Even with proper preparations, a hurricane can do extensive damage to a commercial property in a startlingly short amount of time. As businesses and commercial property owners start cleaning up and assessing their losses, the seemingly endless costs of recovery can be staggering—and the costs could even threaten to close your doors for good.
Hurricanes Create Complicated Loss Events for Owners of Businesses and Commercial Properties
Hurricanes are powerful storms that can easily destroy entire towns, and even “minor” hurricanes can potentially leave expensive damages. To complicate the matter, the damages that result from a hurricane may go beyond the damage left by the storm itself. Commercial property owners may struggle to recover from:
- Damage from the storm. The heavy winds and rains associated with a hurricane can cause structural damage and more, and there is also a threat from flying debris and fallen trees. In addition, hurricanes may spawn accompanying tornados and strong storms that create further damage.
- Damage from flooding that follows a hurricane. Both heavy rains and rising storm-surge waters can create severe flooding conditions that destroy vehicles, structures, equipment, and interiors.
- Damage from vandals and looters in the aftermath. A hurricane can effectively shut down an entire city, leaving properties open to damage from thieves and vandals. Depending on the coverage you carry for your business, however, it may be possible recover compensation for these losses under your commercial insurance policy.
Insurance Companies Don’t Always Play Fair After
Hurricanes Cause Commercial Property Losses
Although your business faithfully pays its insurance premiums, insurance companies still sometimes fight paying the true worth of commercial hurricane claims—especially when large or densely populated areas are affected. If you need help calculating the extent of damages to your commercial property or fighting the insurance company after an unfair denial, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced hurricane insurance claim lawyers today.
For additional information, don’t forget to request your free copy of our book, Commercial Property Owners Must Read This Before Filing an Insurance Claim, which explains many common tricks, traps, and mistakes policyholders run into when pursuing commercial insurance claims.
