Hail damage to a restaurant can cost a business thousands of dollars in lost revenue with each passing day.
When a hailstorm damages a restaurant, it is more likely to not be functional than other businesses due to health code regulations it must adhere to, expensive equipment needing repair, and perishable products that spoil quickly.
An eatery therefore requires fast repairs to limit losses after restaurant property damage. The business losses increase every time an insurance company underpays, delays payment, or denies coverage.
Restaurant Property Damage
If a hailstorm damages the restaurant building and its contents, it can cause a lot of different types of losses.
Food spoilage, equipment failure, building damage, inventory loss, and losses attributable to business interruptions are common losses restaurants experience.
Hailstorm damage to a restaurant’s physical structure can include broken windows and leaking roofs.
Large hail can break glass, damage roofs, dent siding and kill plants. And it can all happen in a matter of minutes.
A severe hailstorm can leave a roof damaged and in need of repair. Leaks may not start right away and/or only get worse over time.
Common Types of Hail Damage
- Roof damage
- Skylight damage
- Window damage
- Siding damage
- Damage to roof-mounted HVAC equipment
Reasons Insurers Deny Hail Damage Claims
When an insurance company denies a hail claim, they are required to give a full written explanation for their decision.
An insurance carrier may try to say the restaurant suffered from long-term damage caused by rot, cracked walls, damaged ceilings, bad drainage, and moisture stains that all existed before the storm.
Some of the most common reasons commercial insurers deny valid restaurant property damage claims are:
- Damage is from previous wear and tear
- Policy exclusions
- Failure to report damage promptly
- Failure to properly document the damage
Before you do anything, take pictures of all areas of potential damage so you have a record of the damage. Pictures of the hail still on the ground are also very useful in the claims process.
Commercial Hailstorm Damage Lawyers
Handling commercial hail damage claims in bad faith is against the law.
If your restaurant was damaged and your insurance carrier is delaying, underpaying, disputing, or denying your valid claim, an experienced commercial property damage attorney can help.
Contact Raizner Slania’s dedicated commercial property damage lawyers today for more information.