Hail Damage Claim Attorney

When Your Insurance Company Won’t Pay What Your Hail Damage Is Worth

Hail can damage a roof, siding, gutters, windows, HVAC equipment, and other parts of a property in a matter of minutes. Getting the insurance company to pay for those repairs can take considerably longer.

After a hail claim is filed, the insurer may send an adjuster whose estimate falls well below a contractor’s repair estimate. It may argue that the damage was already there, apply depreciation that significantly reduces the payment, or point to a policy exclusion that may not actually apply to the loss.

Nessler & Associates has represented property owners in insurance disputes for more than four decades. Our attorneys pursue hail damage claims in Florida, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Colorado. If your claim has been denied or the amount offered will not cover the repairs your property needs, you do not have to accept the insurance company’s decision as the final word.

We take qualifying hail damage claims on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

The Damage Hail Can Leave Behind

Hail damage is not always easy to spot from the ground. A roof can look intact while shingles, flashing, underlayment, or other components have sustained damage that eventually allows water into the property. Other exterior systems may also be affected.

Common hail damage includes:

• Roofing: Cracked, bruised, or missing shingles, damaged flashing, compromised underlayment, and other conditions that may allow water intrusion

• Gutters and Downspouts: Dents, separations, and damage that interfere with proper drainage

• Siding: Cracks, impact marks, dents, and damage to weather-resistant surfaces

• Windows: Cracked glass, damaged frames, and broken seals

• HVAC Equipment: Bent fins, damaged exterior components, and other problems that can affect operation

• Commercial Property Components: Flat roof membranes, skylights, signage, rooftop equipment, and other exterior systems

Residential and Commercial Hail Damage Claims

Hail can damage homes and commercial buildings alike, although the claims often involve different types of losses.

For homeowners, common disputes involve roofs, siding, gutters, and windows. An insurer may argue that the damage is cosmetic, resulted from normal aging, or was caused by a different storm.

Commercial claims may involve flat roofs, HVAC systems, skylights, signage, and other costly building components. Because the losses can be substantial, disagreements over repair scope and replacement costs can become more complex.

The size and complexity of the claim may differ, but insurers can dispute both just as aggressively. Our commercial property insurance attorneys and residential property insurance attorneys represent clients when the amount offered does not reflect the full scope of the covered damage.

What to Do After a Hailstorm

What you do after a storm can affect both the condition of your property and your ability to pursue an insurance claim. Whenever it is safe to do so, begin documenting what happened.

Property owners should consider taking the following steps:

• Photograph and record visible damage before permanent repairs are made.

• Review the insurance policy for coverage requirements and reporting deadlines.

• Report the loss to the insurance company promptly.

• Obtain an independent repair estimate from a licensed contractor.

• Keep copies of estimates, invoices, correspondence, claim documents, and photographs.

• Speak with a hail damage claim attorney before accepting a settlement that does not appear to cover the loss.

Insurance policies and state laws can impose different deadlines for reporting damage or pursuing a dispute. Waiting too long may make a claim more difficult and, in some circumstances, may affect your legal rights. If you are uncertain about a deadline, it is better to have the claim reviewed early.

How We Approach a Hail Damage Insurance Dispute

Our work begins with a free case evaluation. We review your insurance policy, the insurer’s estimate or denial, documentation of the damage, and other information that may affect the claim.

From there, we examine where the insurer’s position falls short. That may involve comparing its estimate with contractor bids, reviewing depreciation, examining exclusions cited in a denial, or obtaining independent damage assessments when appropriate.

When the insurance company refuses to fairly address a covered loss, we negotiate for the compensation the claim supports. If a fair resolution cannot be reached, we are prepared to pursue the dispute through litigation.

Nessler & Associates has represented clients since 1977 with an approach built around straight talk and aggressive representation. Our contingency fee structure means you pay no attorney fees unless we recover for you. 

You can review our case results to learn more about the firm’s history of representing clients in disputed claims and other civil matters. 

Where We Represent Hail Damage Claim Clients

Nessler & Associates represents clients in hail and storm insurance disputes across several states:

• Florida: Our Largo office serves clients throughout the state.

• Illinois: Offices in Springfield, Champaign, and Rockford.

• Texas: Our Fort Worth presence serves clients throughout the area.

• Missouri: Representation for qualifying hail damage claims.

• Kentucky: Representation for qualifying insurance disputes.

• Colorado: Representation for qualifying hail damage claims.

Florida property owners dealing with hurricane losses can learn more on our hurricane damage attorney page. Visit our locations page for additional information about where we practice.