Hail storms are an unfortunate downside of living in Texas. But while hail itself is a necessary evil of living in the Lone Star state, that doesn’t mean you should have to settle for less than fair payment for hail damage to your home. Insurance providers can be reluctant to pay out for damage done by storms and weather, but there are a few things you can do to strengthen your claim.
Do’s and Don’ts of Collecting Payment for Texas Hail Storm Damage to Your House
The first thing you should do after your home has been damaged is read through your entire insurance policy. It is important to understand what is covered, but also what specifically is not covered. If you don’t understand portions of your policy, you should call your provider and have an insurance adjuster explain them until you do.
After you have located and read through your policy, you should follow these steps to increase to odds that your claim will be approved:
- DO report your claim as soon as possible. Notify your insurance company of the damage to your home in writing (by mail, fax, or email) as soon as you can. You do not need to estimate the dollar amount of damage or send evidence in your first notification. When you receive a response, be sure to write down your claim number.
- DON’T destroy the evidence. While it’s understandable that you would want to throw away damaged and ruined items and repair your home, your insurance company will need a clear picture of what you have lost to provide payment. If hail damaged your roof and led to flooding in one room of your home, take pictures of all of the ruined items and keep them in a safe place. Make a list of all the damages to the building, rooms, and contents of your home, and estimate the dollar value of each one. Do this even if the insurance adjuster comes out immediately to view the damage.
- DO mitigate the damage. Homeowners policies may cover the damage done by hail, but not any damage that could have been prevented afterward. If hail has broken a window, take pictures of the entire area and place a tarp or sufficient covering over the hole. Do not perform any permanent repairs until your adjuster has viewed the damage.
If your homeowner’s insurance provider is attempting to deny or underpay your hail damage claim, we can help. Contact our experienced policyholder attorneys today or learn more about your case in our free book, Your Essential Guide to Residential Claims.
