| In the past few years homeowner's insurance | | | | - Lack of maintenance |
| customers have been fighting a growing battle with | | | | - Not enough damage or damage is covered by roof |
| insurance companies over roof claims. The trend has | | | | warranty |
| been an increasing number of roof claims that are | | | | - Fraudulent claim |
| being denied by the insurance carriers. Roof claims | | | | - Damage is caused by an excluded loss |
| are usually the most common and most costly home | | | | There are other reasons why your claim may be |
| loss an insurance company will face beyond a total | | | | denied which are seldom talked about. The adjuster's |
| fire loss or liability claim. Depending on the state in | | | | experience has a lot to do with how well they can |
| which you live the likelihood of your roof being | | | | determine what created the damage. Most adjuster's |
| damaged by weather can vary dramatically. A state | | | | go through training but years of experience will |
| like Oklahoma which is prone to hail and wind will | | | | always provide better results. When you file the claim |
| have much more occurrences of roof damage than a | | | | can also have an impact on how the claim will be |
| state like Arizona. Why are insurance companies | | | | handled. |
| denying roof claims and how can you make sure | | | | If the hail storm occurred six months ago it could be |
| your roof will be covered? | | | | difficult for an adjuster to determine what the actual |
| First you have to understand what a home insurance | | | | cause of the damage was from. Usually in large |
| policy covers and what is excluded. Not all policies are | | | | storms the initial adjuster on scene is from another |
| the same but there are similarities that are shared | | | | state and will not likely be there if a claim is filed |
| among the major carriers. Your home policy will state | | | | months after. When you have an adjuster come out |
| what is excluded but rarely will state what is covered. | | | | who is unfamiliar with the path of the storm your |
| This is because the company doesn't want to list | | | | claim could be denied. |
| every possible scenario rather listing the situations | | | | In some situations insurance companies are acting |
| that are not covered and leave the rest to assume it | | | | only in the best case of the company which can lead |
| is covered. A roof can be damaged by a number of | | | | to improper claim adjusting. There are reported cases |
| factors including but not limited to wind, hail, sun, | | | | of management giving bonuses to adjusters who |
| failing objects, and snow. Not all of these occurrences | | | | only approve a certain percentage of claims and |
| are covered like sun damage which is generally a | | | | cases where people have been fired for accepting |
| wear and tear issue over many years. | | | | too many claims. If you feel your claim is not handled |
| There are many reasons why an insurance company | | | | properly then hiring legal counsel may be your best |
| will deny a roof claim including: | | | | move but I am not here to provide legal advice. |
| - Roof damage appears to be from wear and tear | | | | |