How to Resolve a Windstorm Insurance Claim Dispute

Insurers aren’t on your side. They don’t particularly want to pay for your claim. They may just want to pay you the smallest amount they’re legally obligated to pay, and then close your claim as quickly as possible.
We’re helping policyholders fight back. Here’s how windstorm insurance claims work – and how to resolve a tricky dispute.

How Windstorm Insurance Works

In some parts of the United States, a standard homeowners insurance policy includes wind coverage.

In other parts of the United States – like Texas, Florida, the Carolinas, and the Midwest – you need to buy extra windstorm insurance. Ordinary homeowners insurance policies in these regions don’t cover windstorm damage – like hurricanes. These areas of the country are the most prone to hurricanes and major windstorms.

Here’s how windstorm insurance works for ordinary homeowners:

• You buy windstorm insurance from your insurer before a storm. Your lender may require windstorm insurance. Or, you may choose to buy windstorm insurance to cover the added risk.
• A hurricane or windstorm damages your property. Strong winds might badly damage your roof, for example.
• After the storm, you secure your property and contact your insurer. Your insurer surveys the damage, then recommends the next steps – say, hiring an emergency contractor and getting a repair estimate. The insurer’s adjuster may also authorize emergency expenses – say, if your home is uninhabitable after the storm.
• Your insurer covers the cost of repairing or replacing your property to pre-loss condition. You pay your deductible, and your insurer covers the remaining costs.

Unfortunately, windstorm insurance claims don’t always go smoothly. In fact, insurers often face windstorm damage lawsuits because of claims disputes.

How to Resolve a Windstorm Insurance Claim Dispute

Is your insurer pushing back on your windstorm insurance claim? Did your insurer deny your claim or fail to cover specific parts of it?

In this case, you have a dispute. You want compensation for your windstorm damage, and your insurer is denying your request.

Here are the next steps to take to resolve a windstorm insurance claim dispute:

• Tell your insurer you’re unhappy with the outcome. You may not need to escalate the claim dispute immediately. Instead, tell your insurer you’re unhappy. Some insurers will re-evaluate your insurance claim or send a new adjuster to your property to oversee the claim.
• Review your policy and coverages. Insurers don’t deny claims for no reason; in many cases, they use exclusions in your policy to deny your claim. Review your policy and the specific language involving the claim you filed.
• Contact a public adjuster. If your insurer continues to push back on your windstorm insurance claim, then it may be time to hire a public adjuster. Public adjusters are licensed insurance industry professionals who know what insurers are looking for – and what they need to see to approve a claim. They know how to organize evidence, ensure you receive the payout you deserve, and fight for your right to receive the highest possible compensation.
• Contact your insurer’s complaints department. Most insurers have a department specifically for handling complaints. Insurers don’t approve all claims, and some homeowners get upset. Be prepared to send photos, videos, and other evidence to your insurer to back up your claim. The more evidence you can provide to support your case, the better your chances of succeeding.
• Check your arbitration clause. If your insurer is refusing to budge, check your policy once again for an arbitration or appraisal clause. Most policies have an arbitration clause for disputes, for example. Both parties hire an appraiser to re-evaluate the claim. Then, the two appraisers meet with a neutral arbitrator, who picks one side or the other. Once two of the three agree, the dispute can be resolved.
• Contact an attorney. Sometimes, you need to escalate windstorm insurance claim disputes to the highest possible level by contacting an attorney. An attorney can initiate legal action against the insurer. In many cases, attorneys work in tandem with public adjusters to help resolve a serious claim dispute.

Windstorm insurance claim disputes can be tricky. The steps above can help with the claim process, claim disputes, overturning a denied claim, and ensuring you receive the settlement you deserve.

How Public Adjusters Help with Insurance Claim Disputes

Many homeowners hire a public adjuster from the outset of an expensive claim. Others hire a public adjuster only after a dispute occurs.

Here are some of the ways in which public adjusters help with insurance claim disputes:

• Review your policy and your claim to ensure you’re receiving a payout for everything on your policy. Your insurance company may miss damage on your property, reducing your claim by thousands. Public adjusters work on your side to ensure you receive coverage for everything that should be covered.
• Manage your claim from start to finish. Public adjusters can oversee the repair and restoration process, organize contractors, and ensure your property is restored to pre-loss condition.
• Negotiate with the insurer on your behalf. Public adjusters approach the insurer with a fair compensation number based on the losses you incurred. Then, they fight to ensure you receive the highest possible payout. They negotiate on your behalf, behind the scenes, to maximize your settlement.
• Increase payout up to 200% to 300%. Public adjusters work on contingency. That means they don’t charge until the final settlement, at which point they charge a pre-arranged fee of the total settlement amount (typically between 5% and 20%, based on the public adjuster’s experience). Quite often, public adjusters increase claim settlements by 200% to 300%.
• Lend expert assistance at every step. Many public adjusters used to work for insurers before switching to “the other side.” Today, they lend their expertise at every step of the way, giving you the guidance you deserve for your claim.
• Speed up your claim. A severe windstorm could force you out of your home for months. Public adjusters can speed up the claim process, ensuring you receive a payout sooner. Instead of waiting months for insurance companies to grind through your claim, you could get bumped to the front of the line.

Get a No-Cost Consultation with ClaimsMate Today

ClaimsMate has public adjusters specializing in windstorm insurance claims – including public adjusters with decades of experience managing claims for homes across coastal Texas and the southeastern United States.

Contact ClaimsMate today for a no-cost consultation with a public adjuster specializing in windstorm insurance claims.

Stephanie Corona

Stephanie is a property insurance claim expert with over 20 years of experience working as an insurance adjuster, expert witness, appraiser and umpire. She is passionate about sharing her expertise, knowledge, tips and training to help both property owners and Public Adjusters in their pursuit of effectively managing claims and recovering the claim settlement they deserve after a loss.