San Antonio Tornado Damage Attorneys
Fighting Against Insurance Companies in Texas
Have you recently sustained damage to your home in the San Antonio, Texas, area and filed a claim with the insurance company? Did you feel that the financial compensation that you received was inadequate? Often, an insurance company will try to minimize the damage in terms of financial compensation owed to you due to tornado damage claims or other serious storm damage.
Due to the confusing nature and legal terminology involved in insurance policies, policyholders often do not fully comprehend how their insurance claim may be denied or underpaid. The attorneys at Stormlex Law Group have extensive experience in dealing with insurance companies and are familiar with their policies for dealing with damage claims. Often, insurers will attempt to delay, deny, or underpay a damage claim.
Contact the law offices at Stormlex Law Group by calling us at (877) 890-6372 and scheduling an appointment to speak with one of our roof damage attorneys, who can explain your legal rights and devise a game plan to receive the money that you deserve for your damage claim. We offer free consultations to assess your claim and get you started on the right track.
What Should I Do After a Tornado Damages My Property?
After a tornado passes through and you come out of the shelter only to see significant property damage to your home or business, it can be overwhelming. It’s normal to feel like you don’t know where to start, but what you do immediately after a storm can affect whether your claim is approved or denied and how much of a damage recovery you can depend on for your property.
The first thing to do is document the damage. Take photos and videos with your phone or any damage you can safely reach or see. If there are problems on the roof or another structure that’s unsafe to climb on, a local contractor can help you assess the damages your property has sustained.
Next, it’s important to do what you can to mitigate further damage. If you have roof damage, put a tarp over it, if possible, to keep additional moisture out. Cardboard can go over broken windows to keep wind, rain, and pests out. If items inside were ruined by rain or falling debris, don’t throw anything away until those items are documented. It’s also important to save the receipts for any expenses related to the tornado damage, such as emergency supplies and repairs, or hotel stays if your home is uninhabitable.
Notify your insurance company about the damage as soon as possible so an adjuster can get started on your claim.
Does Most Property Insurance Cover Tornado Damage Claims in Texas?
Unlike earthquakes or floods, tornadoes do not usually require any special type of insurance coverage. Per industry standards, tornadoes are classified as windstorms, which are typically covered by insurance companies. Potentially covered property damage caused by a windstorm, including a tornado, includes damage to the roof, walls, or foundation, broken windows, and fallen trees on fences or buildings.
Hail and torrential rains often accompany tornadoes, either as part of the storm or from a larger weather system in the area, and most insurance policies will cover a property damage claim for these issues as well. Insurance policies commonly have exclusions, such as for flood damage, or may have caps on how much they will pay out.
Some property insurance companies even have stipulations that they will pay for living expenses if your home is destroyed and you need a place to live while you rebuild. Of course, this depends on the type of property insurance coverage you have. If this is an option, it can give you peace of mind and help you return to some sense of normalcy while you wait for repairs to your home to be completed.
Do I Need Special Tornado Insurance in the San Antonio Area?
In areas prone to certain types of natural disasters, standard property insurance policies may not cover damage claims related to those incidents. For example, areas that are prone to earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes may require special policies to cover a related property damage insurance claim.
Tornadoes, in particular, can cause significant property damage and can even level a house to its foundation in a direct hit. This leads many people to wonder if they need a specific tornado insurance policy to ensure their properties are covered in case of damage.
Living in San Antonio, we are not considered to be in “Tornado Alley,” where property owners often need additional insurance to cover damage from tornadoes. Therefore, you do not need to purchase any special policies that only deal with tornado damage claims.
However, you may have other insurance gaps that you aren’t aware of and that require supplemental coverage. For example, those with especially high-value homes or older homes that may not be built to modern codes may require additional coverage. Similarly, if you own a business, you may need to add extra coverage to your policy to ensure you will be reimbursed for ruined inventory.
What Is Meant by “Bad Faith” Insurers Concerning Tornado Claims?
In Texas, if your insurance company unjustly denies, delays, underpays, or deceives you when it comes to paying your claim, they are said to be acting in bad faith. Common examples of an insurance company acting in bad faith include:
- Delaying claim investigations
- Purposefully undervaluing claims
- Denying a claim or delaying payment without a reason
- Intentionally misrepresenting policy coverage
- Refusing to settle a reasonable claim
- Threatening policyholders
- Making unreasonable demands of the policyholder
- Making lowball settlement offers
To successfully win a bad faith claim against an insurance company, you need to prove that the company purposefully acted in a manner that was either unreasonable or grossly negligent. Here’s an example:
Suppose a tornado came through and damaged your home’s roof. You report the damage to the insurance company. You receive a claim denial from the company, stating that the damage was due to normal wear and tear and not from the storm. However, an adjuster never came out to inspect the property.
Insurance companies may also engage in bad faith practices when they intentionally delay claims to avoid paying out. For example, if the company keeps requesting duplicate documentation or repeatedly “loses” the paperwork, this could be a bad-faith action.
If you believe that your insurance provider is purposefully trying to delay your claim, has missed deadlines, or is otherwise acting in bad faith, call the attorneys at Stormlex Law Group immediately to determine your legal options.
What Should I Do If I Think My Claim Has Been Undervalued?
Due to the high frequency of tornadoes in Texas, most homeowners and business owners carry some type of tornado insurance. Of course, tornadoes produce high winds, hail, and other property damage that is supposed to be covered through your insurance policy. These insurance policies are designed to assist you in rebuilding and making necessary repairs to your home, business, or property.
Even though you, as a policyholder, have been faithful in paying your insurance premiums repeatedly, these claims are often underpaid or completely denied. It is in your best interest not to accept a settlement for less than what your policy states.
If you believe that your insurance provider has acted in bad faith, contact the law offices of Stormlex Law Group and make an appointment to speak with a member of our legal team. We can explain your rights and legal options and how to best proceed with your potential case.
Why Should I Hire a San Antonio Tornado Damage Claim Attorney to Help Me?
Many people don’t realize that an attorney can help them with property damage claims, but having a lawyer on your side fighting for your rights and interests can be an incredible resource and reassurance as you dispute your claim. An attorney can review your policy and fight for the benefits you’re owed.
Property damage policies often involve negotiating with the insurance company to get a fair settlement for your repairs. When you work with an attorney, they can handle these talks for you so you can focus on the rest of your life while reaping the benefits of an experienced negotiator. An attorney can also help you get an independent expert damage assessment to fight undervalued claims and help you pursue litigation if an insurance company acts in bad faith.
If you feel that the insurance company has intentionally denied or underpaid your claim, you need a knowledgeable and experienced attorney who can fight to get fair compensation for your claim.
We are not afraid to go up against the insurance companies to recover adequate compensation for you to make repairs to your home or business. The attorneys at Stormlex Law Group are here to help you during this stressful time in your life. Contact us today by calling (877) 890-6372 and scheduling an appointment with an experienced property damage lawyer, today. We look forward to helping you in your time of need.