Monday, October 25, 2021
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Engineers and Insurance Claims: How an Engineer Inspection Could Influence your Claim
Unfortunately, engineers often represent the best interests of the insurance company – not the policyholder. In some cases, insurance companies and engineers have even been accused of teaming up to commit insurance fraud, finding faults with your claim where there are no faults to find.
Yes, engineers could influence your insurance claim. Today, we’re explaining the role engineers play in insurance claims.
Why is the Insurance Company Sending an Engineer?
Insurance companies send an engineer when there is a dispute between the two of you regarding damages and the cause of the damage, or the accurate way to repair or replace the damaged item.
The engineer will check various aspects of your claim to verify damage. They will often document all other damages in the home as well, whether they are related to the claim or not. Then, the engineer will produce a report.
Your insurer may send a notice about an engineer inspecting your claim. When this happens, it is often time to reach out to a Public Adjuster or another engineering firm to represent you at the time of the inspection.
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In the past, engineering firms have been accused of falsifying reports, publishing erroneous reports, and conspiring with insurers to deny legitimate claims.
Engineers Analyze your Insurance Claim to Verify Damage
An insurance company usually hires an engineer to verify damage related to your insurance claim when there is a dispute about coverage, repair methods and the cause of damage.
Your insurance company’s adjuster may be unable to determine the difference between hail damage and windstorm damage or water damage and wear and tear. An engineer, however, can determine the difference.
The engineer will check the damage, then produce an engineer’s report based on the findings. This report is based off of a visual inspection. So if you don’t agree with the report, hiring your own expert to dispute the report and perform some additional invasive testing might be necessary to prove your claim.
Sometimes, the insurance company lets you see the engineer’s report. In other cases, the insurance company only discloses the results upon request. This report can often take 4 to 6 weeks to become available to you. You should always request a copy and make sure that you agree with the explanations that were provided to the insurance company.
If you need help handling a dispute or any aspect of a property damage insurance claim, contact a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster for a free consultation.
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What is an Engineer’s Report?
An engineer’s report is a document explaining the engineer’s findings for your insurance claim.
Engineer’s reports are designed to look impressive. Some even seem designed to intimidate the policyholder using big terms, scientific language, and jargon.
You might see citations of studies, articles, and other reports on the engineer’s report. It’s a formal, professionally-formatted document featuring the engineer’s findings.
The engineer’s report will disclose the engineer’s opinion on the damage, including the cause of the damage, the extent of the damage, and whether the damage took place suddenly or over a long period of time.
Why the Engineer’s Report is Important
Based on the engineer’s findings, your insurance company could adjust the value of your claim – or even deny your claim entirely.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that are not on your side. Their goal is to make as much money as possible.
The best way to make money is by limiting payouts on claims. By hiring an engineer, the insurer may discover a reason to deny or reduce your claim. They often use the report from the engineer as a type of “plausible deniability”, so they did not fully make the decision to deny your claim, the engineer did.
Example: Let’s say there is a hurricane and you make a claim for wind damage to your home. Most insurance policies cover wind damage, and you assume your insurer will cover the cost of repairing the damage. However, the insurance company hires an engineer. The engineer determines the damage was caused by flooding that took place after the windstorm – not the windstorm itself. Your insurance policy does not cover flooding, so the insurer will deny your claim.
Despite what insurance companies claim, they are not on your side and they do not have your best interests in mind. That’s why many homeowners hire Public Adjusters.
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Forensic Engineers and Insurance Companies Could Have a Close Connection
When your insurer hires an engineer for your claim, you expect the engineer to be unbiased.
However, many forensic engineering firms are closely connected to insurance companies. In fact, some even claim there’s a natural conflict of interest:
When an insurance company hires an engineering firm, the engineering firm may feel pressure to side with the insurer.
If the engineer sides with the insurer, then the insurer will continue to use the engineer on future claims.
If the engineer sides with the policyholder, then the engineer loses future business.
Forensic engineers specialize in analyzing insurance claims for clients. The insurer hires the forensic engineer to assess the damage, and the forensic engineer produces a report.
In major large loss insurance claims, the insurer could pay the forensic engineering firm millions of dollars to create the reports after a disaster such as a hurricane.
As a forensic engineer hired by the insurer, it’s in your best interests to keep the client happy. You want more multi-million dollar projects.
For all of these reasons, many people have accused forensic engineering firms of producing engineering reports that are in favor of the insurer – not the policyholder.
Forensic Engineering Bias: Is your Forensic Engineer Being Honest?
Insurers hire forensic engineers to review insurance claims. Theoretically, the forensic engineer is an unbiased third party. In reality, the forensic engineer may be biased towards siding with the insurer instead of the policyholder.
Dealing with insurance claims and property damage can be messy. In some cases, it’s impossible to distinguish the difference between the initial cause of flood damage and windstorm damage.
In cases where the cause of the damage is ambiguous, the engineer may want to side with the insurer. In this situation, the “tie” goes to the insurer.
Not all forensic engineers are biased towards the insurer. Many forensic engineers are honest professionals.
However, a growing number of insurers have been accused of using biased engineers. These engineers claim to be neutral third parties, yet they consistently produce reports that help insurers avoid liability.
After Hurricane Sandy, Engineers Were Caught Falsifying Reports for Insurers
Engineering report fraud isn’t a myth: it’s a real problem in the insurance industry. We saw it after Hurricane Sandy.
After Hurricane Sandy, insurers were caught working with engineers who falsified reports. Engineers produced reports that helped insurers escape liability. Engineers made money, insurers avoided liability for claims they rightfully had to pay, and customers lost millions.
The problem got so bad that 60 Minutes did a report on the issue. They described the engineering report scam as “the storm after the storm,” claiming many families “didn’t get the help they deserve.”
At a time when homeowners needed their insurer the most, and at a time when insurers should have been liable for damages, insurers and engineering companies may have conspired to deny claims.
One homeowner interviewed by 60 Minutes received just $79,000 of his $250,000 policy after Hurricane Sandy. An engineering report found that there was no structural damage to the home caused by Hurricane Sandy. Instead, the home already had structural damage before Hurricane Sandy. Because of this report, the insurance company avoided liability.
Here’s how one lawyer interviewed by 60 Minutes described the rampant insurance fraud perpetrated by insurers and engineering firms:
“The fraud is taking engineers' reports and changing them from saying there was structural damage to saying there's no structural damage or giving the engineers a form to fill out that already has the conclusion of no structural damage.”
That lawyer claims he has found “thousands of cases” with similar issues. When insurance companies see a chance to avoid liability, they’ll often take it.
Other Lawsuits Have Been Filed Against Insurers and Engineering Firms
Insurance fraud is common. You can find plenty of lawsuits filed against insurance companies and engineering firms.
In Daigle v. Haag Engineering Co, for example, homeowners sued an engineering company that sided with their insurer, State Farm, after hailstorm damage.
State Farm hired Haag Engineering Co. to perform certain engineering services on five homes after the hailstorm. Prior to the inspection, Haag submitted documents to State Farm suggesting that hail stones smaller than one inch in diameter would not cause damage to composition shingle roofs. Although the homes were damaged, the hail stones were smaller than one inch. Because of this, the claimants argued that State Farm’s rejection of their claim was “preordained.”
The lawsuit eventually made its way to the Texas Board of Appeals.
You can find plenty of similar cases from other states. Some engineering firms have been accused of denying millions of dollars in homeowner compensation based on fraudulent reports.
With false engineering reports, insurers win big, engineering firms get paid, and homeowners lose.
How Public Adjusters Help Avoid Fraudulent Engineer’s Reports
Public Adjusters can help navigate complex insurance claims. A good Public Adjuster manages your claim from start to finish. Public Adjusters can also increase the amount of compensation you receive from your insurance company. In some cases, a Public Adjuster could triple the insurance company’s initial offer.
It’s easy to get intimidated by an engineer’s report. The report is loaded with jargon, scientific information, and technical data. You might struggle to decipher any of it. Often times, the reports contain more information about damage that is not related to the claim than the claim related damage that is in dispute.
Public Adjusters, however, have plenty of experience reading engineer’s reports. They can spot errors and omissions on the report – including fraudulent and non-fraudulent mistakes.
Public Adjusters know the tricks insurance companies use to deny and reduce claims. When you hire a Public Adjuster, you get a licensed professional on your side who can spot errors in engineer’s reports, correct those errors, and maximize compensation for clients.
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Public Adjusters Spot Errors and Omissions on Engineering Reports
Engineering reports aren’t perfect. They may have errors and omissions.
Public Adjusters spot these errors and omissions to ensure policyholders like you get fair treatment.
Engineers make mistakes too. Not all errors and omissions are based on fraud. Engineers may overlook items, make mistakes, and forget to check certain aspects of your claim.
In other cases, errors and omissions are based on fraud, and the engineering firm is intentionally trying to deceive the policyholder while siding with the insurance company.
Whether the engineering report errors and omissions are intentional or not, a Public Adjuster has the experience to spot these errors, ensuring you receive fair treatment for your claim instead of having your claim denied because of an erroneous report.
Other Things to Know Before an Engineering Inspection
Did you receive a notice from your insurer about an engineering inspection? It is in your best interest to stop your insurance company before they send an engineer and seek outside representation to help with your claim. This call for an engineering inspection is often the first sign that something is going wrong with your claim.
Engineering inspections are a normal part of many insurance claims. However, there are certain things you need to know before the inspection takes place, including:
- The Engineer May Inspect Everything: Engineers have a serious job to perform. To make a thorough report, the engineer may need to inspect everything related to your claim in and around your home. Expect the engineer to do a deep dive into your property and your insurance claim to determine the truth. If you have damage that is clearly not related to the claim, such as deferred maintenance, you should attempt to repair these items before the inspection, so the engineer can focus on the items that are claim related.
- Wait for the Engineer’s Report: The insurance company is sending an engineer to your property to assess the claim. The engineer will assess the claim, then produce a report determining the cause of the damage. You should be able to see the engineer’s report after the inspection, including the findings from the report and how they relate to your claim. However, this can often take 4 to 6 weeks, so be prepared to wait.
- Talk to an Adjuster or Attorney to Prevent Insurance Fraud: Engineering reports can be difficult to understand. A Public Adjuster or attorney can help you decipher an engineering report. If you’re concerned about the items discussed in an engineering report, then sit down to discuss the issue with a Public Adjuster or attorney. Most offer free consultations. Whenever possible, it is always best to reach out before the inspection so there is someone there to help point out damages and try to ensure the first report is accurate, and if not, at least the inspection is documented by a claims professional or another engineer.
What to Do If Your Claim is Denied After an Engineering Report
If an engineering report has led your insurance claim to be denied, then you may need to hire an attorney or Public Adjuster.
Let’s say your home was damaged in a disaster. The disaster was a covered event, and your insurer should be liable for the event. However, the engineer’s report finds there was damage before the event. As a result, the insurer denies your claim.
In this situation, the insurer may have a legitimate reason to deny your claim.
However, it’s also possible the engineer’s report was not accurate. It’s possible you’re dealing with insurance fraud, a bad faith insurer, and a clearly biased engineering firm. It’s also possible the engineering firm made a simple mistake.
A Public Adjuster or attorney can help you navigate the claim, overturn the denial, and ensure you receive the compensation owed to you based on the terms of your insurance contract.
When insurers hire forensic engineers to inspect insurance claims, it’s a clear sign something could be going wrong with the claim.
Insurers hire engineers who do good work for them. When an engineer sides with the homeowner, it means the insurer has to pay. That’s bad for business.
Every day, homeowners across the United States become victims of insurance fraud because of engineers and insurance companies. If your claim has been denied or reduced because of an engineering report, consider hiring a Public Adjuster today.
Contact ClaimsMate for a free consultation with a Public Adjuster.
ClaimsMate’s Public Adjusters have a proven track record of overturning denied claims, challenging erroneous engineering reports, and ensuring you receive every penny owed to you based on the terms of your insurance contact.
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Monday, October 4, 2021
Everything You Need To Know About Tornado Damage Insurance Claims
However, some homeowners insurance policies do not cover windstorm damage. If you live in a wind-prone area of the country, for example, then your policy may exclude windstorm damage. You may need to pay extra for it.
Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about tornado damage insurance claims and how they work.
How Homeowners Insurance Policies Cover Tornado Damage
You buy homeowners insurance to protect your home and your possessions. After a tornado, your home and the contents inside your home may be damaged. That’s why you make a homeowners insurance claim.
Most homeowners insurance policies include dwelling coverage. Dwelling coverage covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home after unexpected events – like a house fire, windstorm, or tornado.
Most homeowners insurance policies also include personal property coverage, which covers the cost of replacing or repairing the belongings inside your home after a loss.
Here’s how these coverages work for most tornado damage insurance claims:
Dwelling Coverage: Dwelling coverage covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your home from tornado and windstorm damage.
Personal Property Coverage: Personal property coverage covers the cost of repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed belongings inside your home. If a tornado destroyed your computer, for example, then you could make a personal property coverage claim for the value of your computer.
You should be able to make a claim for your tornado damage to cover your dwelling and personal property. However, check if your policy excludes windstorm or tornado damage before proceeding with your claim.
Some Homeowners Insurance Policies Exclude Wind Damage
Most homeowners will be able to make a claim for tornado damage through their policy. However, if your policy excludes windstorm coverage, then you will not be able make a claim for tornado damage.
Your insurance policy may exclude windstorm or tornado coverage if you live in a wind-prone area of the country.
In this situation, your standard insurance policy may exclude windstorm damage but many homeowners pay extra for windstorm coverage.
As a general rule, most homeowners insurance policies in the United States cover tornado damage through windstorm coverage. However, check your policy to make sure you’re protected against tornado damage.
How Insurance Companies Cover Windstorm Damage
If your insurance policy covers windstorm damage, then you can proceed with a claim.
Insurance companies compensate your windstorm damage in two different ways.
Depending on your policy, insurance companies will cover the actual cash value or replacement cost of your dwelling and property up to the limits of your policy.
Actual Cash Value (ACV): With actual cash value home insurance, your insurance company pays you the actual value of the contents of your home, minus depreciation of these contents over time. If you paid $1,500 for your laptop five years ago, for example, then you might receive just $400 in compensation today because of depreciation.
Replacement Cost Coverage: If you have a replacement cost coverage policy, then your insurer will pay to replace the damaged item with one of similar type and quality. If your $1,500 laptop was damaged in the tornado, for example, then your insurer will cover the cost of replacing that laptop with one with similar specifications.
When shopping for homeowners insurance, you choose which insurance policy you like. Replacement cost coverage policies cost more than ACV policies, but they also provide significantly more compensation after a loss.
Both ACV and replacement cost policies cover tornado damage up to the limits of your policy. If your home was a total loss from the tornado, for example, and you have a homeowners insurance policy with a $100,000 limit, then your insurer will pay you $100,000.
Tornado Damage Accompanied by Water Damage
Tornados may be accompanied by a heavy rainstorm. Many homeowners insurance disputes arise because of confusion about the source of the damage.
Homeowners insurance policies do not typically cover flood damage. If your home damage was caused by a flood, then your insurance company may deny your claim.
Homeowners insurance policies generally do cover windstorm damage. If your home damage was caused by the winds of the tornado, and as a result of that damage water got inside your home, then your insurance company should pay for damages, as long as your policy covers windstorm damage.
As you can imagine, claims can get messy.
What happens if a tornado damages your home, but then floodwaters from the street pour into your home through that damaged area? What happens when stormwater systems back up into your home? What happens when a tornado causes a tree to fall onto your home, allowing rain to enter your property?
In all of these situations, claims can get messy quickly. That’s why it’s important to document damages and stay detailed and organized through the entire claim process – or hire a licensed Public Adjuster if for large claims or difficult situations.
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If you live in a flood-prone region, you may be able to buy flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. The NFIP provides flood insurance to flood-prone areas of the country where traditional insurance companies do not want to provide it.
Tornado Damage Caused by Fallen Trees
Trees may fall on your home during a tornado. If a large tree falls, it could cause serious damage to your home, your car, and other property in and around your home.
Your insurer may or may not pay for fallen tree damage, depending on your policy coverage options.
If wind caused a tree to fall onto your home, and your homeowners insurance policy covers wind damage, then your insurance company should pay for repairs. The wind caused the tree to fall over, damaging your home.
However, your insurance company may argue that it was a maintenance-related issue: the tree fell on your home because you didn’t remove the rotting, leaning, or damaged tree, for example. In this situation, the insurer may deny your claim because you failed to take adequate precautions. As a homeowner, you have a responsibility to maintain your home.
How to Evaluate Tornado Damage
If a tornado struck your area, then you might have serious or minor damage. You need to evaluate your home to determine the extent of the damage caused by a tornado.
- Start with a visual inspection of the home. Check your roof, windows, and siding.
- Look for missing shingles or flashing, damage to the gutters, and siding pieces that have been broken or split.
- If you have wood shingles, then look for cracked, dented, or split wood shingles. With asphalt or composition shingles, look for divots, cracks, or visible signs of damage to the shingles (like areas that are soft to the touch or appear damaged).
- The soft metals of your roof may have damage. Check the flashing, vents, chimney, air conditioning units, exhaust caps, and other soft metal components of your roof for any dents or physical damage.
- Finally, check your window frames and gutters for physical damage.
Even if shingles don’t look damaged, they might have significant damage after a tornado because of granule loss. Hail and wind-flung debris can cause significant damage to the granules of your shingles. Once your shingles lose their granules, they become less effective. They don’t wick moisture as efficiently, and this can cause moisture to build up underneath.
For all of these reasons, it’s important to order a professional roof inspection after a tornado or significant windstorm. If you need help with inspecting damage, dealing with the insurance company or handling a tornado damage insurance claim contact a licensed Public Insurance Adjuster for a free consultation.
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Tornado Damage & Storm Intensity
Tornados are graded from F0 to F5. Depending on the category of tornado, you might have minor to severe damage.
The Fujita (EF) scale rates tornadoes from F0 (light damage) to F5 (very heavy damage). At the highest end of the scale, tornados have windspeeds of 261 to 318mph.
Some of the most destructive tornadoes in the United States, including the Tuscaloosa and Joplin tornadoes, were considered F4 and F5 tornadoes. However, even F3 tornadoes can destroy homes and cause serious damage.
Here are tornado severity scales and the typical damage they cause:
- F0: Light damage to chimneys, sign boards, and siding.
- F1: Roof surfaces peeled away and mobile homes overturned.
- F2: Roofs torn off buildings, mobile homes destroyed.
- F3: Roofs and walls torn away from buildings.
- F4: Buildings destroyed with some structures blown a long way away.
- F5: Homes destroyed and swept away.
Tornado Losses Are Increasing
Tornado losses are becoming more common. Nearly half of all catastrophic losses per year occur due to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.
As populations increase in rural areas of the country, the number of tornado losses will continue to rise. More homes are being built in rural areas along the path of tornadoes, which increases the likelihood of a tornado hitting a home.
According to Aon, insured losses in the United States from severe convective storms (the types of storms that cause tornadoes) has totaled at least $10 billion each year since 2008. Although scientists aren’t clear if the number of storms is increasing, it’s clear that the number of insurance claims is increasing.
And, as the Insurance Information Institute explains, the United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country.
Two of the costliest tornadoes in American history have included the April 2011 tornado in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (which caused $8.5 billion in damages) and the August 10, 2020 Midwest Derecho (which caused $8.3 billion in insured losses).
Plus, tornadoes can happen at any time of year. Although they’re generally associated with summer thunderstorms, tornadoes can occur during any month, especially if you live further south.
How a Tornado Damage Insurance Claim Works: Step by Step Guide
Most homeowners have zero experience with tornado damage insurance claims. Unfortunately, your insurer may try to take advantage of that fact, pushing you to accept lower compensation than the amount you are owed.
Here’s how a typical tornado damage insurance claim will proceed:
- You experience the loss, notice the damage, and contact your insurance company.
- Your insurance company sends an adjuster to look at your property. You can be present during the inspection, but you don’t have to be. The adjuster will inspect the exterior of your home, including the roof, for visible signs of damage.
- The insurance adjuster may perform a 10’ x 10’ test on your roof to determine if there’s sufficient damage to warrant a claim. If there’s more than a certain number of dents, bruises, or breaks in the test square, then your insurance company should pay for the damage.
- The insurance company might recommend a specific contractor. Or, you can shop around for your own contractor.
- The contractor completes the repairs, repairing your roof and home to pre-loss condition.
Your insurer may pay you before or after the contractor performs repairs. Typically, the insurer sends you a check for the actual cash value of the property within a week of the inspection. The insurer may also send a second check after the repairs are completed.
In a perfect world, your contractor repairs all tornado damage perfectly, restoring your home to the state it was before the loss. You’re happy with the repairs, and you receive fair compensation from your insurance company.
In reality, unfortunately, many homeowners are dissatisfied with tornado damage insurance claims. Insurers may deny claims and contractors could perform low-quality repairs, for example, leaving you frustrated.
How a Commercial Tornado Damage Insurance Claim Works
If you have commercial property insurance, then you may need to make a commercial tornado damage insurance claim.
Commercial insurance covers many of the same things as homeowners insurance, including damage to your property and possessions.
However, commercial insurance may also cover business interruption and other issues.
If your business was struck by a tornado, then your commercial insurance should cover the cost of restoring your business to pre-loss condition.
Common commercial tornado damage insurance claim issues include:
- Broken machinery and equipment
- Damaged inventory and stock
- Fallen trees, destroyed roofing systems, and exposed roof structure components
- Partial or full structural damage to the building
- Interruption of business
Some businesses hire commercial claims public adjusters to identify all issues and ensure you receive adequate coverage for your business. A good commercial claims public adjuster can ensure your business receives every penny owed based on the terms of your insurance contract.
Tornado Damage Insurance Claim Disputes: What Should You Do?
If you and your insurer disagree about your tornado damage insurance claim, then you might need to take action.
Tornado damage insurance claims can be messy. Your insurance company signed a contract with you. It’s important to stand up for your rights – and hold your insurer accountable for your insurance contract.
Here are some of the strategies for dealing with tornado damage insurance claim disputes:
Hire an Attorney or Public Adjuster: Depending on your state, a licensed Public Adjuster or attorney could help you with insurance claim disputes. Public Adjusters fight for higher compensation on your behalf, clarifying policy language to ensure you get the maximum amount owed to you according to your insurance contract. If you have an insurance dispute worth more than $10,000, then it may be in your best interest to hire an attorney or public adjuster. Public Adjusters provide free consultations and can often resolve disputes quicker and more economically than attorney's.
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Get Multiple Estimates: Insurance companies will pay ‘fair market price’ to repair your home after a tornado. The insurer may use a defined price list to determine the cost of repairs. The actual cost of repairs could be much higher or lower. Get multiple estimates to ensure the insurer is paying a fair market price for your repairs.
Challenge your Insurer’s Claims: If your insurer claims the tornado damage came from floodwaters instead of rainwater, then it could change your claim significantly. If you know the damage came from tornado damage (which would be covered) and not flood damage (which would not be covered), then challenge your insurer’s claims. Hire a professional to assess the damage. Hire a Public Adjuster to help if needed.
Fight Against a Denied or Reduced Claim: If an insurance company has denied your claim or reduced your payout, then it’s not the end. Fight back against the claim. You signed a contract with your insurance company, and your insurance company legally needs to abide by the terms of that insurance contract.
FAQs About Tornado Damage Insurance Claims
We get plenty of questions about tornado damage insurance claims. Here are our answers.
Q: Does my homeowners insurance cover tornado damage?
A: Most homeowners insurance policies cover tornado damage. Unlike earthquakes or floods, tornadoes are covered perils that do not require special coverage. However, if you live in a wind-prone area of the country, then your policy may exclude windstorm coverage (or you may need to pay extra for windstorm coverage).
Q: How does tornado insurance coverage work?
A: Your homeowners insurance policy covers tornado damage just like it covers windstorm damage. From an insurance standpoint, there’s no difference between a windstorm and a tornado.
Q: Does car insurance cover tornado damage?
A: If your vehicle has comprehensive coverage, then car insurance protects your vehicle from tornado damage (and other windstorm damage). Comprehensive coverage is a normal part of any vehicle’s full coverage car insurance.
Q: What should I do with a tornado insurance claim dispute?
A: If you and your insurer disagree about your tornado damage insurance claim, then consider hiring an attorney or public adjuster to handle your claim. Public adjusters can double or even triple your insurance company’s initial offer for tornado damage insurance coverage.
Q: Will insurance rates rise after a tornado?
A: Insurance companies usually will not directly raise premiums on most policyholders after a catastrophic loss. However, studies show that insurance rates increase by 8% following a total loss insurance claim. In addition, insurance companies often raise rates by zip codes or other geographical areas following storms with a high volume of claims in those areas.
Q: Which states have the most tornadoes?
A: The top ten states with the most tornadoes include Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Alabama, Mississippi, and Colorado.
Q: Where do tornadoes occur?
A: Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the United States, and the United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world. However, according to the National Weather Service, tornadoes are most common in the central plains of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Appalachians.
Q: When do tornadoes occur?
A: According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes typically occur in the late afternoon and evening during the spring and summer. The southern states experience tornadoes more often in spring, while the northern states in the tornado zone experience more tornadoes in the summer.
Q: What type of damage can tornadoes do?
A: Tornadoes can cause mild to severe damage, depending on the intensity of the storm. A severe tornado (F3, F4, and F5) can rip the walls and roof away from a home. Even a minor or moderate tornado (F0, F1, or F2) can cause serious damage to roofs, homes, and mobile homes.
Final Word: Hire a Public Adjuster for your Tornado Damage Insurance Claim
Tornado damage insurance claims can be messy. Consider hiring a Public Adjuster to help with your insurance claim.
A good public adjuster fights for higher compensation for clients, to help them make all the needed repairs and fully recover after a loss.
Contact a ClaimsMate Public Adjuster today to discuss your situation and get help with your insurance claim. A good Public Adjuster can navigate a tricky tornado damage insurance claim to ensure you receive every penny owed to you based on the terms of your insurance contract.
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