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Louisville, Kentucky Wind Damage Claim Lawyers
Helping Kentucky property owners recover when winds cause significant damage
Strong winds can cause severe damage to buildings, landscaping, and property. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, Kentucky wind damage claim lawyers have the skills and working relationships to hold the insurance carriers (home, commercial property, hurricane, and other carriers) accountable for any wind damage. We’re ready to help you whether the wind damaged your property or the wind in combination with rain, hail, storms, and other natural disasters caused any property damage.
How can we help?
- Understanding the damage that windstorms can cause
- What types of wind-related damage are covered by insurance?
- What is your record of success handling wind damage claims?
- How do you advocate for Kentucky homeowners and businesses with wind damage claims?
- Are there steps I can take to reduce or prevent wind damage?
- Do you have a Kentucky wind damage insurance claim lawyer near me?
Understanding the damage that windstorms can cause
Wind damage increases when wind speeds are higher and the duration of winds is longer. The type of wind also affects the amount of damage.
The Weather Channel states that:
Straight-line winds are a significant push of air in one direction usually associated with thunderstorms. These winds don't swirl like a tornado does, but can still cause significant damage to trees, signage, canopies, and in some cases, homes….
Damage and debris from straight-line winds are often found in a straight line — hence the name. Straight-line winds are usually either the outflow from strong to severe thunderstorms (downbursts or microbursts) … or they occur along a line of thunderstorms (derechos).
The National Weather Service categorizes wind damage as follows:
- Gale winds. 39 to 46 mph. Wind breaks twigs and small branches. Wind generally impedes walking.
- Strong Gale. 47 to 54 mph. Structural damage occurs, such as chimney covers, roof tiles blown off, and television antennas damaged. The ground is littered with many small twigs and broken branches.
- Whole Gale. 55 to 63 mph. Considerable structural damage occurs, especially on roofs. Small trees may be blown over and uprooted.
- Storm Force. 64 to 75 mph. Widespread damage occurs. Larger trees blow over and are uprooted.
- Hurricane Force. Over 75 mph. Severe and extensive damage. Roofs can be peeled off. Windows broken. Trees uprooted. RVs and small mobile homes overturned. Moving automobiles can be pushed off the roadways.
The weather channel doesn’t offer a separate category for tornadoes, but the weakest tornado has wind speeds of 65mph to 110mph, putting them squarely in the category of “hurricane force.”
What types of wind-related damage are covered by insurance?
Your insurance policy should cover most forms of wind-related damage, not counting any exclusions. Typically, that includes:
- Uprooted trees and damaged landscaping
- Downed power lines
Structural damage to the interior and exterior of buildings
- Water and mold damage
- Broken windows
- Roof damage
- Vehicle damage
High winds can cause extensive damage to mobile homes that, unlike homes, aren’t grounded.
What is your record of success handling wind damage claims?
Our Kentucky wind damage insurance lawyers have obtained numerous recoveries, including:
- $3.3+ million for a client whose two apartments suffered wind damage.
- $1.6+ million for a condo association that suffered wind and hail damage.
- $947,248 for our client’s manufacturing facility which suffered damage due to a windstorm. A federal jury awarded our client $757,798.78 in compensatory damages and $189,449.70 for bad-faith negotiations.
- $750,000 in additional funds for a church that was damaged due to hail and wind damage.
How do you advocate for Kentucky homeowners and businesses with wind damage claims?
McWherter Scott & Bobbitt advocates for policyholders in Kentucky. Our goal is to ensure that you get the full amount of compensation you are owed from the policy for which you paid. We:
- Review the terms of your insurance policy including contesting any exclusions.
- Verify that wind caused your damage.
- Review whether any policies apply since wind damage may be due to storms, hurricanes, or tornadoes.
- Obtain advances so you can live or work in a comparable location if necessary.
- Work with professionals who will assess the damage, the timeline for repairs (or rebuilding), what work needs to be done, and the cost of the repairs or of rebuilding. These professionals include roofing experts, window installers, building consultants, engineers, architects, appraisers, and other professionals.
- Review the building code requirements and any other safety compliance requirements.
- Assess and claim compensation for any business interruption losses if you have that type of coverage.
- Work with appraisers who can place a value on the cost to repair or replace any personal property.
Our Kentucky insurance dispute lawyers advocate for policyholders with insurance adjusters, before arbitration panels, and before juries. If your insurance carrier is negotiating in bad faith (such as intentionally delaying the negotiation of your claim), we seek bad faith damages.
Are there steps I can take to reduce or prevent wind damage?
Some of the steps to consider taking before the high winds start (if you have advance notice) include:
- Moving or securing any furniture or possessions that the wind can pick up and blow into windows or other parts of your home or office building.
- Having a professional to secure any loose roof shingles.
- Having a professional reinforce the parts of your home that can be easily damaged such as grounding doors or installing storm shutters.
- Trimming or securing your landscaping.
Some of the steps to consider taking after the winds pass by include:
- Turning off the electrical power.
- Reducing the risk of propane tank or natural gas explosions, fires, or electrocution.
- Covering windows and any other exposures.
- Hiring a professional to make temporary repairs and take steps to reduce the risk of further damage.
- Taking videos and photos of the damage as soon as possible.
- Working with us as we (and your insurance carrier) have inspectors and contractors assess the damage and make recommendations – before beginning any permanent repairs.
Do you have a Kentucky wind damage insurance claim lawyer near me?
Our office is located at 2950 Breckenridge Ln, Suite 13-200 in Louisville. We consult with policyholders by phone and through video.
We’ll answer all your questions, explain how the claims process works, and guide you through each step of the claims process.
Get help form our Kentucky insurance dispute lawyers if you suffered wind-related damage
The insurance companies will work to say you’re not covered or that your damage isn’t severe. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we’re ready to respond. We hold insurance companies to their duty to pay the claims of their insureds. We work with professionals who will assess all your damage, explain what repairs are necessary, and place a precise value on the cost to restore your home and any other damaged property. We’ve obtained more than $100 million dollars for our insurance loss claimants. To assert your right to your insurance proceeds for a wind damage claim, call our Kentucky insurance dispute lawyers now or fill out our contact form today to schedule a consultation. Proudly serving the entire Southeast.