Commercial Storm Claims

When a natural disaster strikes and your business property is damaged or destroyed, your entire livelihood may be threatened. Commercial property insurance is what you count on to reimburse you for property damage or loss after a natural disaster. But what happens if your insurer denies or underpays your claim?

When you have trouble getting the help you need and expect from your insurer, it can cause unreasonable stress and can interrupt your business operations. If your insurer is not upholding their end of your insurance agreement, it’s time to contact National Storm Claims.

At National Storm Claims, we see the impact of insurance companies acting in bad faith on a daily basis. Businesses often struggle to get a fair and adequate settlement after storm damage. Our team of storm damage claim lawyers refuse to allow your insurer to get away with unethical practices. 

Helping Commercial Property Owners Get Relief

At National Storm Claims, we offer support before, during, and after a storm. We help business owners protect their commercial properties and manage claims when damage occurs. Our team has worked with a variety of commercial property claims, including:

This list is not exhaustive. All types of commercial properties can suffer damage during a storm. If your business was damaged and you are struggling to get a fair insurance settlement, contact National Storm Claims to see how we can help.

Understanding Your Commercial Property Insurance

Your commercial property insurance may be a single policy, or may be part of a package that includes liability or commercial auto insurance. The purpose of this insurance is to cover physical assets that may be damaged or destroyed during a disaster. Generally, commercial property insurance policies include three components:

• Building Coverage: This offers coverage for losses that are directly related to the building(s) on your commercial property. This may include the building itself, permanent fixtures, equipment, and certain machinery. Your policy may dictate the amount you are able to receive in a claim based on the insured value.
• Business Property Coverage: This part of your insurance covers property related to the business, such as inventory, non-permanent fixtures, supplies, furniture, documents, and other items.
• Personal Property Coverage: If you have any personal property in your care or custody, then this part of your insurance will cover any damage or loss of that property.

There are also separate types of coverage that you can apply for depending on the needs of your business and property. Additional coverage types include things like terrorism coverage, and different levels of liability coverage.

Common Types of Storm Damage Insurance Claims

Depending on where you are located, your property could be vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters. At National Storm Claims, we help you prepare for, and respond to, storm damage from:

• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Hail
• Lightning
• Wind Damage
• Flood Damage

Your commercial insurance policy may cover some of these types of storms, but often, you will need to purchase separate policies for flooding or wind damage. Before a storm hits, make sure you know what is covered under your policy or policies.

Filing a Commercial Storm Damage Claim

Filing a storm damage claim is important so that you can begin repairs and replacement of damaged or lost property. The sooner repairs are completed, the sooner you can return to normal business operations. Never filed a storm damage claim before? National Storm Claims can help! Follow the steps below and contact us if you have questions.

Step 1: Assess the Damage

Do your best to assess the damage that you can easily see. Make notes of damage and take photos to capture evidence. Make a note of the date and time you took the photos. If the damage was caused by a well-reported storm, save copies of news stories detailing the damage area.

Step 2: Contact Your Insurer

You will need to contact your insurer within the timeframe listed on your policy to report the damage. Initiate a claim and find out what documents you need to complete or provide. Before contacting them, read over your policy carefully. If you have questions about coverage or limits, make notes so you can ask them as soon as possible.

Step 3: Interview Contractors

Your insurer will have an insurance adjuster assess and value the damage. It is also a good idea to have a contractor you trust assess the damage and provide a quote for the cost of repairs. Choose a contractor with a solid reputation and experience doing the type of work your property needs.

Step 4: Meet with Insurance Adjuster

When it’s time to meet with an insurance adjuster, request that your chosen contractor be present. This is important because your contractor can ensure you are getting a fair assessment. Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company, not you. They may be biased and attempt to underpay or deny your claim.

Step 5: Wait for Acceptance or Denial

Once the insurer gets the adjuster’s report, they will determine if they will accept or deny your claim. If they accept your claim and the settlement offer seems fair, you can move forward with your claim. If, however, they deny your claim or it is much less than the anticipated costs of repairs, then it’s time to get some help.

What to Do if Your Claim is Denied

Finding out that your commercial insurance claim was denied is incredibly frustrating. The longer it takes for repairs, the longer your business operations may suffer. There are some legitimate reasons why your claim may be denied. Common reasons for denial include:

• Failure to pay premium payments on time
• The insurance company suspects fraud
• The losses claimed are not covered by your policy
• Your coverage limits are met or exceeded

These are the most common reasons why an insurer will deny a commercial storm damage claim. If you believe that the denial was based on a mistake or misinterpretation of your policy or claim, you can always file an appeal with your insurer.

What about Not-So-Legitimate Denials?

There are also times when insurers act in bad faith and deny claims that are not as legitimate as those mentioned above. Acting in bad faith goes beyond making a mistake or misinterpretation. Rather, acting in bad faith occurs when the insurer purposely misleads or manipulates the claim and/or policy to delay, underpay, or deny a claim.

Some of the more common bad faith tactics that we see with insurers include:

• Challenging the value of damage or loss that you report
• Providing misleading or false information about losses covered by your policy
• Ignoring or failing to appropriately document evidence you provide to substantiate your claim
• Failing or refusing to provide an explanation for why the claim was denied
• Undervaluing your claim without an explanation

When insurance companies act in bad faith, policyholders deserve the opportunity to fight back. At National Storm Claims, we can help you hold your insurer accountable for their unethical actions.

Getting Help with Your Commercial Storm Damage Claim

Experiencing storm damage to your home or commercial property is devastating. Unfortunately, you can’t always rely on local authorities or your insurance company to act quickly and get you the help you need.

That’s why National Storm Claims is here. We are passionate about helping residential and commercial property owners protect their properties before, during, and after a storm. We know that commercial storm damage claims can be complicated, and that’s why we have created a system that helps you navigate these situations with adequate support and guidance.

When you subscribe to National Storm Claims, you are getting peace of mind that you have an expert team on your side when disaster strikes. Subscription to National Storm Claims includes the following:

• Two hours of free consultations with a storm claim lawyer
• Access to assistance communicating with insurance companies
• Disaster preparedness materials and resources
• Assistance with filing and managing your commercial storm damage claim

Don’t wait to get the help and support you need to repair and move forward with your business after a storm. Contact National Storm Claims today to get started.