Williams Law, P.A., provides experienced, aggressive representation when insurance companies refuse to deal with you fairly after your roof is damaged in Florida. You likely purchased your home or business insurance policy to cover damages like this, but insurance carriers will look for reasons to deny or underpay your roof damage claims.
Since 1995, firm founder K.C. Williams has focused on helping clients receive fair treatment from their insurance carriers. Today, our lawyers provide experienced, aggressive representation with offices in Tampa, Brandon and New Port Richey.
Help Receiving Proper Compensation For Roof Damages
Roof damage can be difficult to detect because the damage may not be immediately visible, especially from below. We can help you with:
- Claims for damages from falling trees
- Hail damage claims
- Storm damage claims
- Hurricane and wind damage claims
- Claims relating to shoddy work products
You must report roof damage to your insurance company right away. If your insurance carrier denies your claim or offers you a settlement that you believe is too low, our law firm can help ensure that you receive proper compensation for your claim.
How to File a Roof Damage Insurance Claim
Before you touch or move anything, take photographs of the damage to your roof. Get a roofing professional to take the photographs and videos for you. Do not throw any damaged roof tiles or materials away. Once you have documented the damage, take steps to prevent further property destruction. If the damage to your roof caused a leak or hole, for example, patch it with a tarp to prevent water damage. If you do not take steps to reasonably prevent further property damages, your insurance company could deny your claim.
Read over the terms of your homeowners insurance policy to find out if it covers roof damages. Then, call your insurer. Most companies will only cover the costs of roof repairs if you report the damage right away. Explain what you believe happened but do not admit any fault for causing or contributing to the roof damage. Follow the agent’s directions for filing a claim. Next, hire a professional to assess the value of your roof damages and to give you an estimate of repairs. Hiring your own appraiser can give you an accurate idea of what your claim is worth before hearing the insurance company’s settlement offer.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Damage?
Upon filing your roof damage claim, the insurance company will assign an adjuster to your case. The claims adjuster may visit your home for an in-person evaluation of the roof. Once the adjuster reviews the facts, he or she will submit a recommendation to the company whether or not to accept your claim. Most homeowners insurance policies include dwelling coverage that will protect your roofing system from certain covered perils.
- Storm damage
- Wind and hail damage
- Tree limb damage
- Storm debris
- Fire damage
In general, a homeowners insurance policy will not cover roof damage that stems from the homeowner’s negligence. If you failed to replace your roof after the recommended date, for example, and it sprung a leak, your insurance company may not pay to repair your damaged property or replace your roof. The roof damage typically must result from a sudden and unexpected disaster to qualify for homeowners insurance coverage.
If the insurance company accepts your claim, you could receive a settlement offer meant to cover the costs to repair or replace your roof and repair any related damaged property, such as water-damaged furniture from a roof leak. You have the power to negotiate your settlement with the insurance carrier for an amount you believe is fair and reasonable. Our lawyers can help you with negotiations, if necessary. If the insurance company denies your claim, your lawyer can tell you what to do next.
What If the Insurance Company Denies Your Claim?
It is not uncommon for an insurance company to deny a roof damage claim. Common reasons for denials include coverage gaps, missed premium payments, lack of coverage, and policy exclusions. Some denials are valid, forcing homeowners to seek restitution elsewhere or pay for repairs out of pocket. Others, however, are unfounded.
You might be the victim of an invalid roof damage claim denial if the insurance adjuster overlooked a detail during his or her review of your case. Adjusters are often busy and can make mistakes. Contesting the insurance company’s decision and requesting a reevaluation could lead to a different answer in this case.
In other cases, however, the adjuster might intentionally deny a valid claim to help the insurance company profit. Insurance companies always wish to protect their investors and save them money. This could lead to bad faith insurance practices such as denying a valid claim, delaying the claims process and offering lowball settlements.
If you suspect insurance bad faith during your roof damage claim, contact Williams Law, P.A. for a free review. Insurance bad faith could give you the right to file a lawsuit against the insurance company for compensation. Our attorneys may be able to help you secure damages for your roof repairs as well as additional fees to penalize the insurer.
Thorough Representation For Roof Insurance Claims
We will thoroughly investigate your claim and bring our own roofing experts to assess the damage. We can help make sure you are compensated for your damages, whether the repairs involve patching or replacing damaged shingles, new shingles, or a total roof replacement. We can also help you obtain compensation for damaged property and water damages if your roof leaks.
If you incur roof damage at your business, Williams Law, P.A., can help you with business interruption claims.
Has Your Home Insurance Company Denied Or Undervalued Your Property Damage Claim In Florida?
If your insurance company is dragging their feet regarding your property damage claim you should speak with an experienced insurance claim lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Tampa, Florida law office directly at 800.451.6786 to schedule your free consultation. We help Florida residents just like you fight the big insurance companies who fail to abide by their own policies. Remember, we work on a contingent basis, meaning you don't pay us anything until we win your case.
