If you just heard “no damage” from the insurance company’s engineer, take a breath. One report isn’t the final word on your home or business. It’s just one opinion—often from a vendor retained by the insurer.
Our job at Insurance Claim HQ is to help policyholders understand their options and pursue benefits available under their policies. Outcomes vary; expect responsibility for deductibles and any non-covered costs. We try cases, but our first move is always a practical plan that works fast and keeps you in control.
Below is a step-by-step playbook you can start today.
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What should I do if the engineer says “no damage” on my property insurance claim?
First, don’t panic—and don’t argue on the phone. Do these things in the next 48–72 hours:
Ask for the report and everything behind it, in writing
- Full engineering report (final and draft), all photos, field notes, diagrams
- The carrier’s assignment letter to the engineer and scope instructions
Preserve and mitigate
- Tarp, dry‑out, board‑up as needed
- Before/after photos; keep every receipt/invoice
Hit pause on new statements/signatures
Don’t give another recorded statement or sign broad authorizations until you’ve reviewed the report
Calendar deadlines
- Proof of Loss due date
- Windows for supplements and appraisal requests
- Any suit filing deadline under your policy or state law
If you’re in Orleans/Jefferson/St. Tammany, Fulton/DeKalb, Harris/Fort Bend, Harrison/Jackson, or Suffolk/Middlesex counties, these deadlines can vary—call us and we’ll map yours out in minutes.
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Why insurers bring engineers—and where bias shows up
Bringing in an engineer can be smart on big losses. But it can also feel like a game where one team hires the referee.
Not all engineers are biased. Incentives matter, though. Red flags we see over and over:
- Copy‑paste language, wrong addresses, wrong roof type/materials
- Five minutes on site, no attic inspection, no interior moisture readings
- No slope‑by‑slope photos or collateral damage documentation (vents, soft metals, AC fins)
- Conclusions without testing (no shingle brittle/uplift tests; no cores/samples)
- Everything blamed on wear/installation/foot traffic even with fresh storm data
If you spot any of these, you’re not crazy. We see them too.
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Get behind the report: demand the file behind the conclusion
Ask the insurer, in writing, for:
- The engineer’s assignment letter and scope (look for “cause to deny” language/constraints)
- Full photo set with metadata, field notes, diagrams, measurements, any lab/test results
- Weather sources relied on (NWS/NOAA/private feeds) and how they were applied
- The engineer’s CV/license number, and how often they work for your carrier/vendor
Then verify:
- License status with your state board
- Any discipline history
- Prior testimony patterns (recurring defense/insurer work)
Finally, memorialize discrepancies the day you receive the report (a short, dated email is fine): list what’s factually wrong, what was not tested, and what evidence was ignored.
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Build your own evidence file: the “win-the-reinspection” kit
You don’t need expensive gear—just a phone, a steady hand, and a system.
Exterior and roof
- Safe photo grid: eaves, slopes, ridges, vents; include a ruler/coin for scale
- Chalk-circled hail hits; videos of shingle lift/uplift and brittleness tests
- Document creases, fractured matting, and collateral hits (soft metals, window screens, AC fins)
Interior and moisture
- Moisture readings (pin and infrared if available) and time-stamped photos
- Map staining patterns and trace attic/ceiling intrusion paths
- Keep mitigation invoices, dry-out logs, and contractor notes
Documents and data
- Independent estimate (Xactimate/ClaimX) separating scope vs. pricing
- Weather for the loss date from NWS/NOAA/Storm Events plus a private source (HailTrace/Weather Fusion/CoreLogic)
- Permits, prior repairs, roof age, manufacturer specs, and local code requirements (e.g., IRC R908 reroofing; wind uplift; matching rules)
File discipline
Simple naming: YYYYMMDDlocationslope_item (keep a running index PDF)
If you’re near Lakeview, Kenner, or the Northshore, subject to availability we can coordinate an on-site review. In Houston, we deploy steep-slope crews out of 1 Riverway. In Midtown Atlanta, our team meets at 1201 W Peachtree for Buckhead/Morningside hail claims. Gulfport homeowners near Courthouse Rd and Bayou View—we’re local. Boston’s Downtown Crossing? We see ice dams every winter and know how to document them.
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Request a reinspection the right way (and set ground rules)
Ask for reinspection in writing and request:
- Your presence (or your advocate’s), full photo transparency, attic access, and moisture testing
- Ladder assist or steep-slope support if needed (don’t let “access” become an excuse)
Who should attend:
- Your contractor or public adjuster
- If possible, your own independent engineer (more on that below)
On-site protocol:
- Start with an agenda; walk slope-by-slope
- Capture each disputed area; take parallel photos and videos
- If permissible, document the inspection. Recording laws vary.
- No destructive testing without agreement; preserve all samples
- Note all attendees, time on site, and what was/wasn’t tested
Same day follow-up:
Send a recap email listing what was reviewed, any agreements, and any tests the engineer declined to perform
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When and how to hire your own engineer
Vetting criteria:
- Independent from carrier vendor networks
- Building envelope expertise; PE license in your state
- Willing to conduct and document objective tests (brittleness, uplift, moisture mapping)
Scope of work you want:
- Causation tied to the date-of-loss weather
- Repairability vs. replacement analysis with annotated photos
- Code-required scope (not just cosmetics)
Engagement terms:
- You own the photos/data
- Report suitable for litigation
- Willingness to testify if needed
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How to spot a biased engineering report in storm damage claims
Common patterns we rebut:
“Wear and tear/age”
Show fresh creases, directional granule displacement, and collateral hits consistent with the storm
“No storm-created opening”
Trace the water entry path; show displaced flashing, lifted shingles, ridge/hip failures, or impact points
“Installation defect”
Demonstrate functional pre-loss performance and code compliance; highlight the sudden, localized damage pattern post-storm
“Cosmetic only”
Document functional impairment: leaks, loss of wind resistance, or voided manufacturer warranties
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Strategic forks: appraisal, complaint, or litigation
Appraisal
- Useful when the carrier concedes coverage/causation but you disagree on scope or price
- Watch policy deadlines and any causation carve-outs
Regulatory complaints (delay/denial patterns)
- Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Insurance
- Texas: Texas Department of Insurance
- Georgia: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire
- Mississippi: Mississippi Insurance Department
- Massachusetts: Division of Insurance
- A well-documented complaint can break a stalemate and create accountability
Bad faith and storm damage litigation (talk to counsel about your state’s rules). Consult a qualified attorney about the rules in your jurisdiction. This is general information—confirm current law.
- Louisiana: La. R.S. 22:1892 and 22:1973 (timely, good‑faith claim handling)
- Texas: Prompt Payment of Claims (Ch. 542) and unfair practices (Ch. 541)
- Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 33‑4‑6 penalties for bad faith
- Mississippi: common‑law bad faith
- Massachusetts: Chapter 93A and 176D unfair claims practices
When an insurer relies on known biased vendors, refuses a fair reinspection, or keeps shifting standards, it’s time to talk about filing. We try cases. And that pressure moves claims.
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Protect your rights while you fight
Proof of Loss
Meet the deadline; be accurate; attach your evidence index
EUO/recorded statements
Prepare with counsel; answer facts; don’t speculate on causation
Assignments/authorizations
Avoid broad AOBs and overbroad data releases to third-party vendors
Spoliation
Preserve samples, damaged components, and original photo metadata
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Local, boots-on-roof help—fast
Metairie/New Orleans
Meet us near 17th Street and Severn Ave; we cover Lakeview, Kenner, and the Northshore
Houston
1 Riverway off Loop 610 near Memorial; coordinated roof + interior moisture mapping after Gulf storms
Atlanta
1201 W Peachtree (Arts Center MARTA nearby) for Midtown and Buckhead wind/hail claims
Gulfport
204 Courthouse Rd, Suite A; rapid response along the Courthouse Rd corridor and West Gulfport
Boston
44 School St, 6th Floor, Downtown Crossing; Nor’easter and ice dam claims documented the right way
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Plain-English FAQs
Can I force the insurer to use a different engineer?
You can object, document bias, and request a new vendor; sometimes pressure plus a Department complaint gets a second look
What if the insurer refuses a reinspection?
Escalate in writing, involve the regulator, and build your independent record—then evaluate appraisal or litigation
Should I hire a public adjuster or an attorney first?
If coverage is disputed (causation), talk to an attorney. For agreed coverage but a scope/price fight, a PA can help. We work with both.
Will a DOI complaint hurt my claim?
Properly written, it shouldn’t. It can speed things up and create a paper trail of unfair handling.
How long do storm cases take?
Reinspections and supplements can resolve in weeks; litigation can take months. We move fast and keep deadlines in sight.
Can I recover fees/penalties?
In many states, yes—if the carrier violates claim handling laws or acts in bad faith. Ask us about your state’s tools.
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Your path to resolution with Insurance Claim HQ
- Step 1: Free consultation and prompt review of your engineering report and deadlines (no cost to meet and discuss your options)
- Step 2: Evidence plan—we help you assemble the “win-the-reinspection” kit
- Step 3: We run or attend the reinspection; demand full transparency and fair testing
- Step 4: We negotiate hard to pursue the benefits available under your policy; if the carrier won’t move, we file and push the case
- Step 5: Resolution: our goal is a path to rebuilding by pursuing available benefits. Outcomes vary; expect responsibility for deductibles and any non-covered costs
We wear suits in court. The rest of the time, we’re in polos and ball caps on roofs with you. We try cases, but our heart is rebuilding community.
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Checklist recap
Documents to request from the insurer/engineer:
Assignment letter/scope, full report(s), photos with metadata, field notes, weather sources, CV/license
Evidence to gather before reinspection:
Roof and interior photo/video sets, moisture readings, mitigation records, independent estimate, weather data, permits/codes
Questions to ask at reinspection:
What tests will be performed? Will attic moisture be mapped? Will you document every disputed slope? Any destructive testing?
Decision tree:
- Coverage conceded + price/scope dispute → consider appraisal
- Delay/denial + unfair process → file regulator complaint
- Repeated bad faith patterns/refusal to test fairly → file suit
Ready for a review of your “no damage” report? Call 844-844-ARROW or visit insuranceclaimhq.com. We’re here, local to you, and we’ll help you map next steps.
Attorney Advertising. General information only; not legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney–client relationship. Results vary; no guarantee. Representation is limited to jurisdictions where our lawyers are licensed, and we associate with local counsel when required. Contingency-fee representation may be available; court costs and case expenses may be the client’s responsibility as outlined in a written engagement agreement. Coverage outcomes depend on specific policy language and facts—review your policy and deadlines with a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
