Wind/Tornado Insurance Claims
Damage from windstorms and tornadoes can often be a challenge for policyholders to achieve maximum without proper documentation. When wind interacts with a building, both positive and negative (i.e., suction) pressures occur simultaneously. Violent winds and debris slamming into buildings cause the most structural damage. High wind speeds can cause damage to your property from trees breaking windows, tearing roof shingles and damaging siding. When rain enters your home, water damage may occur to your ceilings, floors, walls, and personal possessions. Personal safety should be your top priority during these natural disasters and calling Advocate Claims Services, should be the next! Our public adjusters will find you temporary housing if needed. If you are living in a temporary home, gather and keep all your receipts. Your public adjuster will assess all damages, document your losses, file estimates and necessary documents, and prepare your insurance claim in a way that will allow us to negotiate the maximum settlement possible for your loss.
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When is tornado season in Michigan? Tornadoes occur most frequently from April until July between 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The average tornado is grounded less than 10 minutes and travels about 5 miles, extreme cases have been known to be grounded for an hour and travel more than 100 miles. Michigan averages 16 tornadoes each year. Fujita- Pearson Tornado Scale F-0: 72mph winds, light damage (chimney damage, tree branches broken). F-1: 73-112mph winds, moderate damage (mobile homes pushed off foundation or overturned). F-2: 113-157mph winds, considerable damage (mobile homes demolished, trees uprooted). F-3: 158-205mph winds, severe damage (roofs and walls torn down, trains overturned, cars thrown). F-4: 207-260mph winds, devastating wind, (well-constructed walls leveled). F-5: 261-318mph winds, incredible wind, (homes lifted off foundation and carried considerable distances,autos thrown as far as 100 meters). |
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Think about this: you hire doctors when you're sick. You hire attorneys when you have legal issues. You hire accountants to handle your books or file your taxes. Why would you hesitate to hire a claims professional to represent you in the submission of your claim?
• A note of caution: Cash checks from your insurance company carefully. Make sure that you are not signing away any rights by cashing the check. If the check has a notation that it is ‘payment in full’ (when it isn’t) or that by cashing the check, the policyholder waives any rights, don’t cash it until you understand the consequences. It's best to contact us before you cash the check even if you're not our client!
Your safety is our priority! Learn more about tornado safety below.
