The secret to avoiding a wind damage claim denial often lies in the evidence you can provide. Due to multiple factors including frequent overlapping causes of damage, wind claims in particular can be tough to successfully navigate, even if wind damage is covered under your insurance policy.

According to Merlin Law Group, if your property insurance policy covers wind damage, there are two primary types of protection to look for regarding your property: dwelling coverage and personal property coverage. Dwelling coverage protects your home’s structure, while personal property coverage extends to any personal contents damaged by wind within the structure (n.d.).

In order to be granted coverage, you must first prove that there was wind damage to your dwelling or personal property, and that the cause of the damage is covered under your policy. In this blog, you’ll learn more about the steps and considerations of filing a successful wind damage claim.

‍

Preparation is Key

When you know a storm is imminent, try to do what you can to prepare. Start keeping track of any activities performed, and expenses you incurred in the interest of minimizing potential storm damage. This can range from clearing tree branches close to the building, to quick repairs, like sealing gaps in your door frame. It is also a good idea to document your possessions and secure them as best you can, along with the condition of your roof and home’s exterior. 

Ensure you also have a certified copy of your property insurance policy; if you do not, request one immediately from your insurance carrier. Read through the full document to gain a clearer picture of what you are entitled to under your coverage.

Evidence is Your Friend

Before, during, and after the storm, make sure you document the state of your property with photographic evidence. Having photographs of the state of your property prior to and in the aftermath of the wind event can help easily distinguish damage, and provide a strong defense to your claim. 

We recommend using your smartphone camera to capture photos and videos during and directly after the wind event. Smartphone cameras automatically include time and date info in the photo’s metadata, which can strengthen your claim by tying the damage directly to a specific date and wind event. 

With a wind event, roofs and siding often see damages. “Damage to structures resulting from [high winds] manifests in a top-down progression, with the most severe damage typically occurring at or near the roof line, where wind speeds are the highest. On roofs, high wind regions—including the ridgeline, eaves, and rakes—are typically the first areas to incur damage from wind forces” (Roberts, n.d.).  

Remember that Public Adjusters are licensed by your state and are well versed in identifying and documenting wind damage to successfully defend claims. 

‍

Mitigate

As soon as it is safe to do so, take steps to mitigate the damage that you’ve sustained. Call a mitigation company to identify and perform any necessary mitigation. Regardless of your policy, you are always required to perform mitigation (if needed) to show an effort was made to prevent further damage until repairs can be completed. 

During cleanup, try to refrain from getting rid of any destroyed items as these can be an important part of your claim. However, if you need to throw away anything after the storm, make sure to document it beforehand (Denham, 2024).

‍

Beware of Tricky Exclusions

The reason that documentation is so important is that it is often necessary to prove the cause of the damage, or to demonstrate the extent of damage. In addition to the standard RCV vs ACV policy dichotomy, there are also things like roof surfaces endorsements and common exclusions like wind-driven rain to take into account. 

• Wind-Driven Rain
  While a wind policy may cover loose or missing shingles, it may exclude leaks in the building’s ceiling/roof, doorways and windowsills caused by high winds and horizontal rain, unless there was a specific opening created. So water damage caused by a tree limb falling through the roof would be covered, but any water damage that blew under shingles or through cracks could be excluded.
  
  
• Shifting vs Settling
  While the two types of damage look similar, shifting is different from settling. Shifting is cracking in the foundation or structure due to high wind. However settling is simply the natural result of the foundation’s slab of concrete cracking as the building settles post-construction. Shifting is typically covered by most policies but settling is not.
  
  Tiger Adjusters’ experts can help fight erroneous exclusions by proving that damage was tied directly to a high wind event. Contact us for assistance with your claim.
  
  
• Disputed Cause
  “Insurers may argue that damage is excluded because they consider it a result of wear and tear, defect, improper maintenance, or improper repairs as opposed to wind. This is where a public adjuster’s assessment of the damage may help” (Merlin Law Group, n.d.).
  
  
• Overlapping causes
  Anti-concurrent causation clauses are hidden thorns for policy holders. “These clauses say when two perils occur simultaneously and the homeowner is only covered for one, the insurer will not cover the damage” (Merlin Law Group, n.d.).
  
  In this scenario, if you sustained concurrent wind and water damage but only wind is covered under your policy, your insurer could deny the claim since one of the causes (water) is excluded from the policy.

‍

Whether a tornado, hurricane, or other high wind event, wind damage can be a major disruption. Public Adjusters are experts at navigating arguments regarding the common exclusions above and advocating for policy holders. 

For assistance with your wind damage claim, reach out. The Tiger Adjusters team can help ensure you get the coverage you are entitled to under your policy.

‍

SOURCES:

Denham, B. (December 7, 2024). Documenting Wind Damage for Insurance Claims. Retrieved January 2, 2025, from https://denham.law/2024/12/07/documenting-wind-damage-for-insurance-claims/

Merlin Law Group (n.d.). Wind Damage Claims. Retrieved January 2, 2025, from https://www.merlinlawgroup.com/types-of-loss/wind-damage/

Roberts, E. (n.d.). A Guide to Wind Versus Water Assessments for Property Damage Claims. Retrieved January 2, 2025, from https://www.jsheld.com/insights/articles/a-guide-to-wind-versus-water-assessments-for-property-damage-claims 

‍