DFW Hailstorm

Get the help you need with your hail damage insurance claim from local industry-leading insurance experts.

 

 

Large hail, extreme winds, possible tornadoes, and even flooding ravaged the Northern Texas area with severe storms on Thursday, March 16, 2023. 

The damage from these storms pummeled the Dallas, Fort Worth area leaving behind immense commercial property damage. Much of the damage will require immediate repairs and should have a detailed claims package prepared along with proper representation to ensure a fair and accurate payment is made for the repairs. 

WE GET PAID WHEN YOU GET PAID

C3 Group works on a contingency basis, meaning if we do not recover insurance proceeds, you pay us nothing. Therefore, we have a vested interest in resolving your claim ethically, properly, and promptly. 

The insurance company has claim adjusters working for them.  It’s imperative to have someone representing your interests as well.  C3 Group welcomes the opportunity to review your claim as a courtesy at no cost to you.

Three states and 244 cities were affected and possibly sustained property damage as a result of this storm.

Why hire a public adjuster?

We wouldn’t recommend you hire just any public adjuster but, it is a good idea to get a licensed and experienced public adjuster involved as soon as possible when your property has sustained extensive damage. Insurance companies and contractors are the first to get inundated with insurance claims and often times, your claim details will slip though the cracks. With a claim advocate representing your claim, you can be sure that every detail is accounted for every ‘t’ is crossed and ‘i’ is dotted.

WHEN CHOOSING A PUBLIC ADJUSTING FIRM DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE
TO BE SURE THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO REPRESENT YOUR LOSS.
  • Verify their license
  • Ask for references
  • Ask if they carry insurance
  • Ask about their process
  • Review similar claims to yours they’ve worked
  • Ask if they contract out their estimates or if it is handled in house
  • Ask if they are Xactimate certified

Why C3 Group?

Our team is comprised of an incomparable investigations team of certified Level 3 Xactimate estimators, and Public Adjusters that have experience handling some of the most complex insurance claims. Each member of our team is committed to putting people first, making sure every question is answered, and an open line of communication is in place throughout the process. We value transparency to ensure all of our clients know exactly what to expect and are involved in any decisions or issues that may arise. Our team prides itself on producing a proven work product that relies on our fanatical attention to detail and data-driven results. This allows our work product to speak for itself, eliminating many carrier arguments from the beginning of the claim process to a quick and accurate settlement. 

Policyholders should not have to just settle when it comes to their property damage insurance claims. We believe they should Settle For Better.

We Defend your insurance claim
with hard data

You don’t have time for dragged-out insurance claims that end in low or denied settlements. We use the right technology and objective data to drive timely and accurate results.

Resources

Handling your hail damage insurance claims
from start to finish

Step 1

Inspection

Step 2

Estimation

Step 3

Preparation

Step 4

Negotiation

Step 5

Settlement

What should I do when my property gets damaged by hail?

Document damage
01 Before filing the claim, photograph and video all the damages. For example, record hail size, damage to roofs, etc.
Inspect & estimate
02 Contact a qualified damage expert like a public adjuster to inspect, verify and quantify damage with an estimate. Avoid submitting frivolous claims where damages don’t exceed your deductible or the property didn’t sustain a covered cause of loss under your policy.
Mitigate damages
03 Policyholders are required to protect covered property from further damage. Failure to do so may result in denied coverage. Be sure to document and photograph everything, limit the amount of demo a company performs and avoid doing anything to permanently alter the structure.
File the claim
04 Once you’ve determined the need for a claim, submit the claim to the carrier for “wind and hail damage” (not just wind or just hail, as that may limit their inspection). Include all of the detailed information you have compiled in the steps above. Also, be aware of time limits that may apply, including:
    • Making claim for replacement cost value (RCV)
    • “Suit Against Us” provisions
    • Proof of Loss
    • Statutory requirements
    • Business interruption/extra expense
Start a claim diary
05 List every person/adjuster and the date they inspect the property. Keep an account of conversations and always get as much possible in writing. (Pro tip: summarize important phone conversations in an email back to the insurance adjuster making sure to verify any verbal commitments in writing.)
Prep for the adjuster
06 Consider hiring a public adjuster, who will prepare the estimate and claims package for you before the adjuster even steps foot on the property. Be aware of common “red flags” and contact a public adjuster or attorney if any of the following occur:
    • A need for engineers
    • Short inspections
    • Mentions of damages under deductible
    • Reservations of Rights
    • Claim denials or delays
    • Examination under oath (EUOs)
Get a valuation of damage
07 Twenty-two of the 25 major U.S. insurance companies rely on the estimating software, Xactimate, to quantify damage. If your contractor does not use Xactimate, that’s okay. However, consider bringing in a public adjuster who does use this software in order to produce the most thorough, accurate estimate and ensure every nook and cranny is inspected.
Get payout/complete repairs
08 Before you sign a waiver of rights or a Proof of Loss, make sure you are satisfied with the proposed settlement. Signing documents like these can oftentimes prevent you from recovering anything further, including supplements.
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Common questions about
hail damage insurance claims

Understand the important things to consider and get answers to your top
questions around your hail damage insurance claim.

How do I know if I should turn in a hail claim?

It’s best to contact a professional to validate damages BEFORE you notify your insurance company in order to avoid a frivolous claim. There are no hard and fast rules on what warrants damage. For example even 1” hail and 60 mph gusts can cause damage depending on the surface it impacts. (Watch this video for an example.)

Will a hail claim raise my premiums?

Typically an “act of god” claim will not increase your premium. However, even if you don’t submit a claim or are not affected by a large catastrophic storm, you may see a rate increase as many other people submit claims.

Can I dispute my hail claim?

Who do you trust, your contractor or your insurance adjuster? If you have an active claim and you have a large dispute between the amount paid by insurance and what your contractor is stating, it’s a good idea to contact a public adjuster, who can assist you in disputing the claim.

What do I do if my claim gets denied or underpaid?

If you have a claim denial or a partially denied claim, it is a good idea to have a licensed public adjuster or attorney review the file to provide a secondary coverage opinion. Our team can review your claim for free.

How do I know if I need a public adjuster on my hail claim?

A qualified restoration contractor can provide an estimate and guide you through the residential claims process. However, if you own or manage a commercial property, policies become more complex and require more detailed reviews of coverage. Oftentimes, insurance companies will require detailed estimates written in a software program, Xactimate. And unfortunately, the vast majority of commercial property claims are underpaid. Our team is certified in Xactimate and includes one of only 48 Xactimate Certified Trainers in the nation. We also have the insurance knowledge and industry expertise you need to ensure your claim is filed accurately, negotiated professionally and paid fairly.

What if my insurance company doesn’t pay Overhead and Profit on my hail claim?

This is a common problem with some insurance companies and it’s unfair and in some states – illegal. Overhead and profit, (“O & P”) is a known expense that all contractors charge, usually at a rate of 10% and 10%. Sometimes insurers will not pay this on the roofing portion of the claim because they believe it’s already part of the Xactimate estimate. Check out our white paper to learn why this is incorrect.

As a contractor, why should I engage a public adjuster on a hail claim?

A public adjuster can help with scaling your company by taking out the everyday minutia of writing an estimate, corresponding with stakeholders and insurance company reps and navigating policy intricacies. We also have the training and expertise to handle claim red flags on behalf of you and your customer, including when/if to engage an engineer, policy coverage, delays, unwarranted denials or underpayment. Furthermore, there are legal limits to what a contractor can do when dealing with insurance claims. Contractors working with policyholders should check the public adjuster statutes in their jurisdiction to ensure they are not acting as an unlicensed public adjuster when assisting in claims.

Clients we service

Agriculture

Get your business operational again with a fair agricultural insurance settlement.

Commercial
business owners

Get the right settlement for your industrial, SMB or REIT claim.

Property
managers

Let us take on the claim process and reach a fair settlement for your HOA or multifamily complex.

Contractors

Save time, ensure your clients get what’s rightfully owed to them and get paid faster with an insurance partner.

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together
is progress; working together is success. “
- Henry Ford