Spring is here and with it comes tornado season. Unfortunately, tornadoes can create massive destruction—destroying homes, businesses, retail stores, warehouses, and gas stations that get in the way. When you own a home or business that has been damaged by powerful tornado winds, you may want to focus on three things:
- Securing your property following the storm, if it’s not a complete loss.
- Picking up the pieces and getting your family life or business back to normal.
- Getting a fair financial recovery from the insurance company.
Insurance and Property Damages
When a tornado occurs, people across the nation hear about it on the television, radio, or Internet, which means insurers should also be aware of the catastrophic damages. So why is it that insurance companies still attempt to deny or underpay tornado damage claims to those who have just lived through a traumatic event?
Insurance companies want to settle claims for as little as possible, often just a fraction of what they are really worth, in order to maximize their profit. So they try to see if they can get away with paying less than fair value on tornado claims and other weather-related property damage claims. It doesn’t seem fair, especially since homeowners and business owners pay expensive insurance premiums, but insurance companies are in business to make profits.
Knowing this information can help you when dealing with the insurance company, even if the insurance adjuster seems sympathetic. Most likely you will need to negotiate and fight to get the money you deserve. For many people, it is too overwhelming to deal with the insurance company on their own and fight to get a fair settlement, which is why many people accept what the insurer offers them.
As tornado insurance claim attorneys, we urge you to speak with us before accepting the first offer from the insurance company. We work with engineers, roof experts, meteorologists, and other professionals to help get the successful results you are looking for. Sometimes, the insurance company may only want to replace your broken roof shingles, but your decking may have been damaged in the storm as well. We look beyond the surface and make sure you get adequate compensation for your tornado property damage claim.
The Voss Law Firm can help you get a fair recovery following tornado property damages. Call to speak with a qualified insurance claim litigation attorney at 888-614-7730 and request a free copy of our book Disputes with Your Insurance Company: What All Consumers Need to Know.
