Residential Roof Damage Claims
The roof of a home is vulnerable to weather and other damage. Natural events like hurricanes, tropical storms, hail and tornadoes can cause costly damage to a roof. Failing to repair a damaged roof can lead to water-logging and other water-related damage throughout the home.
Most roof damage is covered by homeowner’s insurance, though you may find your provider is going to great lengths to limit their liability. Rather than deal with your insurance company on your own, let an insurance attorney carry the burden for you.
Texas Residential Roof Damage Insurance Attorney
Is your adjuster unwilling to negotiate a greater settlement? Do you believe your rights as a policyholder have been violated? The insurance attorneys at LeMaster Law Firm are proven insurance litigators with more than three decades of combined experience. They will use this experience to your advantage and fight to ensure you receive the best settlement possible for your
damage claim.
Call 832-356-7983 to schedule a consultation. We assist clients in across the state of Texas. Our firm is based in
The Woodlands and Laredo, however we represent clients throughout the greater Houston area including:
Montgomery County,
Harris County,
Galveston County, and
Webb County.
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Thunderstorms, hail storms, hurricanes and fallen trees can cause great damage to your roof. It is vital you document damage to your roof as soon as you become aware of it. Make sure you take photos. If you take them with your phone, there will usually be a meta tag that can be used as evidence of the date.
Be very thorough when looking for damage. If anything is left out of the claim, it will not be repaired. Things to look for when reviewing a roof for damage include:
- Large holes
- Separated or uplifted nails
- Missing or broken shingles
- Interior leaks
- Lifted roof membranes
- Broken Trusses
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H
omeowner’s insurance may cover roof damage, depending on what caused the damage. Damage caused by a fallen tree, for instance, may be covered by your policy. Wind, hurricane and hail damage, however, may not be covered by a standard policy if you live along the Gulf Coast.
That being said, roof damage caused by
wind,
hurricane and
hail damage should be covered by a standard policy if you live beyond the Gulf. Homeowner’s along the Gulf with added protection for such perils will also be protected. In addition to the roof, homeowner’s insurance should also cover the contents of your home that were damaged as a result of the roof damage.
The roof on unattached structures like barns and detached garages are typically not covered by a home policy. However, these damaged structures can be protected by another structural protection policy.
Homeowner’s insurance generally will not cover damage resulting from wear and tear or lack of maintenance. So, if the roof is determined to be old, or if unresolved maintenance is to blame, your insurance provider will likely not pay to repair the damage citing these issues.
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Your insurance provider owes you the duty of good faith. They are required to be fair and honest when dealing with your claim. Any insurance company that acts in bad faith when handling a claim is violating the law and can be sued in civil court.
Bad faith insurance practices can range from denying a claim without conducting a reasonable investigation to failing to accept or deny a claim within a reasonable time. Other situations that may warrant litigation include:
- Failing to provide a prompt fair and equitable settlement
- Misrepresenting policy information relating to the claim
- Failing to provide a reasonable explanation for a denied claim
- Refusing or unreasonably delaying a settlement on the basis that other coverage may be available or a third-party is responsible for the damage
- Refusing to pay a claim because of a claimant’s race, gender, religion or other characteristics
It’s advised you contact legal representation immediately if you believe your insurance company has violated your rights. You may be eligible for compensation up to three times the amount of your claim, attorney fees and other damages deemed appropriate by the court.
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Homeowners Insurance | Texas Department of Insurance – Visit the official website of the Texas Department of Insurance to read more on homeowner’s insurance. By following the link, you can find information on perils covered by a home policy, the different types of homeowner’s coverage and the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value coverage. The Texas Department of Insurance is responsible for regulating insurance in Texas.
Unfair Settlement Practices | Texas Insurance Code – Follow the link provided to read the chapter of the Insurance Code governing bad faith acts. You can gain access to a complete list of bad faith practices in section 541.060 and also learn about hearing procedures. The statute can be read on the Texas Constitution and Statutes website.
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Contact an insurance lawyer if you are having a difficult time achieving the settlement you need. The attorneys at LeMaster Law Firm are well aware of the tactics used by insurance companies to limit their liability. As your legal counsel, we will guide you through the claims process and do our very best to ensure your insurance company does not take advantage of you.
Call 832-356-7983 to schedule a consultation with LeMaster Law Firm. LeMaster Law Firm accepts clients throughout the state of Texas such as the greater Houston area including Conroe, Magnolia, The Woodlands, Spring, Cypress, Sugar Land, Katy, Pasadena, League City, Galveston, and Laredo.
