Hail can wreak havoc on roofs and siding. Insurance companies may argue that the damage visible after a hailstorm was pre-existing damage caused by wear and tear or some prior storm. They often employ engineers to bolster their position, forcing policyholders to buckle under or spend thousands of dollars to hire experts of their own.
Or they may accept coverage but only offer to replace a few shingles or an individual piece of siding, leaving the homeowner with mismatched shingles or siding.
Insurance policies differ on how to resolve hail damage disputes. State law varies as well. The experienced insurance coverage professionals at Rutter & Russin can help you recover the full amount to which you are entitled.
Following a severe hailstorm, an Ohio real estate developer hired Rutter & Russin when the developer's insurance carrier refused to acknowledge that the insured's buildings were damaged by hail. The insurer argued that the damage was preexisting and the result of wear and tear. Rutter & Russin obtained the carrier's own pre-loss inspection reports and quickly defused the carrier's argument, leading to a full claim payment within six months of the time the claim was wrongly denied.
The insured owned an eight-building apartment complex in Ashland County, Ohio. In 2012, the area was hit by a hail storm. As a result some of the roofs and siding on some of the eight buildings were damaged. The insured was not satisfied with the patchwork system of repairs proposed by the insurer to replace the damaged siding and roofs, and requested that all of the siding and roofs be replaced so the complex would maintain its uniform appearance. The insurance company refused to budge from its position so the insured hired Rutter & Russin to litigate the dispute. The case went to trial and the jury determined that if a building was damaged, then all of the siding and roofing material on that particular building needed to be replaced.
Insurance companies often deny hail claims or offer unfair settlements to policyholders. The experienced attorneys of Rutter & Russin understand the complexities of fighting a hail damage claim denial. Contact us today for a free consultation.