A major storm can damage multiple parts of a property at once.
There may be wind damage to the roof, siding, windows, fencing, and exterior structures. Water may enter through storm-created openings and damage ceilings, drywall, flooring, cabinetry, furniture, electronics, and other property. Families may need temporary housing, and businesses may face interruptions or additional operating expenses.
That makes hurricane claims particularly vulnerable to disputes over cause, scope, and cost.
The insurance company may attribute roof damage to age or wear, dispute whether wind created the opening that allowed water inside, estimate for limited repairs instead of replacement, or leave portions of the loss out of the estimate entirely.
We review the property damage, policy, inspection findings, estimates, photographs, and available storm information to determine whether the full loss has been properly evaluated.
Common Issues in Hurricane and Tropical Storm Claims
Wind versus pre-existing damage. The insurance company may attribute damaged roofing, siding, or other building components to age, deterioration, installation problems, or conditions that existed before the storm. Photographs, inspection findings, maintenance history, and storm evidence can become important.
Wind versus flood. A hurricane can produce both wind-driven damage and flooding, and those causes may involve different coverage. Determining how water entered the property and what damage resulted from each cause can be one of the most important parts of the claim.
An incomplete repair scope. An estimate may address the roof while overlooking interior water damage, fencing, screen enclosures, detached structures, contents, code-related work, or additional living expenses.
Repair versus replacement disputes. The insurance company may estimate for limited repairs when a contractor or other professional believes more extensive replacement is necessary. The answer can depend on the condition of the property, the feasibility of repair, applicable requirements, and the policy.
Deductible issues. Hurricane and windstorm deductibles may differ from the deductible that applies to other types of losses. We review the policy and the insurance company’s calculation to determine what deductible applies to the claim.
Notice and claim deadlines. Hurricane claims can be subject to policy requirements and state-law deadlines. Waiting too long to report damage, provide required information, or challenge a claim decision can affect your rights.
How We Review a Hurricane Claim
We start by looking at the entire property, not just the most obvious area of storm damage.
That may include photographs of each roof slope and exterior elevation, interior damage, moisture readings, contractor estimates, engineering reports, repair invoices, contents documentation, and the insurance company’s inspection findings.
When causation is disputed, we review the evidence supporting the insurance company’s position and compare it with the physical condition of the property and available storm information.
We also examine the scope of the estimate. A hurricane loss may involve roofing, siding, windows, interiors, contents, detached structures, debris removal, code-related work, temporary repairs, and additional living or operating expenses.
The goal is to determine whether the insurance company identified the correct cause of the damage and accounted for the full scope of covered loss.