Be Prepared for Unexpected Damages and Complicated Claims for Your Home After a Windstorm

Severe windstorms can cause tornado-like damage to homes, and many homeowners find themselves overwhelmed with the destruction that can be caused by strong winds, even when a tornado or hurricane isn’t present. While you might expect strong winds to cause damage to roofing or uproot trees, the truth is that the damage from a windstorm can be far more extensive—and it sometimes includes complications and losses that you probably wouldn’t predict.

Complicated and Unexpected Losses After Wind Damage to a Home

Some windstorm damages make immediate sense—a strong gust could obviously lift roofing materials or knock down loose branches. However, a large portion of the damage reported after severe windstorms also includes indirect and less-obvious losses from:

• Lightning strikes and electrical damage
• Damage from flying debris
• Fires
• Broken pipes and gas leaks
• Water damage from damaged roofing or broken windows
• Foundation damage and full or partial structural collapses

These kinds of complicated damages can mean that policyholders often run into confusion about covered and non-covered losses, and many are unable to get the thorough assessments they need to prove and claim the full extent of their damages. Additionally, since windstorms often affect an entire region, insurance companies may be especially interested in minimizing homeowner claims for losses.

Delays, Denials, and Underpayments Keep Homeowners From Recovering After Windstorms

Windstorms are responsible for a number of damages, both direct and indirect. For many homeowners, this combination of losses can create major headaches when filing insurance claims, and it’s not uncommon for claims to be denied outright, mysteriously delayed, or only partially paid.

If you are having trouble getting the insurance payments you need to recover from storm damage, it’s time to even the playing field by contacting an experienced policyholder attorney who can help you fight for what you deserve. For more information, contact our policyholder attorneys directly, or request your free copy of our important book, Your Essential Guide to Residential Claims.