Commercial Hurricane Damage Claims

Hurricane destruction may often spread over hundreds of miles, impacting countless businesses. Even without a direct hit, the accompanying windstorm, rain, tornadoes, and hail can forge a path of destruction, impacting commercial and industrial businesses of all sizes. The longer the insurance company disputes your business’s legitimate commercial hurricane damage claim, the longer it can take to get your business up and running again. The delay could cause additional damage to your property and its relationships with clients and customers

Under state law, insurance companies are not permitted to engage in unfair delay tactics and can be held accountable for losses caused by the unreasonable failure to pay a claim promptly or for the unreasonable failure to pay as required by an insurance policy agreement. A commercial hurricane claims lawyer can assist clients with pursuing a bad faith claim against an insurer that is negatively impacting a business or real estate investment.

Recovering From Hurricane Damage to Your Business

After a hurricane, it is important to reach out and check on those around you — and let loved ones know you are safe. Next, once local authorities have declared it is safe to do so, you want to begin assessing the property damage. If you have to get out on the road to get to your business, take the necessary precautions, including:

• Avoid driving or walking in floodwaters.
• Look for downed power lines.
• If there is no power to your business, find the breaker box and turn it off.
• Check the structure itself. If there is no sign of water damage inside then there is a good chance your roof may still be intact.
• Photograph, video, and otherwise document all damage to the property.
• Review your insurance policy and file a claim.

While the process seems rather simple, insurance companies can make it challenging. If you find yourself with delayed claims, low-ball offers, or even denied claims, it is time to call Raizner Slania.

The insurance dispute attorneys at Raizner Slania are experienced litigation professionals who can help commercial property owners and business owners take action against insurance carriers operating in bad faith.

If you have experienced any of the following after submitting a hurricane damage claim, contact us today:

• Denied property damage claims
• Failure to promptly pay claims
• Failure to properly and promptly investigate and assess hurricane damage
• Low-ball claims assessments and settlement offers
• Accusations that your building did not meet specified code requirements
• Damage from the storm being classified as prior damage, faulty construction, or manufacturing defects
• False claims that the damage was from wear and tear or improper maintenance

Insurance law is clear. Insurance companies are required to show reasonable cause for denying or delaying payment if the policy clearly covers certain weather-related damages. This is as true for small, medium, or large commercial claims as it is for owners of residential property. Insurance companies must also provide reasonable and prompt payment for losses so that repairs can be made.

An insurance company must be held accountable if it fails to live up to the implied promise of good faith imposed by law on all insurance contracts. A bad faith case can result in a verdict ordering the insurer to pay claims in full and can hold an insurance company accountable for their misconduct, sometimes in an amount that exceeds the actual insurance policy limits.

We Hire Independent Roofers, Contractors and Engineers to Value the Damage

When our insurance dispute attorneys handle hurricane claims, we don’t just accept the estimates provided by the insurance company’s adjusters. We obtain independent evaluations from professional experts, contractors, engineers, and independent adjusters. By doing so, we are able to pursue a proper and full claim payment on behalf of you and your business.

Free Consultation and Contingency Fee Basis from An Insurance Dispute Attorney

If your commercial insurance carrier has denied, delayed, or disputed your business’s hurricane damage claim, an experienced insurance dispute attorney at Raizner Slania LLP can help. Our firm has earned nationwide recognition as a preeminent law firm 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 litigation cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay us anything unless we help you recover the damages you seek.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hurricane Damage

How are businesses affected by hurricanes?

Businesses can take a huge hit during an active hurricane season. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has even estimated that roughly 40% of small businesses will never reopen after a natural disaster. It’s just too hard to recover. Of course, not being able to rely on your insurance doesn’t help matters.

Hurricanes cause businesses to:

• Close for days or even weeks.
• Lose revenue during closure.
• Wait for contractors to make repairs.
• Deal with filing insurance claims and working with assessors.

Businesses that suffer a lot of damage due to hurricanes can end up having to fight for their insurance benefits. Whether the claims adjuster has minimized the damage or the claim has been rejected altogether, a business may face a legal battle just to be able to get up and running again.

How do I file a hurricane insurance claim for my business?

After a hurricane, if you have assessed your damage and feel it is necessary to file a claim with your insurance company, then be sure to photograph and document the damage. Be thorough and specific.

Every insurance company will have its own process for filing claims. So, it is best if you reach out to your insurance company directly to get the claims process started. Be sure to let them know if the damage is severe and if the need is an emergency.

Eventually, an insurance adjuster will visit your commercial property. In the meantime, save receipts for anything you have purchased and repaired — and keep a record of all applicable documents.

And now, you wait for a settlement offer from your insurer.

How long after a hurricane can you file a claim in Texas?

Most insurance companies allow you one (1) year from the date the damage occurred to file a claim. This can vary though, so it is important to review your policy. Additionally, it is a best practice to file a claim for property damage as soon as possible after the loss occurs. 

What happens if my commercial hurricane insurance claim was denied?

If your commercial hurricane insurance claim was denied, then you need to call Raizner Slania today at (844) 554-9099. We will review your case and help you fight to recover the damages your business has suffered.