Wind damage from hurricanes and severe storms can cause significant damage to roofs, interior damage from wind created openings, siding, fences, and other structures on the property. While most homeowners’ insurance policies include wind damage coverage, the extent of protection varies, and some policies may have separate hurricane deductibles or exclusions for high-wind events. The specific terms of your policy – including coverage limits, exclusions, and deductible requirements – will determine what expenses may be covered and what compensation you are entitled to receive.
At Vishio, Watkins & Forry, PLLC, we represent property owners who have suffered wind damage in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Florida, and throughout all 50 states. When you speak to an insurance attorney at our firm, you can trust that they are highly trained and qualified to help you. We worked as attorneys for insurance companies in the past, and have successfully resolved thousands of these claims, so we are very aware of the strategies they use to deny or undervalue claims, and we have the experience to effectively advocate for policyholders to obtain the fair recovery they deserve. Schedule a consultation today.
Assessing Wind-Damaged Properties
Tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and other high-wind events can compromise the stability of a property and cause serious damage:
- Exterior Damage: High winds can cause significant harm to a property’s exterior, including broken or cracked windows and window jambs, damaged doors, missing roof shingles or tiles, and dents or cracks in the siding. Such damage can expose the interior to further weather-related issues.
- Roofing: Strong wind events can tear off shingles, crack or displace roofing tiles, create leaks, or cause other roof damages that may lead to water intrusion, compromising the structural integrity of the building.
- Structural Integrity: In some cases, high winds can potentially compromise the integrity of a house or other structures by shifting walls, beams, or even the foundation, leading to significant safety concerns.
- Secondary Damage: High winds can bring down trees, break fences, and damage landscaping, which may impact your property’s structure or accessibility, leading to additional repair costs.
While most homeowners’ insurance policies include coverage for wind damage, securing the full benefits you are entitled to is not always straightforward. It is common knowledge that insurance companies prioritize their financial interests and may attempt to minimize payouts by disputing the extent of the damage, claiming it was pre-existing, or arguing that certain repairs fall outside your policy’s coverage or are excessive in amounts. These tactics can leave homeowners frustrated and under-compensated after a storm.
An experienced insurance claim attorney can provide strategic guidance throughout the claims process. We handle negotiations, policy disputes, invoke alternative dispute resolution procedures when applicable, and even handle appeals, if necessary, protecting your rights and helping you pursue the maximum compensation allowed under your policy and state law.
Why Wind Damage Claims Face Denials or Delays
While many wind damage claims are routine, some encounter delays, denials, and disputes that complicate the process.
Common areas of contention include:
Cause of Damage
An insurer may argue the damage resulted from something other than wind, such as wear and tear, poor maintenance, “foot traffic”, or even weather damage, like heavy rains or hail.
An attorney can counter this argument by presenting expert assessments, weather-related data, and forensic engineering reports that clearly link the damage to high winds rather than pre-existing conditions or other weather events.
Wind Damage Exclusions
Homeowners’ insurance policies often contain specific exclusions and limitations regarding wind damage. For instance, some policies impose deductibles for named storms or exclude damage caused by wind-driven rain. In areas prone to hurricanes, insurers may require separate windstorm coverage or apply higher deductibles for wind-related claims.
An experienced insurance claim attorney can meticulously review your policy to identify and challenge ambiguous exclusions and rebut the improper use of exclusions by insurance companies. An experienced insurance claim attorney can advocate for broader interpretations that favor the insured and reference legal precedents to contest unfair claim denials based on technicalities. Our attorneys are adept at analyzing policy language and can effectively dispute unjust exclusions to help you receive the coverage you’re entitled to.
Valuation of Repairs
Insurance companies and policyholders may disagree on the necessary repairs, with insurers opting for cheaper fixes, using inferior, outdated or non-matching materials, while homeowners seek more extensive repairs.
An attorney can obtain independent contractor estimates, highlight building code requirements, and demonstrate how partial repairs would fail to restore the home to its pre-loss condition, strengthening the case for full coverage.
Documentation and Reporting
In some cases, an insurance company will argue that there is insufficient documentation (such as photographs or detailed repair estimates) supporting the claim. An attorney can argue that reasonable efforts were made to document damage and that insurers have a duty to conduct their own thorough (and fair) investigations rather than rely solely on the homeowner’s evidence.
Every situation is unique. No matter the reason your insurance company has given for delaying or denying your claim, we have the experience and resources to present compelling arguments that strengthen your case. We have handled many hurricane damage claims and other insurance issues and disputes involving wind damage on behalf of our clients and, most importantly, we have access to our own forensic experts and the financial resources to take on insurance companies.
Contact Vishio, Watkins & Forry, PLLC for a Consultation
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Unlike many higher-cost law firms, we often match or beat the rates of public adjusters—while offering a broader range of legal options to resolve your claim.
Our team includes professional estimators and engineers who accurately assess the full extent of your losses. Unlike public adjusters, our lawyers have the legal authority to represent clients in Examinations Under Oath (EUOs) and draft and file Civil Remedies Notices (CRNs). Most significantly, if your insurance company fails to meet its contractual obligations, we are fully prepared to take legal action on your behalf. In fact, we frequently work with public adjusters and they often turn to us when negotiations stall or if they are unable to trigger an appraisal.
Contact us today to request a consultation.
