Normally you can file an insurance claim within a year of having your roof damaged. Let’s take a look at some of the factors involved.
Reasons You Put Off Filing a Claim
There are a lot of reasons why you might have put off filing a claim. Maybe you didn't realize your roof sustained any damage during a hail storm until your neighbor had his roof inspected, or you didn’t have the cash on hand to pay for the deductible.
If you’re like a lot of people, you might simply have been too busy at the time, and put it off until now.
Whatever the case, the question you’re now asking is, “Is it too late?”
Texas Insurance Law
Texas has some rules about the maximum time frame for filing an insurance claim after damage occurs to your property.
In the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code it says that the statute of limitations for property damage is two years from the date that the damage occurred.
So from a legal standpoint, the maximum time frame to file a claim in Texas is two years from the date the damage occurred.
However, you may not have that much time, depending on your insurance policy.
Insurance Policy Restrictions
Insurance companies can stipulate their own specific time frames in their policies.
For instance, most Texas Farm Bureau policies state that the repair work needs to be completed within a year from the date of damage.
So it’s important to check your homeowner’s policy to see what your deadline is for filing a claim or having repair work completed.
In addition, your policy might have a “prompt notice” or “timely notice” stipulation. In other words, there’s a slightly greater chance that your insurance policy might be denied if the insurance company thinks you deliberately delayed to notify them.
In practice, however, the “prompt notice” requirement is rarely a make-it-or-break-it issue if the rest of your claim is pretty straightforward.
What Should I Do Now?
Even if it's been more than a year since a wind or hail storm came through your area, there’s definitely a chance that you can still file a successful claim.
Give us a call, and we’ll come out and inspect your roof at no cost to you.
We’ve worked with many different insurance companies, and can predict with reasonable accuracy how your insurance company will respond to your claim.
We’ll assess your home for storm damage, and advise you on the next steps for replacing your roof.
The Bottom Line
If your roof was damaged less than 12 months ago, it’s almost certainly not too late to file a claim.
If it’s been more than a year, it’s still very possible that we can help you work with your insurance company to get a new roof.
Either call the number at the top of this page, or hit the button below to get in touch with one of our friendly roof experts. We’d love to serve you!