The Dallas-Fort Worth Area is no stranger to storms. The region is often at the center of large thunderstorms, including regular hailstorms. Even though this area regularly receives extreme weather, little could have prepared Dallas for the hailstorm that swept through the city last June. For many commercial property owners, delayed, underpaid, or outright denied insurance claims remain a constant reminder of the storm.
In the early morning hours of June 6, 2018, a severe thunderstorm swept through the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. The storm split right over Collin County, Texas, and the westernmost cell moved south-southwestward. The cell dropped large hail stones from southeast Denton County into northwest Dallas County and eastern Tarrant County until it finally reached Arlington, Texas. The storm was so loud that many Dallas-Fort Worth residents mistook the pounding hail for intruders or gunshots.
While some areas only saw hail the size of half an inch in diameter, hail the size of tennis balls was reported just east of Arlington. Overall, an estimated 20,000 structures were damaged in the storm. Unfortunately for property owners, insurance companies are utilizing a variety of bad faith tactics to reduce or completely deny valid claims.
Hail Damage Insurance Denials
Anytime there is a natural disaster or extreme weather event, insurance companies stand to lose a lot of money. Insurance companies are first and foremost a business, so when faced with large-scale disasters, they do anything they can to limit payouts. Some of the bad faith tactics insurance companies use to wrongfully deny valid property damage claims include:
- Blaming the damage on inadequate maintenance
- Wrongly claiming the amount of damage is less than the deductible
- Misinterpreting the policy to claim the damage isn’t covered when in fact it is
What Property Owners Can Do
If you regularly pay your premium, you deserve full coverage under your policy. If your insurance company is delaying, underpaying, or outright denying your claim, Raizner Law can help. Our experienced insurance lawyers take on large insurance companies to get our clients what they are rightfully owed under their policies. If you suffered damage during the Dallas hail storm and your claim has been denied, contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
