Hail and wind damage we see on claims
Roof
Fractured or bruised shingles, granule loss, punctures, lifted or creased tabs, damaged flashing and vents.
Metal & exterior
Dented gutters, downspouts, metal roofing, siding, garage doors, window screens and wraps.
Openings & interior
Broken windows and skylights, and the water that follows into ceilings, walls and insulation.
Equipment & structures
HVAC condenser fins, solar panels, fences, sheds and outbuildings.
Why hail and wind claims get disputed
- Cause disputes. The insurer attributes damage to wear and tear, age, foot traffic or installation, not the storm.
- Cosmetic damage exclusions. Some Texas policies exclude dents that affect appearance only, especially on metal. Policy wording matters. Read about marring exclusions.
- Scope and pricing. Repair-versus-replace decisions, matching, code upgrades, waste, steep and high charges, and overhead and profit left out of the estimate.
- Date of loss. Arguments that the damage came from an earlier storm or a different policy period.
- ACV and depreciation. Roof ACV endorsements and replacement cost holdback. How holdback works.
How our background helps on storm claims
Before practicing law, Michael P. Bowman worked as a police investigator, contractor and public adjuster. On a hail or wind claim, that means we look closely at how the inspection was done, what the photos actually show and whether the estimate covers the repair the building needs.
What to gather after a storm
- The full, certified copy of your policy and declarations page, including endorsements.
- The date and time of the storm, and any weather or hail reports for your address.
- Dated photos and video of the roof, exterior and any interior damage.
- Every letter, estimate, engineer report and email from the insurer.
- Receipts for tarps, temporary repairs and other mitigation.
See the documentation checklist and the Texas claim timeline.
Texas law on claim handling
The Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act (Tex. Ins. Code ch. 542, subch. B) sets claim-handling deadlines. After the insurer receives notice of a claim, it generally must acknowledge it, start investigating and request what it needs within 15 days (§ 542.055). It must accept or reject the claim in writing within 15 business days after receiving the items it requires (§ 542.056), and pay within 5 business days after notifying you it will pay (§ 542.057). Surplus lines insurers and declared weather catastrophes have different periods (§§ 542.055, 542.057, 542.059). If an insurer that is liable for the claim does not comply, it may owe statutory interest and attorney's fees (§ 542.060).
Chapter 541 prohibits unfair settlement practices, including misrepresenting policy provisions and failing to attempt in good faith a prompt, fair and equitable settlement once liability has become reasonably clear (§ 541.060). See our bad faith page.
Statute references are to the Texas Insurance Code and are summarized for general information. The full text controls. Laws change; check the current version.
