The destructive power of tornados is felt in almost every region of the United States, and the owners of condominium properties and individual units usually face a complicated aftermath. Different types of condo losses may be covered under policies held by unit owners, condominium associations, and other property owners, and it isn’t easy to sort out the details when buildings have been leveled or extensively damaged in a tornado.
Why Tornado Damage Insurance Claims Create Complications for Condominium Owners
After a tornado touches down in an area, affected condo owners might assume that they will be able to come to swift agreement with the other interested parties and the insurance company. Sadly, that doesn’t always happen. Condo insurance claims for tornado damage are often very confusing for policyholders because:
- There may be multiple claims that must be filed for tornado damage from the same storm. These might include claims for different kinds of damage or those covered under different insurance policies. When a tornado damages a condominium, there are often a number of different claims from different parties—all for the same storm and the same property!
- Local or federal aid may be available for some condo owners when a severe tornado affects a large area. While this can be an important resource for condo owners attempting to recover, the addition of these aid options adds another layer of complication to their tornado claims.
- Unfair denials and setbacks aren’t uncommon in claims for tornado-related condo damage. When major weather events affect multiple properties in a region, insurance companies may try to minimize their costs by making it difficult for policyholders to resolve claims for their full value.
While you hope the insurance company and other policyholders will cooperate with you to resolve a tornado damage claim, you may have to face the fact that some condo owners are disappointed by the snags and traps they run into after tornado losses. Get informed about your rights as a policyholder by reading through our free book, Disputes With Your Insurance Company: What All Consumers Need to Know, or contact our experienced tornado insurance claim lawyers directly for immediate assistance with tornado claims.
Related Links: |