Surviving a tornado is an extremely traumatic experience. And while you may be relieved and grateful that your family is safe, there may be significant damage to your home that you must now deal with. Now you must assess the damage to your property, contact your insurance company, and hope your insurer will treat you fairly. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Insurance companies are primarily interested in their bottom line and will do their best to pay you as little as possible for your claim. At a time when you are already distressed, this can compound your emotional trauma. It can be extremely beneficial to speak to a Texas tornado damage claim attorney from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys. We will zealously fight on your behalf for a quick, full settlement for your tornado-damaged home.
Why Choose a Texas Tornado Damage Claim Attorney from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys?
At a time when you are already devastated, perhaps even unable to live in your home, it can be jolting to find that your insurance company has no intention of playing fair. At Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys, we take great pride in solving problems and making things right. When life throws you a curve in the form of a tornado-damaged home, you need someone who is not afraid to go up against a big insurance company, demanding that it follow through with its promises. As a client, you don’t need to come to us with money. We will finance your case, taking immediate action to force your insurance company to pay you what your claim is worth. Attorney Peter Diiorio and his legal team work hard to help you secure a better future, ensuring your family is safe and well-taken care of.
How Common Are Tornadoes in Texas?
According to policygenius.com, Texas is the most tornado-prone state in the United States, averaging 136 twisters each year. In 2022, Texas residents experienced 159 such events, with many of those in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, and smaller cities in eastern Texas. Tornado season in the Lone Star state runs from April through June of each year when colder winter air is replaced by summer heat. This collision between cold and warm air results in the formation of tornadoes.
The city of Houston has more tornadoes than any other city in Texas, with 246 tornadoes/twisters from 1950-2022. Plainview, Texas is the “runner-up” for the number of tornadoes, with 132 during that same time period. Galveston County sees some of the most severe tornadoes of any place in Texas. Homeowners in Texas experience damage caused by tornadoes, along with the hail and rain that may accompany them.
What Types of Damage Can Tornadoes Cause?
Tornadoes can cause severe damage to homes, particularly mobile homes. Tornadoes can take a roof off a house entirely or can damage the roof so that rain comes into the house, damaging walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and appliances. Tornadoes can uproot trees, flinging them into the house and breaking windows and doors, or crashing through roofs. Flying debris can damage home siding or tear off portions of the siding. Tornadoes that reach EF-2 (111-135 mph) and EF-3 (136-165 mph) are capable of causing extensive damage to a home in as little as four seconds. An EF-4 (166-200 mph) tornado and an EF-5 (over 200 mph) tornado can decimate an entire community, causing death and destruction.
Will Insurance Cover Damage Caused by a Tornado?
Whether your insurance will cover damage to your home caused by a tornado will depend on your insurance policy coverage—and your insurer. Some insurance companies go out of their way to deny, delay, and undervalue claims. Homeowner’s insurance covers most types of wind damage but may not cover water and flood damage from the rain or hail that often accompanies wind and tornadoes.
There is an exception to this, however—if you live in an area that is at a high risk for wind damage, then damage from a tornado could be an exclusion. If this is the case, you would need to purchase Texas windstorm insurance through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, and flood insurance, perhaps through FEMA. In any case, Texas has a separate windstorm deductible if you are covered under your homeowner’s policy, meaning you may have to pay two—or even three—deductibles, depending on the damage to your home and your individual policy.
What Should You Do After a Tornado Causes Damage to Your Home?
Once the tornado has passed and it is safe to return to your home, you will need to immediately inspect your property carefully, taking notes and photographs of any potential damage. Once you have done this if there is any damage that is likely to cause additional damage, contact a contractor to make emergency repairs. Call your insurance company to let them know your property has been damaged.
Keep careful records of all repairs you have made, including receipts for materials and supplies necessary to make repairs. Do not make any permanent repairs until a claims adjuster from your insurance company can assess the damage. It can be beneficial to speak to a Texas tornado damage claim attorney from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys before you file your claim. Your attorney can ensure your claim is complete and contains no errors and will be fully apprised of your situation in the event the insurance company balks at paying.
How Much Can It Cost to Repair Your Home After Tornado Damage?
Tornado repairs for wind damage alone can start at $5,000, and go into the tens of thousands, depending on the level of damage. A new roof alone can cost $10,000 or more to replace, and still thousands to repair. Water damage can also cost thousands—or hundreds of thousands—to repair since water can cause mold damage, and mold remediation is very expensive. Flood damage can cause floors to buckle, and walls to require new sheetrock and electrical. Appliances that are in a flood generally have to be replaced, and the same is true of furniture and most household possessions. When wind also damages outbuildings, fences, trees, and bushes, the cost goes up exponentially.
What if My Insurance Company Denies My Tornado Claim—Can a Texas Tornado Damage Claim Attorney Help?
Your insurance company may deny your claim for a number of reasons. It may claim that you failed to provide sufficient evidence to back up your claim, or that your house was in disrepair prior to the tornado. An experienced Texas tornado damage claim attorney from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys can help ensure your insurance company gets all the information it needs so it can pay you what your claim is worth. It’s important to know that you and your attorney can successfully fight a denial, delay, or undervalued claim. Insurers must provide you with a solid reason for denying your claim or they are guilty of bad faith dealing. Generally speaking, the more evidence you provide to your insurance company, the more likely they are to approve your claim, so having experienced assistance during this step can make a significant difference in the outcome.
Hiring a Texas Tornado Damage Claim Attorney Near You to Help You Move Forward
A Texas tornado damage claim attorney from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys can fight on your behalf to help you get the money you need to repair or replace your home and possessions following a tornado. We believe that you deserve someone who will work hard on your behalf and hold the insurance company accountable. Our overarching goal is to solve your problems and make things right for you, your family, and your future. Contact Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys today.