Less than a month into the new year, and we’ve already seen a number of severe storms rumble across Texas, including major tornadoes that have left significant damage in their wake. While homeowners don’t have control over the trajectory of these fierce storms, they can at least be prepared to respond accordingly, filing tornado damage claims as needed.
Common Types of Property Damage Following Texas Tornadoes
First and foremost, it’s important to be clear-headed about the types of damage that these seemingly random storms can yield. Smoke, debris, leveled buildings, and overturned cars are all common results of a Texas tornado.
Some typical forms of tornado damage include:
- Damage to roofs and siding, including missing or bent shingles.
- Wall and floor damage, including cracks, bows, and separation.
- Damage to the framing of the home, including broken welds on trusses and beams.
- Damage from flying debris, including smashed windows and broken shutters.
- Exterior damage, including broken fences, doors, and roof vents.
- Damage to your landscaping.
How to Pursue a Tornado Damage Claim
If you experience any major property damage as the result of a tornado, you may wish to file a claim with your insurance company. As you do so, we recommend that you keep a few guidelines in mind.
Review Your Coverage
First and foremost, it’s always important to assess what is and isn’t covered by your insurance policy. Your homeowners insurance may have some limitations on the storm damage that it covers. You can always talk with your insurance agent or with an insurance lawyer if you have questions.
Document the Damage
Assuming you and your loved ones are all safe, take some time to document the damage wrought by the tornado. Take pictures and videos. Seek any evidence you can get of the extent of the storm’s damage to your property.
File Your Claim ASAP
If there’s been a tornado rumbling through town, you won’t be the only one to suffer damage, nor will you be the only one to file an insurance claim. Your insurer will likely have a lot of claims to process, so you’ll want to get yours in as quickly as possible in order to expedite things.
Talk with an Attorney
Whether you have questions about the status of your claim or you need to dispute the insurance company’s determination, we recommend speaking with an attorney who is skilled and experienced in handling property damage claims.
If you live in Houston and have any questions at all about filing, monitoring, or disputing a tornado damage claim, reach out to the team at McLaurin Law. We’re here to passionately fight for the rights of Texas policyholders, and we’d be more than happy to talk with you about your tornado claim.
