This week’s high-velocity winds have left business owners and homeowners frustrated while trying to assess the wind-related damage to their homes and commercial buildings. Generally, there are a few steps business owners and homeowners should take following a wind-related property damage:
1. Stay safe and stay away from downed wires, and report them immediately to DTE. Also, watch out for loose gutters, trees, or fences. You might have to hire a professional to remove them safely to prevent harm to others.
2. Thoroughly inspect commercial buildings or houses to determine the damages’ extent. This usually includes taking as many photos as possible and writing a detailed description of everything damaged by the high winds.
3. Mitigate the damages, if possible. Most insurance policies usually require insureds to mitigate their damages (for example, patch roofs or cover open areas with a tarp).
Report a claim to the insurance company immediately and review the insurance policy thoroughly before accepting the insurance company’s offer. If needed, you may want to consider seeking help from a professional like a property insurance attorney. Finally, for business owners, some commercial insurance policies provide insurance coverage for loss of income as a result of a power outage.
Rabih Hamawi is a Principal at Law Office of Rabih Hamawi, P.C. and focuses his practice on representing policyholders in fire, property damage, and insurance-coverage disputes against insurance companies and in errors-and-omissions cases against insurance agents. He can be reached at (248) 905-1133.