What to Do if My Roof Was Damaged or Torn Off During a Hurricane?

Roof damage is common in hurricanes, but that does not make securing compensation for repairs easy. If your roof was damaged or torn off during a hurricane, taking the right steps to protect your home and your rights is essential.

If you have any issues with your insurance claim, do not hesitate to call a Texas hurricane damage claims lawyer for help. 

Whether you lost a few shingles or the entire roof needs to be replaced, you will need to know what to do for your claim to be succesful. Our team will walk you through the necessary steps.

Secure Your Property as Soon as It Is Safe to Do So

Your top priority after a hurricane should be safety. If possible, you should get out of your home and to a safe location. However, once you have received the OK to get back onto your property, there are a few things you will need to do.

Most homeowners’ insurance policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage to your home, such as tarping holes in the roof to prevent rain from causing interior damage. Doing so will help protect your right to a claim.

You should also avoid making any permanent repairs before an insurance adjuster has been on your property to assess the damage. If your insurer is dragging its feet or there are significant delays in this process, a Texas homeowners insurance claim lawyer can help.

Documenting the Storm Damage Thoroughly Can Make a Difference

The more documentation you have of the damage to your property, the better. This serves as evidence in your case if your insurance carrier tries to say the damage was not as bad as you claim, occurred because of another event, or blames a denial or delay on other issues with your claim. 

Some ways you may want to document roof damage from a hurricane include:

• Taking photos and video of the roof from multiple angles
• Documenting damage to the interior of the home caused by leaks or roof collapse
• Saving receipts for any emergency supplies, such as tarps, plywood, lumber, and labor costs

When possible, date stamp the photos and videos to show they were taken immediately after the hurricane. This could be important if your insurance company questions the coverage period or alleges the damage is pre-existing.

It Is Vital to Understand Your Insurance Policy and Coverage

You should review your insurance policy carefully. Most of these policies should cover wind and hurricane damage, as well as the replacement of anything inside the home that was ruined because of issues with the roof. 

However, coverage details and exclusions vary from policy to policy. You should specifically look for: 

• Deductibles specific to wind or named storms
• Coverage limits for roof replacement or repair
• Any exclusions related to named storms

You may want to discuss your coverage with a Texas property damage claim attorney if there is anything you do not understand.

File Your Insurance Claim as Soon as Possible

Your insurance policy likely requires you to file your property damage claim as soon as possible after a storm. Some ask you to notify them of damage within a reasonable time, while others have specific deadlines. 

In general, you will want to: 

• Contact your insurer as soon as possible to notify them of the damage.
• Be honest and thorough in your damage report.
• Get a claim number and keep detailed notes of all conversations.

Get Roof Repair Estimates From a Licensed Roofing Company

You will want to speak to a licensed roofing contractor or an independent adjuster about the cost to repair your roof and get a written estimate from them.

This provides support if you need to challenge the insurance adjuster’s estimate or believe you need a full replacement when they believe a repair will do. 

How Can Roof Damage Insurance Claims Go Wrong?

You must carefully monitor each step of the insurance claims process. Sometimes, insurers try to pay out as little as possible after a major storm by: 

• Offering less than what the repair will actually cost
• Claiming the roof damage was due to normal aging, not the hurricane
• Denying your roof repair coverage for any number of reasons
• Paying only for repairs when a full replacement is necessary

If you believe your insurance company is wrongfully denying, delaying, or underpaying your claim, contact our team of Texas property damage claims lawyers.

We know how to deal with insurance companies that use underhanded or even illegal practices to deny or underpay these claims. 

How Long Will My Claim Take?

Under Texas Insurance Code Sec. 542, Texas law requires insurers to respond to claims quickly. Even after a major storm, unless an extension is granted by the commissioner, they must: 

• Acknowledge your claim within 15 days
• Accept or deny it within 15 business days of receiving all required information
• Pay approved claims within five business days of acceptance

Seek Legal Representation If You Run Into Any Issues With Your Claim

You have the right to hire a law firm to represent you. Our Texas property insurance claim lawyers can step in to help you at any point in the claims process. We will: 

• Negotiate with the homeowners’ insurance carrier on your behalf
• Bring in experts to assess the true value of your losses
• File a bad faith insurance claim if your insurer violates Texas law

If your insurance company is acting in bad faith, you may be able to recover additional damages, attorney’s fees, and interest penalties.

Discuss Your Hurricane Roof Damage With Our Team for Free Today

Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, provides free consultations for families who have significant property damage after a storm or other covered event. We can help homeowners fight for and receive the full compensation they deserve after a hurricane. 

For more than 40 years, we have worked in personal injury and insurance law. We know how to take on insurance carriers—and win. Whatever your situation, we’re here for you.

Call us today to get started.