Mississippi Storm Damage Claim Lawyers
Helping Mississippi policyholders obtain insurance proceeds after stormy weather
Storms can damage homes, buildings, landscaping, and personal property quickly. While less severe than hurricanes and tornadoes, heavy rains and winds can make you glad you have homeowners or commercial property insurance. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, our insurance lawyers help you obtain the temporary and permanent damages you earned when you paid your premiums. Our Mississippi storm damage lawyers have the experience and resources (relationships with damage experts and repair experts) to identify all your damages and the cost to repair, rebuild, or replace damaged structures and property. We’re seasoned negotiators, arbitration lawyers, and trial attorneys. Our team has obtained more than $100 million in recoveries for policyholders.
How can we help?
- How are storms classified?
- What types of damage do storms cause in Mississippi?
- What immediate steps do you take in Mississippi after a storm causes damage?
- How do your hurricane insurance claim lawyers advocate for Mississippi policyholders?
- Do you have a Mississippi storm insurance claim lawyer near me?
How are storms classified?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):
A tropical cyclone is a rotating low-pressure weather system that has organized thunderstorms but no fronts (a boundary separating two air masses of different densities). Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface winds of less than 39 miles per hour (mph) are called tropical depressions. Those with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or higher are called tropical storms. When a storm's maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane.
Storms include straight-line winds, gale-force winds, and hailstorms.
Storms can cause severe damage. For example, Superstorm Sandy caused more than $70 billion in damage in the United States. Tropical Storm Imelda caused $5 billion in damages and 24-36 inches of rain over a 3-day period.
What types of damage do storms cause in Mississippi?
Our Mississippi storm insurance lawyers regularly work with experts who assess storm damage and analyze the repair, restoration, and rebuild work that needs to be done. These experts determine the time and cost of the reconstruction.
Storm damage includes, at a minimum, wind, rain, and hail damage that can damage:
- Roofs. Roofs are especially susceptible to storm damage. For example, storm damage can cause shingles to be torn off, become loose, and leak water into your home or workplace structure. Or, if a commercial roof is covered by a membrane, that membrane can be damaged, displaced, or otherwise allow moisture intrusion.
- Trees. Storms can cause trees to be torn from their roots, causing them to fall onto your home and other property structures.
- Windows. The high winds can cause seals to break or the glass to shatter, which can be expensive to repair. When windows break, wind, rain, tree branches and other items can damage additional property inside the rooms.
- Water damage. Water damage from storms can occur from leaking roofs, water that comes in through broken windows, broken pipes, and rising surface waters. Water damage can lead to the growth of mold and contamination of your water supply. We help you obtain advance costs to dry out your home and repair any leaks before further water damage occurs.
- Hail damage. Hail can cause holes that can lead to leaks, damaged shingles, and direct damage as the pellets strike your property or possessions.
- Personal property. Storms often damage the interior of your property, including appliances, furniture, carpets, rugs, and your personal possessions.
Storms can also damage the exterior of your home or work buildings, unattached structures, the landscaping, and your vehicles and tools. Business owners need experienced insurance loss lawyers because storms can damage inventory, computer equipment, and other business investments.
What immediate steps do you take in Mississippi after a storm causes damage?
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we help storm damage victims address their immediate needs. These include:
- Taking steps to assess the damage. You should, within the bounds of safety, take photos and videos of the damage to your property, including the interior, exterior, the grounds, and your personal property.
- Notifying your insurance company. We’ll help you file your claim with your homeowner’s insurance company, commercial property insurance company, comprehensive vehicle carrier, or any other insurance company that may provide coverage.
- Taking steps to protect your property from further damage. These may include temporary repairs, drying out your property, boarding up open areas, and other precautions.
- Obtaining advance payments. We’ll help you obtain advance payments for temporary repairs and temporary lodging or business offices if your home or workplace isn’t livable or workable.
How do your storm insurance claim lawyers advocate for Mississippi policyholders?
Our Mississippi storm damage lawyers anticipate and respond to the many different disputes and insurance arguments that may occur during the claims process. These include:
- Determining the cause of the damage and the insurance company that should pay your damage claim. There are likely to be disputes about whether the damage is due to a storm, flooding, hail, wind, hurricane, or other causes – depending on the climate event and other factors.
- Contesting any inaccurate or baseless effort by the insurance carrier to say you’re not covered based on an exclusion or other reasons.
- Helping you by having contractors, building code professionals, roof experts, and other storm damage businesses evaluate the damage, the timeline for the reconstruction work, and the cost to repair, rebuild, or replace your property.
- Determining whether your home or work building(s) can be repaired or whether it/they need to be rebuilt from scratch.
We skillfully negotiate with the insurance adjusters. When necessary, we argue your claim before arbitrators or juries.
Do you have a Mississippi storm insurance claim lawyer near me?
Our Mississippi insurance lawyers meet storm damage victims at our offices located at 600 Main St., Suite 301 in Tupelo and 4780 I-55 N, Suite 100 in Jackson. We also meet with policyholders through video discussions and phone conversations. We’re prepared to guide you through each phase of your claim, from your initial needs to the ultimate resolution of your claim.
Get help now. Talk with our respected storm insurance lawyers today
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we understand how anxious you are to get your life and your property back to normal. We’ve earned the respect of former clients, insurance companies, and insurance lawyers for our thorough attention to the large and small details and our advocacy skills. We often settle insurance claims for the insurance policy limits. We strive to obtain the maximum coverage you deserve. To discuss your insurance policy claim with our experienced Mississippi storm damage lawyers, please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.