Homeowners insurance is intended to alleviate the financial burden associated with roof damage. Submitting a roof damage insurance claim can be stressful for some homeowners. If your claim is refused, you may be forced to pay for repairs or a whole roof replacement yourself.

If you disagree with your insurance company’s decision, you have the option of filing a dispute. Learn why claims are often refused, what you can do if your claim is denied, and why you should consult with roof repair professionals before proceeding.

Disputing an Insurance Denial

If your insurance claim for roof damage is refused and you disagree with the decision, call the insurance company and request a re-inspection. Have trustworthy roof repair contractors on-site during the insurance adjuster inspection to document the list of damages together with the adjuster.

Some of the harm may have been unnoticed the first time around. Be aware that the claim handler may want specific sorts of documentation, such as pictures of the damage, before dispatching another representative. Roof repairs or replacements may be approved based only on pictures in rare cases if the amount of damage is clearly shown in the images.

The homeowner must submit an appeal with the insurance carrier throughout the dispute procedure. When you file an appeal, get a determination date from your insurer. The rebuttal procedure is not always swift, and you may have to wait a long before hearing back. If the deadline has passed and you have not heard from the insurance company, contact them again. If your appeal is refused, you can file a formal complaint with the insurance company. You can request to talk with the company’s upper management or register a complaint with your state’s regulatory agency.

Roof Insurance Claim Denied Because Of Pre-Existing Damage: What To Do Now?

The insurance provider states you have “pre-existing damage” and has decided to deny your roof insurance claim even though your home or place of business was damaged in a hurricane or other significant wind event.

What’s going on, and what can you do now?
We at The Voss Law Firm, P.C. have direct experience with how frequently insurance companies find any justification to avoid paying a valid insurance claim.

The truth is – Insurance companies often deny claims to save money. Many individuals who have had their roof insurance claim denied by their insurers are unaware they have the right to challenge the decision and fight back.

They can dispute your claims of wear and tear or prior damage

Some insurance companies, nevertheless, will say that a roof insurance claim is rejected because of “pre-existing damage,” “maintenance,” or “wear and tear.”

What steps can you take to ensure that your roof insurance claim is approved?

Hurricane Insurance Claim or General Roof Insurance Claim Denied Due to Maintenance Issues or Previous (Pre-existing) Damage?
Hurricanes and other abrupt disasters with high winds are covered by property insurance plans.

Even yet, most property insurance companies won’t pay for any losses including the following even if you did suffer some wind-related damages.
Lack of appropriate maintenance.

The Roof Damage Insurance Claim Process

Roof damage insurance claims are not always straightforward. When you submit a claim, multiple persons are engaged in the approval process. Most insurance claims require an insurance adjuster, who is effectively a representative for the insurance company, in addition to the homeowner. This individual contributes to decision-making and ultimately writes the cheque. Professional roof repair companies are a third party involved in the process. These are the professionals that will examine and repair your roof.

You should thoroughly examine your homeowner’s insurance policy before phoning your insurance provider. Call local roof repair contractors to assess the damage if you feel it should be covered. An accurate quote may be provided by a competent roof repair contractor. If the estimate exceeds your deductible, submitting a roof damage insurance claim may be the best alternative. When you notify your insurance company about the damage, they will arrange for an insurance adjuster to visit your house and inspect the damage. Even if you have a contractor, the insurance company will want to examine the damage themselves.

You should get a homeowner summary of damages within a few days after the insurance adjuster establishes the extent of the damage. If your insurance claim for roof damage is granted, you should get your first payment. This initial assessment will only cover half of the cost of the necessary roof repairs or replacement. The homeowner will also be compelled to pay the deductible that was agreed upon when the insurance policy was obtained. Following the confirmation of your roof claim, you will have a specific length of time to complete the necessary roof repairs.

When the work is finished, the insurance company will want proof that the money was spent on roof repairs or replacement. Following a review of this information, the homeowner will be mailed a second check to pay any leftover expenditures not covered by the first check. The task should be paid in full after receiving the second check. The homeowner should have a repaired or new roof at this stage in the roof damage insurance claim procedure, and the expert roof repair contractors should be paid in full for their efforts.

Issues that existed before you bought your property
Wear and tear over time

Damage from lack of temporary repairs after a loss
Additionally, if you’ve already been compensated for an insurance claim on that particular area of your home, you can have issues with a claim for hurricane damages or have your roof insurance claim dismissed.

For instance, if you didn’t do the necessary maintenance at the time, you cannot file a claim for a roof repair for which you were reimbursed.

If the insurance provider denies your roof insurance claim because the damage from the hurricane was pre-existing, there may be a good reason for this.

If the damage was your fault, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to recoup the total amount of your losses. If an insurance company claims that a home or business owner’s losses fall under a “pre-existing damage” exclusion, there may not be much the owner can do. There are numerous legitimate reasons why a hurricane insurance claim may be lawfully denied.

However, if you have studied your policy and think that your claim has been unfairly rejected or incorrectly attributed to past damages, don’t give up; we are here to assist you.

Avoid having your roof insurance claim refused by asking questions regarding the denial to a skilled insurance litigation attorney. If your claim was refused, an attorney can examine your policy, examine the ruling, and explain why.

Let’s say that person finds that your claim was wrongfully rejected. In that situation, the lawyer can get in touch with the insurance provider, get a third party to inspect your house, and put together a case to get you and your family the money you are due.

Contrary to what most policyholders believe, hurricane insurance claims are frequently underpaid or improperly refused, therefore it is always worthwhile to learn more about your legal options if you have any questions.

How to Keep Future Claims for Roof Damage from Being Rejected Because of Pre-Existing Damages
Whether you’re purchasing insurance for a new house or already have a homeowner’s policy in place, insurance companies often have tight guidelines about pre-existing damage.

You can do a few things if you’re worried or live in a hurricane-prone location to prevent having your roof insurance claim rejected because of pre-existing damage.
Review your insurance coverage.

Know how your insurance coverage handles previous damage and upkeep concerns and be aware of their strategies for getting your roof insurance claim declined.

If you are unsure about your coverage even after reviewing your current policy, call your insurer immediately.

Why Claims May Be Denied

Not all homeowner’s insurance plans provide coverage. The problem is not that insurance firms are crooked; rather, the roof or damage did not fulfil the tight coverage conditions outlined in your policy. If the cost of repairing your roof is less than your deductible, your claim may be refused. It’s also crucial to know that most plans include a separate deductible for hail or wind claims, which is frequently larger than the deductible for other claims. Read your policy and deductibles thoroughly.

You should also carefully review the exclusions on your insurance policy. Damage from wildfires or earthquakes, for example, may be limited or excluded from coverage. Also, keep in mind that your homeowner’s insurance coverage will not cover simple house upkeep. This implies that if the damage occurs over a lengthy period of time, it will not be covered by your policy as normal wear and tear. If your roof has reached or exceeded its estimated lifespan and is damaged, your insurance claim for roof damage may be refused to owe to the age of the roof.

Hiring Roof Repair Contractors

One of the finest things you can do is hire experienced roof repair professionals to examine the damage before calling the insurance company. A contractor can assist in determining the particular amount of damage to the roof and what caused the damage. This might come in handy when presenting proof to the insurance company. Roof repair companies with experience can also give a price to repair or replace the roof if necessary. Contact a roof repair contractor immediately for more information on the roof damage insurance claim procedure or to schedule an inspection.
Inspect your property regularly

You can’t expect your insurance carrier to know—or to pay—if you are unaware of a potential issue or that you have already suffered a loss. Always conduct routine inspections of your properties. Pay special attention to your roof. Small tears or leaks that eventually cause major harm are simple to overlook.

Aside from storm surge damages, roof damage accounts for the majority of hurricane insurance claims.

Hurricane winds have the power to lift shingles, pierce roofing material, and even completely remove or relocate the roof.
Take “before” photos.

When a hurricane strikes, most people end up capturing “after” pictures of the devastation, but “before” pictures make it simple to demonstrate that there were no damages before the storm.

Before storm season begins, record videos or photos of your house and property, date the images and keep the records in case they are required for an insurance claim. It will be of even greater assistance if you can provide a newspaper date stamp to indicate the date the video was produced.
​Bring in a professional.

Professionals in roofing or repair may assist you in finding hidden issues with your property, as well as filling up cracks and holes, securing loose siding or roof shingles, and even installing safety measures like hurricane straps.

An expert can also provide thorough assessments and estimates for insurance purposes if you’ve already experienced hurricane damage.
To help you prevent having your roof insurance claim dismissed, it is a prudent decision to enlist the aid of an insurance litigation lawyer. Although precautions provide you peace of mind, hurricanes and tropical storms can still inflict harm on your home.

Call The Voss Law Firm, P.C. at 1-281-549-8911 to arrange a free strategy and review appointment with an experienced insurance claim attorney if your insurer is denying your insurance claim coverage or is giving you the runaround.