Commercial Water Damage Insurance Claims

Water damage can wreak havoc on your commercial property and business operations. Plumbing leaks behind walls, under a foundation, or from failed equipment such as hot water heaters can cause extensive damage to a building and its inventory. Commercial insurance providers often use any policy provision they can find to avoid paying for water damage. If you purchased a commercial insurance policy to protect your property in the event of damage, including plumbing breaks and other water damage, you expect the carrier to come through for you. Making that happen, however, may require the assistance of a qualified water damage attorney.

Recovering from Commercial Water Damage

When your property is affected by a water incident, it often permeates every part of your business, including:

• Floors
• Walls
• Cause Mold
• Electrical system damage
• Loss of revenue, personal property, and inventory
• Business interruption

If your water damage claim is delayed, denied, or undervalued, your business could suffer extensive repair costs and lost inventory, damage from a loss of reputation, lost profits, and financial hardship. Excessive delay, gross undervaluation, or denial of a claim covered by your policy could constitute insurance bad faith.

Your business is your livelihood and every minute it is closed due to water damage, it is costing you money. You did the right thing by purchasing commercial property insurance to protect your business from situations such as this, and you have a right to receive proper payment in a timely manner. At Raizner Slania, we are here to fight for your rights as a commercial insurance policyholder.

Water Damage Attorneys Who Represent Your Interests

Raizner Slania is familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to avoid paying business property damage claims, even when you have faithfully paid your premiums and the claim for damage falls within your coverage. Insurance companies can be intimidating, using obscure language and denying you one of your most precious assets—time—when handling your claim.

Commercial carriers have been known to use bad faith practices, such as:

• Denying commercial property damage claims
• Failing to promptly pay claims
• Offering low-ball settlements
• Undervaluing assessments

But by having an experienced legal team on your side, you can overcome these tactics.

The attorneys at Raizner Slania challenge insurance companies by hiring their own investigators and experts to evaluate your water damage claim and present evidence of coverage. If you have experienced water or plumbing related damage to your commercial property and your claim has been delayed, denied, or undervalued by your insurance company, get an experienced water damage attorney on your side. To obtain a free evaluation of your claim, call Raizner Slania today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water damage usually covered by commercial property insurance?  

It depends. Most commercial property insurance will cover water damage that occurs within a business – such as that resulting from a burst pipe. Water damage resulting from something outside the commercial structure, such as a leaky roof or storm damage, may be covered by different provisions or riders.

Be sure to carefully review your insurance policy to confirm your commercial property is covered against water damage. Keep in mind that oftentimes insurance companies try to use certain tactics to say a business is not covered due to the specific method in which the water damage occurred. If you believe your company is covered and get this response from your insurance company, seek legal advice immediately.

What should I do if my business has suffered water damage?  

If your business has suffered water damage, it is important that you take steps to thoroughly assess – and document – that damage. This includes photographing and/or videoing the damage after it occurs. If there are steps you must take to stop ongoing water intrusion, be sure to document them. Keep any receipts for purchases you have made to treat the damage. All of this can be used to help you receive the compensation you deserve.

How do I file a claim for commercial water damage?  

Filing a claim for commercial water damage can vary by insurance company, as each has its own process. Reach out to your carrier directly to get started. If your situation is an emergency and/or severe, make sure to let them know. Also, include any purchases or repairs that were made in response to the damage.

Once your claim is filed, an insurance adjuster will visit your commercial property to assess the damage and report back to the insurance company. Then, after careful review, your carrier will reach out to you with a settlement offer. While you should secure your property from further damage, it is important to avoid making permanent repairs until after your claim is settled.

How long do I have to file a commercial water damage insurance claim?

Most insurance companies allow you one (1) year from the date the damage occurred to file a commercial water damage insurance claim. This can vary, though according to the terms delineated in your individual policy, so it is important to review it thoroughly.

What happens if my insurance company denied my commercial property water damage claim?

If your commercial insurance claim was denied, delayed, or you received a low-ball settlement offer, then you need to call Raizner Slania today at (844) 554-9099. We will review your claim and help you fight to recover the compensation you are rightly owed under your policy to repair the damages your business has suffered.