Denied Hail Damage Claims?
The threat of wind and hail damage is very real for insured property owners and renters in the United States. Wind and hail damage rank among the leading causes of home insurance losses in the U.S. year after year, particularly in states like Minnesota, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, and Nebraska.
Receiving a hail claim denial can be frustrating, especially when it feels like you have no recourse but to accept the insurance carrier’s decision. But you have options! You can hire a Public Adjuster to represent you in negotiations at any point in the hail claim process, even after receiving a denial.
Common Types Of Hail Damage
With one in every 35 homes suffering hail-related damage each year, it’s important to understand the common ways hail can damage your home and how that damage might be disputed by your insurance.
- Roof Damage: Hailstones are known to strip granules, fracture or even puncture shingles, compromising the overall integrity of your roof.
- Siding and Exterior Damage: Hail can easily crack or dent your property’s vinyl or aluminum siding, further exposing your home to weather-related issues.
- Window and Skylight Damage: Large hailstones have been known to shatter windows and break through skylights.
- Vehicle Damage: Leaving your vehicles exposed during a hailstorm can easily lead to costly repairs in the form of dents and broken windows.
- Landscape and Outdoor Property Damage: Anything left exposed to the elements during a hailstorm is open game for hail damage, including your landscape itself.
Why You Received a Hail Claim Denial
Hail damage claims can be tricky, but there are a few common justifications that insurance carriers use to downplay damage or deny coverage when evaluating a hail claim.
- Was your interior damage caused by hail or negligence?
If your interior was damaged during a hailstorm, your hail claim may have been denied based on how the interior of your home became exposed. Interior damage is only covered if hail or another peril created the opening that allowed hail to enter the structure. If a hailstorm broke one of your windows, then any damage to the surrounding area would be covered. But if your window had been left open, then the resulting damage would not be covered.
- Does your state require additional hail endorsements?
Standard homeowners insurance covers wind and hail damage in most cases, but if you live in an area that’s at a high risk for hail damage, your insurance might require you to pay a separate hail deductible—or even require an additional hail endorsement entirely.
It’s not uncommon for property owners in high-risk areas to be expected to pay a hail damage deductible, usually between one to five percent of the total damage, before their insurance will cover the rest.
In other cases, insurers in high-risk areas might limit hail damage coverage under a standard policy, requiring property owners to opt in to additional hail endorsements before any hail-related damages occur.
If you’re not sure whether your policy requires an additional hail endorsement, a Public Adjuster can help.
A Licensed Public Adjuster Will Advocate for You
If you’re dealing with a hail claim denial and want a second opinion, Tiger Adjusters® can help. Our Public Adjusters are licensed insurance professionals who work on behalf of the policyholder (you) to maximize the settlement offer from your insurance provider.
A Tiger Adjusters® Public Adjuster can help revisit your denied hail claim. They will review your policy, assess damages, and even negotiate with your insurance on your behalf.
Reach out to a Tiger Adjusters® location near you for assistance with your hail claim denial.
