Tennessee Insurance Dispute Lawyers for Wind Damage Claims
Holding insurance companies accountable for wind damage to properties throughout the Southeast and Midwest
While most homeowner’s and commercial insurance policies cover wind damage, insurance companies often try to shift the blame to conditions that aren’t covered in the policy or downplay the extent of the damage. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we’ve helped more than a thousand policyholders whose claims have been denied or underpaid obtain the insurance proceeds they deserve.
- $3.3+ Million: Alexander Properties Group v. Commonwealth Ins. Co. After a four-day arbitration trial involving a windstorm loss to two apartment complexes, the arbitrator awarded the Firm’s client more than $3,000,000. The insurance company had previously denied the claim and refused proper payment.
- $1.6+ Million recovery from QBE Ins. Co. (CAU). Represented a condo association in a wind and hail claim. Firm secured more than another $1.6 million in damages, bringing total claim to $1.785 million.
- $947,248.00 against State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Company. Clint Scott and Brandon McWherter obtained this jury verdict the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. The case involved damage to the roof of the insured’s manufacturing facility during a windstorm. In advance of trial, State Auto paid approximately $11,000 for the roof damage. The jury awarded $757,798.78 in compensatory damages against State Auto, plus $189,449.70 in a bad faith penalty.
We work with roofing consultant, engineers, building consultants, contractors, estimators, meteorologists and other professionals to properly assess the damage to your building. Our approach has yielded incredible increases.
How can a skilled insurance dispute attorney can help with your wind damage claim?
Strong winds can cause severe damage to roofs and other portions of structures. Wind can cause trees to fall on your home or office. Wind can cause electrical, heating, and telecommunication systems to fail. In short, a “little wind” can do a lot of damage.
We help guide you through the claims process so that you get the insurance compensation for which you bargained. Some of the issues we’ll fight for include:
- Vigorously contesting insurance companies’ attempts to apply exclusions or limitations when the facts don’t support such a contention.
- Verifying that all the wind damage to your property has been thoroughly inspected
- Determining what work needs to be done and the timeline for doing the work
- Determining what ordinance and laws may apply, which could trigger additional coverage under some policies
- Ensuring that properly trained and qualified estimators correctly value the loss
- Ensuring that the correct materials (usually “like kind and quality,” plus ordinance and law if applicable) are used
- Quickly and forcefully responding to any bad faith tactics by the insurance carrier
- Assisting with obtaining independent estimates and causation reports
Assisting with obtaining independent estimates and causation reports
If the property owner had business interruption insurance and suffered a loss of business income, we also work to help you get properly paid under that coverage as well.
What steps can you take to prevent further damage after the wind has struck your property?
Some precautions to consider after high winds have damaged your property include:
- After a serious storm causes a dangerous amount of damage, shut or turn off electrical power, propane tanks and natural gas to help avoid a fire, explosion, or possible electrocution.
- Cover up open areas such as broken windows and doors to avoid water damage.
- Hire a competent professional to assist with mitigation and temporary repairs.
- Don’t start any major permanent repairs or replacement until your site has been properly inspected and documented by your own professionals and the insurance company’s adjuster.
- Secure the contact information for anyone who may have witnessed the storm or the damage
Be sure to take pictures or videos (the more the better) of any damage as soon as possible to help verify the scope of the destruction.
Speak with an experienced insurance lawyer as soon as possible after wind damage occurs
It is critical that policyholders work with experienced professionals and counsel after wind damage to your property. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we can often negotiate strong settlements with insurance carriers due to our respect in the insurance claims industry. When insurance companies take unreasonable positions, we won’t hesitate to file a lawsuit. To understand your insurance claim rights for wind damage, call 731-664-1340 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. Our attorneys are licensed in Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri.