Tag: Hail Damage

DFW Hailstorm

DFW Hailstorm Caused An Estimated $1 Billion In Insured Losses

Posted by Amy Hargis on

On June 6, a massive hailstorm swept through the Dallas-Fort Worth area causing damage to thousands of homes and businesses. In the weeks since the storm, property owners have been working diligently to get repairs underway, but it won’t be a quick process. The Insurance Council of Texas reported the hail damaged an estimated 20,000 properties.

While some areas only received small sized hail, golf-ball and baseball-sized hail rocked through Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton Counties. According to Boston-based catastrophe modeler Karen Clark & Co., the June 6 hailstorm caused nearly $1 billion in insured damages. Damage was most significant for roofs, windows, skylights, solar panels, HVAC systems, satellite dishes, and any other equipment located on the roof.

For most property owners, hail damage is a covered loss under their insurance policies; however, that doesn’t mean insurance companies will be quick to pay out. Natural disasters like the June 6 hailstorm present huge losses for insurance companies. These companies often do everything in their power to minimize paying out on claims. There are various bad faith tactics insurance companies use to minimize or deny claims, but the most common tactics include:

  • Blaming covered damage on inadequate maintenance to the property
  • Blaming covered damage on regular wear and tear to the property
  • Wrongly claiming some damage is not covered under the policy when in fact it is
  • Failing to provide an estimate of damages to the insured
  • Failing to engage appropriate experts to evaluate damage
  • Causing unnecessary delays

Don’t Face The Insurance Company Alone

If you own commercial property, you can’t afford to go back and forth with the insurance company only to get a fraction of what repairs will cost. To get full compensation under your policy, you need to speak with an experienced insurance attorney who can hold the insurance company responsible.

At Raizner Slania LLP, our lawyers have earned nationwide recognition for helping policyholders fight for their rightful claims against insurance companies that operate in bad faith. Please contact us today for a free initial consultation. We handle all bad faith insurance cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay attorney’s fees unless we help you recover on your claim.

Commercial Property Hail Damage Lawyers

Hailstorm Devastates DFW Area

Posted by Amy Hargis on

For most people, last Wednesday, June 6th was pretty unremarkable. Unfortunately for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the early morning was marked by a catastrophic hailstorm. Many places in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and North Texas suffered hail damage, including the cities of Coppell, Carrollton, Arlington, Irving, Frisco, and Farmers Branch.

The storm caused widespread damage and turned severe just after midnight. At 12:30 a.m., the National Weather Service released warnings for portions of Denton and Collin Counties. The storm continued to move southwest, moving through the Dallas-Fort Worth area dumping large chunks of hail along the way. Early Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service recorded wind gusts at DFW airport at 59 miles per hour.

The reports of hail size varied from 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter in places like southeast Arlington to softball-sized hail in parts of Coppell and Carrollton. For property owners, even small pieces of hail can cause serious damage. Hail can damage roofs, creating openings for rainfall that damage interiors. Hail can also damage other building components like HVAC systems, which can require costly repairs.

Filing A Commercial Property Hail Damage Claim

While most commercial property owners have insurance policies to protect against hail damage, it’s important to understand how insurance companies might try to minimize paying out on claims. Storms like the one that caused widespread damage in the DFW area cost insurance companies millions. To avoid paying out, insurance companies might use a variety of bad faith tactics. Oftentimes insurance companies will claim the damage to a property is just regular wear and tear or due to inadequate maintenance. Other times insurance companies will misrepresent the terms of their policies, claiming certain hail damage isn’t covered when in fact it is. For commercial property owners, talking to an experienced bad faith insurance lawyer can help make sure you get what you are rightfully entitled to under your policy.

Commercial Property Hail Damage Lawyers

When policyholders regularly pay their insurance premiums, they deserve full coverage under their policies. At Raizner Slania LLP, we have extensive experience taking on large insurance companies and obtaining successful outcomes for our clients. Call one of our commercial property hail damage lawyers today for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Waxahachie Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers

Waxahachie Hotel Owner Files Hail Damage Insurance Lawsuit

Posted by Andrew Slania on

Raizner Slania LLP has filed a hail damage insurance lawsuit on behalf of a Waxahachie hotel owner against AmGUARD Insurance Company after its insurance claim was wrongfully denied.

February 2017 Hailstorms 

The plaintiff filed a hail damage insurance claim with AmGUARD after discovering extensive hail damage due to Texas hailstorms in February 2017. Portions of the property’s roof were damaged, causing storm created openings that further damaged the interiors of the property. Additionally, the HVAC systems, windows, and other portions of the property were severely damaged.

In response to the claim, AmGUARD assigned an internal adjuster who inspected the property and prepared an estimate documenting $144,073.53 in covered damages. However, several weeks later the plaintiff was notified the adjuster was being removed from the claim, and the claim would now be handled by an adjuster from Engle Martin & Associates, a preferred vendor of AmGUARD.

In an effort to assist AmGUARD with the claims process and to mitigate any further damages to the property, the plaintiff engaged its own contractor to assist with estimating some of the repair costs. AmGUARD’s claims-handling process omitted a wealth of facts, physical evidence, obvious damages, and meteorological data supporting the plaintiff’s claim. AmGUARD unreasonably determined the damage was insufficient to warrant a payment to the plaintiff. AmGUARD and its preferred vendor, Engle Martin & Associates, ignored obvious evidence.

Although AmGUARD has provided no clear documentation of its findings, to date no payments have been made to the plaintiff for the extensive damage to the Waxahachie hotel. To this day, AmGUARD has refused to pay for any damages covered under the insurance policy.

AmGUARD Violated The Texas Insurance Code

Our client cites numerous violations of the Texas Insurance Code, including a failure to effectuate a prompt, fair, and equitable settlement of a claim, failure to promptly provide a reasonable explanation for the denial of a claim, and misrepresentation of the insurance policy under which it afford coverage to the plaintiff.

Waxahachie Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers

At Raizner Slania LLP, we have extensive experience taking on large insurance companies and obtaining successful outcomes for our clients. If your insurance company has delayed, underpaid, or denied your claim, call the Waxahachie bad faith insurance lawyers at Raizner Slania LLP today for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Hail Damage Insurance Lawsuits

Dallas County Apartment Owner Files Hail Damage Insurance Lawsuit

Posted by Amy Hargis on

Raizner Slania has filed a hail damage insurance lawsuit on behalf of a Dallas County apartment owner against Peleus Insurance Company, Strata Claims Management, LLC, and Engle Martin & Associates, Inc. after its insurance claim was wrongfully denied.

March 2016 Hailstorm

On March 17, 2016, a wind and hailstorm swept through north Texas, causing substantial damage to the roofs, HVAC, exteriors, and interiors of the apartment complex property. Upon discovering the damage, the plaintiff filed an insurance claim with Peleus. In response to the claim, Peleus assigned adjusters, consultants, and agents to the plaintiff’s file that were inadequately and improperly trained.

Specifically, Peleus assigned the claim to both Strata and Engle Martin. In turn, both Strata and Engle Martin assigned the claim to claims representatives. Peleus, Strata, Engle Martin, and their representatives failed to perform a thorough investigation of the claim.

The representatives performed a haphazard inspection of the property and its damages and grossly undervalued what damages they did accept. Additionally, Peleus, Strata, Engle Martin, and their representatives made false representations to the plaintiff, including illegitimately claiming the damage occurred prior to the policy period and improperly ignoring facts confirming the wind and hail storm.

Strata and its representative also misrepresented the extent of damages confirmed at the property, falsely used excuses such as roof deficiencies and improper installation, and made misrepresentations about available weather data, including blatant misuse of predictive modeling supposedly being relied on to deny and delay the claim.

Strata and its representative then wrongfully claimed the roofs did not need to be replaced and instead blamed the clear damages on installation failures and the age of the roof systems. These are deceptive, unfair, and unreasonable claim actions, as Peleus and Strata’s own underwriting data confirms the good and insurable condition of the buildings.

As a result of the haphazard inspections and investigation, Peleus wrongfully denied the plaintiff’s hail damage insurance claim. Peleus failed to perform a thorough investigation of the claim and the plaintiff has been unable to make the necessary repairs, causing additional property damage.

Peleus Wrongfully Denied The Claim

Our client cites numerous violations of the Texas Insurance Code, including failure to adopt and implement reasonable standards for prompt investigation of claims, refusal to pay a claim without conducting a reasonable investigation, and misrepresentation of the insurance policy under which it affords property coverage to the plaintiff.

Hail Damage Insurance Lawsuits

If you regularly pay your insurance premiums, you deserve full policy protection. Oftentimes when apartment owners try to receive compensation from a claim, they discover their insurance company is less than honest. If your apartment complex suffered wind or hail damage and the insurance company isn’t being straight with you, contact the hail damage insurance lawyers at Raizner Slania LLP. We’ve helped hundreds of property owners get full compensation under their policies.

Church Insurance Claim Attorneys

Bexar County Church Files Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit

Posted by Andrew Slania on

Our client, a local Texas church, has filed a lawsuit against Church Mutual Insurance Company after its wind and hail damage claim was wrongfully denied under Texas law.

April 2016 Storm

On April 25, 2016, a wind and hail storm swept through Bexar County and caused significant damage to the roof, exterior, and interior of the church’s property. Immediately upon discovering the damage, the plaintiff filed an insurance claim with Church Mutual and asked that the cost of repairs be covered pursuant to the policy.

In response to the claim, Church Mutual assigned representatives, adjusters, consultants, and agents to the plaintiff’s file that were inadequate and improperly trained. Specifically, Church Mutual assigned the claim to an internal representative, as the local claims representative charged with assessing damages under the policy.

The internal representative failed to perform a thorough investigation of the claim and performed a haphazard inspection of the property. The internal representative failed to acknowledge clear and visible damages to the church and its school’s roof system. The internal representative only estimated damages for the metal components of the roof and to comb out the air conditioning fins. The representative refused to concede the roof system itself had been compromised and that interior damages would clearly continue to occur because Church Mutual did not provide a full roof repair and replacement.

Church Mutual relied on the representative’s substandard investigation in determining what amounts, if any, to pay on the plaintiff’s claim and failed to perform its own investigation. As a result of the haphazard inspection, misrepresentations, and inadequate investigation, Church Mutual ultimately denied the plaintiff’s claim.

Church Mutual Acted In Bad Faith

Our client alleges numerous violations of the Texas Insurance Code, including the failure to effectuate a prompt, fair, and equitable settlement of a claim, failure to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of a claim, and refusal to pay a claim without conducting a reasonable investigation.

Church Insurance Claim Attorneys

Many church owners learn the hard way that insurance companies are sometimes less than honest. If your church or other religious institution suffered property damage, contact the church insurance claim lawyers at Raizner Slania LLP. We are experienced handling insurance cases for religious organizations and other non-profit groups, and we can help you get the compensation you deserve under your policy. Call today to schedule a free consultation.

Dallas County Hail Damage Attorneys

Dallas County Condominium Association Files Wind and Hail Insurance Lawsuit

Posted by Jeff Raizner on

Raizner Slania has filed a bad faith insurance lawsuit on behalf of a Dallas County condominium association against Peleus Insurance Company, Strata Claims Management, and Engle Martin & Associates. The plaintiff’s wind and hail damage insurance claim was wrongfully denied under Texas law.

March 2016 Wind and Hail Storm

On March 23, 2016, a wind and hail storm swept through Dallas County. The storm caused substantial damage to the roofs, exteriors, and interiors of the property. Immediately upon discovering the damage, the plaintiff filed an insurance claim with Peleus.

In response to the claim, Peleus assigned adjusters, consultants, and agents to the plaintiff’s file that were inadequately and improperly trained. Specifically, Peleus assigned both Strata and Engle Martin to adjust the claim. Strata and Engle Martin in turn assigned the claim to two adjusters.

The adjusters performed a substandard inspection of the property and failed to prepare any estimates or scope of damages or failed to provide them to the plaintiff. Strata, Engle Martin, and the adjusters continually delayed the claims process and did not communicate with the insured during the process.

Strata, Engle Martin, and the adjusters deliberately misevaluated the damage by claiming it was cosmetic only, instead of acknowledging the widespread compromising of the roof systems, necessitating full repairs and replacement. The adjusters further caused additional damages themselves at the site inspection by foot damaging unsupported areas of the roofs.

Strata, Engle Martin, and the adjusters performed an inadequate, incomplete, and unreasonable investigation of the claim. Peleus relied solely on Strata, Engle Martin, and the adjusters when determining what amounts, if any, to pay on the claim. As a result, the plaintiff’s wind and hail damage claim was wrongfully denied.

Violations of the Texas Insurance Code

Our client alleges numerous violations of the Texas Insurance Code, including the failure to effectuate a prompt, fair, and equitable settlement of a claim and misrepresentation of the insurance policies under which it affords property coverage to the plaintiff. Additionally, our client alleges violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act (DTPA).

Dallas County Hail Damage Attorneys

Insurance companies use a variety of bad faith tactics to avoid paying out on valid claims. Not only is this wrong, it’s illegal. If your wind and hail damage claim has been denied, delayed, or grossly underpaid, the Dallas County hail damage attorneys at Raizner Slania can help. Our attorneys have helped commercial property owners across the country get their rightful payments under their policies. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.