Property Damaged In A Texas Weather Event? Ensure You Collect From Insurers
The thought of wind sweeping along the Texas Gulf Coast and into the plains beyond can be all at once romantic and moving. Even so, there’s nothing romantic about the type of storm damage that often accompanies the powerful winds along the Gulf Coast and throughout Texas.
With spring storm season upon us, widespread wind and storm damage has been reported in Texas. For instance, storms that took place on April 3 alone accounted for more than $300 million in damage, according to estimates from the Insurance Council of Texas. If you have suffered a loss from a windstorm and may be filing an insurance claim, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Insurance Providers May Have Incentives To Deny Or Undervalue Claims
Whether you own a home, a business or both, you likely have insurance coverage for property damage. In Texas, wind damage is so common that some private insurance providers decline to offer windstorm coverage in certain areas. However, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, created by the state legislature, is available to provide windstorm and hail insurance coverage to people who cannot get coverage in the voluntary insurance marketplace.
The same principles apply to privately established insurance providers as any other business, and profit can be a powerful motivator. The less an insurance company pays out, the greater its revenue. In the windstorm context, it can be particularly easy for insurers to wrongfully deny or undervalue claims, as there is often a knowledge imbalance between insured and insurer. Your insurance company likely knows that windstorms frequently cause damage that is difficult to detect with the naked eye, like lifted shingles or creating water deposits between walls, but this type of damage might not be readily apparent to you.
A Texas Property Insurance Lawyer Can Help You Get The Full, Fair Payout You Deserve
Getting things back to their original condition after a major windstorm can be difficult and expensive. According to a CBS news interview with a Germania Insurance Director, even something as simple as removing a downed tree can cost as much as $1,000.
To get your home or business restored, you need a full and fair payout from your insurer. An experienced Texas property insurance attorney can ensure you collect everything you are entitled to under your policy from recalcitrant insurers; you may even be entitled to additional monetary damages in instances of egregious claim denials. Talk to a Texas property insurance lawyer today if your home or business has been damaged in a windstorm.