A roof helps to keep your family is protected from outside elements and ensure that you are living in a safe environment. Unfortunately, incidents can occur that damage roofs and sometimes make your home uninhabitable.
Most homeowners rely on their insurance companies to assist them when roofing accidents occur. However, the process doesn’t always go smoothly and many property owners are stuck paying out of pocket for repairs.
If your roof Insurance claim denied unfairly, don’t accept it without a fight. Take a look at the information below to learn what you can do if your insurance provider denies your roofing claim.
Common Causes For Roof Claim Denials
If your roof insurance claim denied, there are several factors that contributed to it, such as:
Not Reaching Your Deductible
As with all insurance, there are deductibles that must be met before the insurance pays its portion. Many times an insurance company won’t proceed before the amount is paid.
For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and your roof repairs are $25,000, then the amount that your insurance provider is willing to pay is only $24,000. You’d have to speak with your insurance company to find out their specific procedures for deductibles.
The Roof Damage Isn’t Covered
Just because your roof was damaged doesn’t mean that your insurance company is willing to pay for it. Some coverage details only include damage that was caused by certain incidents. If there was hail or a tornado, then that is usually covered.
On the contrary, if a tree falls on your roof, and it didn’t occur due to a natural disaster, it may not get paid. Be sure to know the specific details of your insurance coverage so that you are aware of what accidents are compensatable.
Insufficient Coverage
Sometimes an insurance company will deny a roof claim if the cost of the damage is over your limit. For instance, if your insurance provider is only willing to cover $50,000 worth of repair costs, and your damage expenses are $75,000, they might deny it.
If they don’t reject the claim, they’ll only pay up to your limit and you are responsible for the rest
An Old Roof
The truth is, an old roof is bound to endure damages at some point. Homeowners are expected to provide routine maintenance to their roof to keep it in good condition. Not only that, but some insurance companies will only repair a roof if it’s a certain age, which is generally 15 to 20 years.
If your roof is older than that, you may have to cover the expenses out of pocket. But if the damage came from hail, wind, or a heavy rainstorm, reach out to your insurance provider anyway. They may be willing to make an exception in this situation.
Roof Insurance Claim Denied? Here’s What to Do
If you received a denied roof insurance claim, there are several things you can do to fight back. Although you may feel hopeless fighting against the insurance company, there are ways around a denial.
Here are a few tips:
Request a Review of the Case
If your roof insurance claim denied for no substantial reason, request a written explanation for the decision. Many times, the rejection might be due to a filing error or another mistake. If that’s the case, then the denial could be overturned.
When you receive any rejection from the insurance provider, make sure that it’s legitimate before moving on to other methods of receiving monetary benefits.
Contact the Proper Authorities
If your insurer denied your roof claim, contact your state’s Department of Insurance. They are responsible for enforcing the state’s insurance laws.
So if the insurance provider rejected your claim, they’ll investigate it. Be sure to gather all of the necessary evidence so that they can look into the case for you.
Seek Legal Counsel
When your States Department of Insurance can’t help, property damage lawyers are your best bet. They can work to get you the compensation you need to fix your roof. If you believe that you were unjustly denied coverage by the insurance company, a lawyer can assist.
However, it’s important to note that seeking legal counsel is costly. So make sure the cost of repairs is worth it. If the expense of an attorney exceeds the cost of repairing the roof, it might not be smart to contact a lawyer.
On the other hand, if the damages are substantial and you desperately need the help of an attorney, contact one as soon as possible.
Collect Evidence
To verify that your roof insurance claim denied status is inaccurate you must provide proof. Gather any information that you have that supports your claim. For example, if your insurance provider is claiming that the roof damage was due to your negligence or a pre-existing condition, collect documents to dispute it.
Any information that you have as evidence to support your roof insurance claim helps. Once you have all of your documentation, give it to your attorney
Denied Roof Insurance Claim: Get the Money You Deserve
If your roof insurance claim denied and there was no substantial reason for it, let an attorney help you. Unfortunately, working with an insurance company is often a hassle, but it’s not a fight that you have to endure alone.
By leaning on a team of legal experts, you can ensure that you are treated fairly.
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