Hail season is already in full swing this year. Hail can form in most thunderstorms, especially those that come with towering vertical clouds known as cumulonimbus. And the Texas Panhandle sees plenty of those kinds of storms during the summer.
Most hail, fortunately, comes in small bursts with individual hailstones the size of a pea or smaller, which does little property or crop damage. But, on occasion, the hail can come in a massive, long-lasting deluge. And in some cases, hail can grow as large as a softball and weigh over a pound. That’s when property and crop losses really start to add up. For farmers and commercial property owners, insurance is the best protection to cover the costs associated with hail damage.
Insurance Claims And Hail Damage
If you sustain commercial property or crop damage due to a hail storm, your first action should be to contact your insurance company. In many cases, the assessor will check the situation, get estimates on the damage and start the paperwork. The insurance company will pay the claim and life goes on.
However, sometimes, the insurance company is not so cooperative. The company may balk at the damages the property owner is claiming or may not think the damage was caused by a hail storm. They may delay in paying the claim or outright refuse.
At that point, your best bet is to work with a qualified attorney to get the claim straightened out. An experienced attorney knows how to speak the same language as the insurance company. The attorney can get the information necessary to get the insurer to pay the claim and to get relief to the property owner. If necessary, the attorney can help the client take the insurance company to court to get the claims paid.
If your insurance company is hesitating or refusing to pay the hail damage claim on your commercial property or crops, contact Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C. in Amarillo, Texas. We have plenty of experience dealing with first party insurance claims on commercial storm damage and hail damage to crops. Let us take on the insurance company for you.