I recently took a trip to McAllen, Texas, to survey the damage left behind after this year’s record-setting hailstorms. Driving through town, I could still see many broken business signs and battered wooden roofs that are awaiting repair. Off in the distance, I saw contractors repairing many roofs, including businesses and schools. It was apparent that the insurance claims process is well underway, and some insurers are taking good care of their clients, while others were not.
ValleyCentral.com, a publication of Action 4 News, wrote a piece about a man who was experiencing difficulties getting his claim properly paid by his insurer. “They said they were going to only pay out so much, and they didn’t even pay enough,” said Javi Moreno, a McAllen businesses owner. “We were barely going to have enough just to fix the signs.” Mr. Moreno said that he was underpaid by his insurance provider after his business was damaged in the March 2012 hailstorm.
Mr. Moreno learned all about the benefits of hiring experts to represent you if you encounter problems with your insurance claim. It pays in the long run, because experts can find damage you likely wouldn’t find yourself.
For example, experts recently confirmed the presence of asbestos on McAllen High School’s gymnasium floor. Work crews repairing damage from the March 2012 hail storm made the discovery, and lab results found the flooring material contains 2% asbestos. Asbestos-related damage and repairs are oftentimes covered under commercial policies. If you are not familiar with the terms of your policy or how coverage works, it may be beneficial for you to hire an insurance expert to help determine coverage, especially when your insurance carrier does not want to pay the correct value of a claim.
There are a lot of people in need of help. Many homes and businesses continue to deteriorate while awaiting repairs, and a difficult insurance process only delays the process of moving forward. If you believe your insurance company has not paid you the correct amount for the damages you sustained as a result of a covered peril, such as hail, I urge you to contact a professional well-versed in the insurance claim process. Otherwise, you’re likely to feel that your claim is going nowhere.
