They said the leak wasn’t covered under my policy. But why didn’t they fix it? And how can I get my roof fixed? My Insurance Company Denied My Roof Claim after hailstorm damage caused leaks in my home, leaving me with buckets and towels to catch rainwater. Here’s how to get your insurance company to fix your roof after hail damage and what to do if they refuse to pay for your roof repairs.
What happens after you file an insurance claim
When you file a claim with your insurance company, they’ll send out a representative to assess whether or not your damage qualifies for coverage. If you’re filing a claim for hail damage to your roof, for example, an insurance adjuster will climb on top of your roof and assess whether or not there is any serious structural damage. Insurance adjusters typically have pictures of roofs that show what is and isn’t covered by insurance in order to make sure they don’t miss anything while they’re up there. However, in many cases adjusters are relying on their experience when assessing claims—so even if it seems obvious that something should be covered by an Insurance Company Denied My Roof Claim policy, such as hail damage to a roof—it’s possible it will get denied anyway. Insurance companies need to make money somehow! So don’t be too surprised if your roof repair gets denied. In fact, check out our other post about common reasons insurance claims get denied so you can avoid them. There’s also a chance that your insurance provider has deemed your home high risk because it’s been flooded before or because of poor construction techniques (such as single-layer shingles). This can mean high rates, but more importantly means that any time there is flooding in your area—even if only one inch fell—your insurance provider might deny all flood-related claims until they deem you low risk again. So even though a small amount of water might not seem like much, never underestimate how much havoc Mother Nature can wreak on an unprotected house!
When will I get paid?
Unless you have an emergency that requires a roofing contractor ASAP, it’s generally not smart to hire someone to make repairs until your claim has been approved. Your Insurance Company Denied My Roof Claim should pay for damages related to falling ice or snow within 24 hours of receiving your claim. Wind and fire damage is different, though. Insurance companies can take up to 15 business days from when they receive a claim in order to make their final decision, as they may need time to investigate further. If payment isn’t received after 15 days, you should call your insurance company and ask what’s going on with your claim or if they need additional information. If you’ve already submitted everything they’ve requested and still haven’t heard back, it might be worth calling another insurance provider. The best way to avoid delays: The best way to ensure that your insurance company will pay out quickly is by staying organized throughout the process. Make sure all paperwork gets sent back immediately—don’t wait a few weeks before sending in receipts or documentation. Also, if there are any witnesses who saw what happened (like neighbors), get their contact info so you can give them to your insurance adjuster right away (or at least jot down their names). You’ll also want to take photos of anything damaged as soon as possible—before cleaning up any debris—so you have proof of how bad things were before getting repairs started.
How much will my check be?
The first question you should ask yourself, however, is how much will my check be? You can probably expect to receive somewhere between 15 and 30 percent of your home’s market value. Insurance companies rarely go over 30 percent; even if they wanted to give you more money, most states have laws that cap insurance claims. In any case, it’s always a good idea to speak with an Insurance Company Denied My Roof Claim adjuster before filing a claim just in case there are factors that might lower your check or reduce coverage in some way. Every state is different so make sure you know what works where you live before filing a roofing claim against your homeowners policy. If you’re curious about other types of insurance-claim questions then check out our guides on earthquake damage insurance claims and life insurance policies.
Do I need to file a lawsuit?
If your insurance company denied your claim, there’s a good chance you’re angry. You may be thinking about just throwing in the towel, writing it off as a loss and moving on. But think twice before giving up that easily: insurance companies have all kinds of tactics for denying claims—not always for legitimate reasons—and you might be able to successfully file a lawsuit to get what you deserve. Consider consulting with an attorney first. They can help you determine whether or not filing a lawsuit is right for your situation.
Who will fix the problem?
To avoid getting into situations where your insurance company denies a roof claim, you should make sure you understand exactly what your policy covers. Insurance Company Denied My Roof Claim policies vary from company to company, so it’s important that you understand what is and isn’t covered before signing on any dotted lines. Also, if an event happens that could potentially cause damage—such as storm or hail—you need to be able to contact someone who will fix things. The best way to do that is by finding a licensed contractor near you who knows how to handle these issues in your area. If you don’t have a relationship with one already, consider asking family members for recommendations. If no one comes to mind, ask your insurance agent for suggestions. Once you find a couple of names, call each one up and ask about their experience with roofs (and dealing with insurance companies). You can also search online reviews and read testimonials to get more insight into contractors’ work ethic. Once you’ve found some good candidates, interview them face-to-face or over Skype (if they’re not local). This will give you even more insight into their abilities—as well as their personality—so that when disaster strikes, at least one person on your team will be prepared to help!