After a storm tears through Houston, the physical damage is only the beginning. The real battle often starts after your insurance claim is under valued, delayed, or denied. Whether you’re a homeowner, business owner, or part of a homeowners association (HOA), the experience is infuriating. That’s where we come in.
The Houston-based storm damage lawyers at Daly & Black, P.C. know exactly how insurance companies operate and how to make them own up. Our firm has built its reputation on holding insurers accountable when they prioritize their bottom over what’s fair. We’re not here to negotiate politely, we’re here to fight until every dollar you’re owed is on the table.
Schedule a free consultation with Daly & Black today. We work on a contingency fee basis which means you don’t pay until we win.
When Storms Hit, We Hit Back
Houston faces some of the most destructive weather in the country, torrential rains, hurricanes, hailstorms, and violent winds. These storms can leave properties in shambles: collapsed roofs, shattered windows, flooded interiors, and wrecked exteriors. But even when damage is obvious, insurers often do everything they can to avoid a full payout.
Our lawyers handle storm damage insurance claims for both residential and commercial clients. Whether it’s a single-family home, a warehouse, or a retail space, we build powerful claims and force insurers to deal with the damage they’d rather ignore.
What You Can Claim After a Storm
One of the most common points of confusion in storm-related insurance disputes is what damages are actually covered, and under which type of policy. After a major storm, property owners may be eligible to file claims for:
- Roof, siding, or window damage from wind or hail.
- Water intrusion due to structural failure.
- Foundation issues caused by flooding or erosion.
- Fallen trees or debris causing structural harm.
- HVAC, electrical, or plumbing systems compromised by storm conditions.
However, it’s critical to understand how insurers divide responsibilities between different types of policies. Wind and hail damage are typically covered under standard homeowners or commercial property insurance policies. Flood damage, on the other hand, is usually excluded unless you’ve purchased a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private carrier.
Insurers often try to shift blame between wind and water to limit payouts. For example, they may argue that interior damage was caused by rising water, not wind-driven rain entering through a compromised roof. We investigate these distinctions thoroughly, because how your damage is categorized determines whether your claim gets paid.
At Daly & Black, we know how to dissect policies, assign correct cause, and prevent insurers from dodging coverage based on technicalities.
How to File a Storm Damage Insurance Claim in Houston
Knowing how to file an insurance claim for storm damage can mean the difference between fair compensation and getting strung along for months. Here’s how to do it right:
Document everything
Take detailed photos and videos of all affected areas—interior and exterior—immediately after the storm. Be sure to include timestamps or metadata to verify when the damage occurred.
Capture wide shots to show the extent of the destruction and close-ups to document specific issues like roof punctures, water damage, or structural cracks. Keep receipts for emergency repairs, cleanup, or temporary lodging if needed.
Notify your insurer
Contact your insurance company as soon as it’s safe to do so. Most policies require prompt notice of loss, and delays can be used as grounds for denial. When you speak with a representative, get their name, job title, and a claim number. Follow up every phone call with an email and keep a dated record of all correspondence.
Get independent estimates
Don’t rely solely on the insurer’s adjuster, who is hired to protect the company’s bottom line. Hire a trusted, licensed contractor to provide a comprehensive assessment of the damage. If you manage an HOA or commercial property, you may also want to consult a public adjuster or building envelope specialist to ensure no underlying issues are overlooked.
Watch for red flags
Be alert to tactics designed to wear you down or shortchange your claim. These may include excessive requests for documentation, unjustified repair denials, lowball settlement offers, or attempts to classify covered damage as pre-existing or cosmetic. These are not mere inconveniences—they’re strategic maneuvers by insurers hoping you’ll accept less. That’s when legal action becomes not just smart, but necessary.
These behaviors aren’t just frustrating, they’re deliberate. Insurers often use delay and underpayment tactics to pressure you into settling for less. A seasoned property damage lawyer can stop that strategy cold in its tracks.
At Daly & Black, we challenge bad faith practices head-on and position your storm damage insurance claim for full compensation. Don’t wait until the damage gets worse—call us now and let’s get your claim moving.
HOA Storm Damage Claims: Unique Challenges, Powerful Representation
Storm damage claims become far more complicated when you add HOAs into the mix. A single hailstorm can damage hundreds of units, shared walls, roofs, and recreational spaces. Sorting out who is responsible, and what the master policy actually covers, can quickly turn into a legal nightmare.
Insurance companies take advantage of this complexity. They dispute whether the damage is covered under the master policy or falls on individual owners. They exploit vague HOA bylaws. They delay inspections or try to settle for pennies on the dollar.
At Daly & Black, we’ve seen these tricks before. We work with HOA boards and property management companies to ensure that insurance carriers meet their full obligations. When insurers try to dodge responsibility, we push back—hard.
HOA Storm Claims by the Numbers
Texas is home to more than 20,000 homeowners associations, and Houston alone has over a million residents living under HOA or condo association governance. These communities are increasingly vulnerable, not just to catastrophic weather, but to insurance practices that delay or deny justified storm claims.
In recent years, this issue has only worsened. In 2023, Texas insurers filed over 150 requests for double-digit rate increases, some reaching as high as 73%. Meanwhile, denial rates are climbing, USAA and its affiliates denied nearly 48% of homeowners’ claims that year, up from under 38% in 2010. In Texas specifically, 1.2% of closed claims without payment led to litigation, over four times the rate seen in Arkansas, the state with the lowest ratio.
Why does this matter for HOAs and POAs? Because they operate under a complex legal framework. The Texas Uniform Condominium Act (Tex. Prop. Code § 82) requires that associations carry insurance on common elements, while placing certain responsibilities, like interior upgrades or fixtures, on unit owners unless otherwise stated in the bylaws. This can create conflict and confusion during storm recovery.
Insurers exploit these gray areas to avoid large payouts, forcing associations to navigate policy disputes, vague declarations, and uncooperative adjusters.
At Daly & Black, we represent HOAs, POAs, and condo boards across Houston with one goal: make the insurer uphold their end of the deal.
What HOA Boards Need to Know
If you’re part of an HOA board or manage a multi-unit property, here’s what you need to know:
Common Elements vs. Private Property
Roofs, stairwells, shared plumbing systems, and exterior walls are typically classified as “common elements” under most HOA and condo bylaws, meaning they fall under the association’s responsibility, not the individual unit owner’s. However, this distinction isn’t always clear in practice.
Every set of governing documents is different, and insurance carriers often use these ambiguities to their advantage. We help HOAs and property managers interpret these documents and ensure the right party is held accountable when storm damage occurs.
Master Policies Can Be Misleading
Insurance companies often rely on confusing or outdated master policy language to avoid full payouts. They might claim a certain area is excluded from coverage or misrepresent who is responsible for a particular repair.
At Daly & Black, we thoroughly examine your master insurance policy, governing documents, and declarations to hold the insurer to its full obligations. We make sure the fine print doesn’t become a loophole.
Don’t Wait to Get Legal Help
Waiting until your storm damage claim is denied is a mistake we see far too often. By the time the insurer has already dug in, your HOA is left playing catch-up. Early legal involvement can make or break your claim.
Our team works proactively with HOA boards from the outset to guide documentation, protect your legal standing, and ensure no critical deadlines are missed. Let Daly & Black take the lead before your association falls behind.
We act as more than your attorneys, we become a strategic partner to your board, ensuring you’re never caught off guard and always a step ahead.
The Daly & Black Difference
Other firms send demand letters and hope for cooperation. That’s not us. Daly & Black is built for litigation. When we take your case, we prepare like it’s going to trial and insurers know it.
We’ve recovered millions for property owners and HOA communities across Texas. Our team knows how to:
- Navigate policy disputes involving layered ownership
- Uncover evidence insurers try to bury
- Force fair settlements or win in court
Whether you’re an individual homeowner or an entire neighborhood, we bring the same relentless energy to every claim. We’re ALL IN. ALL THE TIME.
FAQs
Q: What should I do if my insurance company underpays or denies my storm damage claim?
A: Start by gathering all communications and documentation and contact a storm damage lawyer as soon as you can. At Daly & Black, we review your policy, assess the damage, and apply pressure until the insurer pays up, or gets taken to court.
Q: Why should I hire a storm damage lawyer in Houston?
A: Because insurance companies are not on your side. They know how to reduce claims and avoid payouts. A Houston storm damage lawyer levels the playing field and ensures your claim gets the attention, and compensation, it deserves.
Q: What types of storm damage can a lawyer help with?
A: We handle claims for wind, hail, flood, water intrusion, structural damage, and more. We work with both individual property owners and HOAs to resolve disputes quickly and aggressively.
Don’t Let Insurers Control the Outcome
A storm might last a few hours but its financial impact can drag on for years if your insurance company refuses to pay. Don’t wait. Don’t settle. And don’t go it alone.
Call a Houston storm damage lawyer at Daly & Black, P.C. today. Let us take on the insurance company, so you can focus on rebuilding.
Daly & Black is ALL IN. ALL THE TIME.