One of the many perils that an insurance company can cover is wind damage. Wind can originate from many sources such as hurricanes; tornadoes; cyclones; and a change in weather conditions that precipitate rain, snow and hail storms.
If you own a building or personal property (contents), you can purchase insurance to cover them from loss (damage caused by a covered peril). Commercial property owners can buy insurance to cover damage to the building, the items inside the building, and any liability that may result from owning the building and contents. Homeowners and renters can also purchase the same general type of coverage that a commercial property owner does.
At first glance, you may assume that wind damage insurance covers all damage caused by wind, but that isn’t true. Wind damage insurance covers the damage that wind causes to some things, but not all of them. Although a peril (things that cause damage to property) may be covered on your insurance, the entire cost to repair or replace the damaged items may not be recovered. For the following examples, let’s assume you do have wind damage coverage on your policy.
Wind Damage Insurance for Buildings and Contents
- If wind causes one of your trees to fall on your home, your insurance will pay for that damage. Depending upon your insurance company, it may also pay for all or part of the cost to remove the tree.
- Wind causes one of your trees to falls on a neighbors building and their insurance will cover the cost of repairs, but their insurance company may subrogate (legally pursue reimbursement from your insurance company) for the damages.
- If wind knocked over a tree in your yard but the tree didn’t cause any damage to your covered property, your insurance company will not pay you for the removal or replacement of the tree.
- Let’s assume that wind knocks over a tree in your yard, one that you knew was damaged or weak but you did nothing about. The tree then hits your neighbor’s house and causes damage. Your insurance company has no obligation to pay for the neighbor’s damaged house because you knew about the damaged tree but did nothing to lessen the chance of it falling and creating a loss. Because of your negligence, a neighbor can hold you personally responsible for the damage to their home.
- If wind causes damage to your home or personal belongings, the loss will be covered under the wind damage section of your policy.
- If wind causes damage to a building and water from rain destroys part of the building or furnishings, the damage caused by both the rain and the wind will be covered.
- If the wind is so intense that it collapses a building, and destroys the furnishings, both the building and furnishings will also be covered.
Wind Damage Insurance for Renters
Renters who have wind damage insurance coverage will be covered for loss or damage to their furnishings/personal belongings in much the same way as shown in the examples above. But remember, renters insurance does not cover damage to buildings or structures.
Wind Damage Insurance Deductibles
When property damage insurance is purchased, insureds generally have to choose a deductible amount. A deductible represents an amount of that is subtracted from what the insurance company must pay in case of a loss. For instance, if an insured has $5,000 in wind damage to his house and personal belongings and a $500 deductible for wind damage coverage, the insurance company will pay the insured $4,500.
Wind Damage Insurance Coverage Limits
Insurance policies list the maximum amount they will pay for a covered loss. That amount is called the coverage limit. For instance, a home that is insured for $200,000 has a coverage limit of $200,000. If a hurricane hits a home and it is demolished, the maximum amount that the insurance company will pay to repair or replace the home will be $200,000, minus any deductible.
Homeowner and business insurance is very complex and is generally only understood by insurance professionals and attorneys who have specialized knowledge and expertise. Wind damage coverage and the wording used in policies vary from one insurance company to another. If you have a wind damage claim, whether it’s for your home or business property, it is important that you understand exactly what is and is not covered. Insurance companies are notorious for either underpaying or outright refusing to pay claims.
If you feel that your insurance company isn’t taking your wind damage claim seriously, you can give us a call. At the Smythe Law Group, Inc.we take your insurance claims seriously and will fight to make it right for you.