If you are one of the unlucky few who have an insurance company denied roof claim, you may feel like giving up and looking at another roofing contractor to handle your roofing needs. This is the first step that many contractors will suggest, but it’s not the best option. It’s time to put on your big boy pants and fight back! Here are five steps you can take to fight back against an insurance company that has denied your roof claim!
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First, Call Your Insurance Agent
It sounds like your insurance company has denied your roof claim because they either didn’t provide adequate coverage or you exceeded their limits. The first thing to do is to call your insurance agent to clarify the terms of the policy so that you’re clear on what caused them to deny the claim. They may be able to correct it on their end, but if not, you’ll want to investigate other companies for new coverage and make a claim.
If there’s no roof damage at all, contact the company again and see if they will change their decision. In most cases, all it takes is one call and an hour of their time to fix the mistake they made. But if this doesn’t work, contact another company for a quote and start making an insurance company denied roof claim with them instead. It can take anywhere from four weeks to six months before your new policy starts covering any claims so you’ll need to start looking soon. Depending on how quickly you need to have the repair done, decide whether to file a lawsuit against your current insurer or wait until your new policy kicks in. You might also consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as well as starting a letter-writing campaign.
Second, Talk to the Adjuster
You may feel out of control at this point. You have a leaking roof and don’t know what to do. Remember, the insurance company is there to help you fix the issue. If you need some help with contacting your insurance company, here are some steps to follow:
1) Contact the insurance company’s hotline for customer service by phone or email.
2) The adjuster will call you back in 24-48 hours after receiving your information.
3) The adjuster will get as much information from you as possible about the problem and tell you if they can assist in any way.
4) When it comes to making a claim, let them know when it started happening and how often it happens.
5) Let them know if anyone else has witnessed or assisted in the process of determining what needs to be done next – especially if they’re an expert on buildings or roofs who can offer advice on the best course of action going forward.
6) Explain why you think the leak is coming from where it is.
7) It might also be helpful to bring pictures of where the leak happened, and give them your contact information so that they can reach out if they need more info.
8) Once all that’s been sorted out, they’ll find a solution and go through their coverage terms with you before giving you a quote on the cost involved.
9) Finally, make sure to ask any questions that come up along the way!
Third, Get an Estimate for the Full Damage
As you can see, the best course of action is to file a claim with your insurance company denied roof claim for any and all damage sustained during the storm. If your roof was damaged, you’ll want to make sure that you report it. If there’s other damage that isn’t from the storm then make sure to report it too. Hopefully, your insurance company will be willing to help you out and pay for a good chunk of the repair costs but if they refuse or question the legitimacy of your claims then contact an attorney right away so they can give you more concrete advice on what steps to take next. In the meantime, find a contractor who has experience repairing roofs. They should come out and inspect your roof to determine how much work needs to be done in order to restore it back to its original condition. Finally, get multiple estimates before deciding which contractor you’re going to hire. You might have already received one estimate but don’t be afraid to ask around because prices can vary greatly depending on where you live. You may also want to consider asking friends or family members for recommendations as well since many people are familiar with contractors in their area. Once you’ve found a contractor, talk about the scope of work that needs to be done and when they would be able to start working on your roof. It’s important not only that the project gets completed quickly but also that the quality is maintained throughout construction – so always keep this in mind when negotiating with potential contractors.
Final Step – Choose How to Move Forward
1. If you believe the denial is in error, there are two things to do right away. Speak with your agent or company representative, and if they can’t help, lodge a complaint with the Florida Department of Financial Services.
2. If you cannot get resolution from your insurance company denied roof claim, it’s time to file a lawsuit against them and their carrier(s) that are trying to avoid paying the claim by claiming act of god. This requires assembling a team of attorneys with extensive experience in construction law who can help you craft the best arguments for recovery and take on your case them on contingency fee (meaning they will not be paid unless you are). The first question people ask when they hear about this option is Isn’t this too expensive? The answer? Possibly. It depends on how much coverage you have through your homeowners’ policy. But don’t overlook other benefits like peace of mind, a more accurate settlement after going through the claims process and seeing how low an offer may be for your home’s damage due to storm water infiltration during Hurricane Irma. Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about costly lawyer fees down the line if you end up needing a lawyer for another issue later on. In most cases it only costs around $1,000 to initiate a lawsuit – though that number can fluctuate depending on the complexity of your case and lawyers involved. Some insurance company denied roof claim will even cover these costs for some claimants without requiring litigation which means you’re guaranteed reimbursement even if litigation isn’t pursued.
