insurer by yourself. We can advocate on your behalf if the insurance company tries to act in bad faith by stalling or trying to deny your claim. Our legal team is familiar with many of the deceitful tactics that some insurance companies use in order to undervalue your claim.

Contact Flores & Pelaez-Prada PLLC Today

Let us help you during your time of need by calling 855-STORMS-4 and scheduling a free consultation with a member of our legal team. We will be happy to review your policy and determine a strategy on how to deal with your insurance company.