ABOUT GUARDIAN GROUP, INC.:
When carriers, TPAs, and adjusters need expert, expedient property claim investigations, they often turn to the construction and engineering specialists at Guardian Group, Inc. For over 30 years, Guardian’s fair and fact-based forensic reporting has helped insurers rapidly resolve their construction and engineering-related claims. Put the right expert on the property claim investigation. Put yourself on a first-name basis with Guardian Group, Inc. today.
ABOUT THE CLAIM:
Fallen trees constitute common property claims, but the conditions and issues surrounding them – whether connected to a weather event, the occurrence of consequential damage, the extent of that damage, whether the impacts are structural or cosmetic in nature, safe occupancy, etc. – all of these need to be established with clarity and certainty in order to ensure rapid claim resolution and proper service to the insured.
ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION:
Upon notification of the claim by this national P&C insurance services leader, Guardian’s forensic engineer confirmed wind gust speeds on and near the reported date of loss. Subsequently, he dispatched to the scene for a site investigation including a partial roof-walk. Tree removal had already taken place, a tarpaulin had been placed over a 10-foot-wide section of the sloped roof’s north facet, and ceiling gypsum wallboard had been removed prior to the inspection. The insured supplied photographs to document before/after roof conditions.
ABOUT THE CAUSE & ORIGIN REPORT:
Within 10 days from the scheduled inspection, Guardian’s Property & Casualty Group issued a forensic report that confirmed tree fall related damage, documented the location of the remaining tree stump (adjacent property) and specified the exact damages to the house. These included not only roofing materials but sections of roof sheathing and three roof trusses. The first truss showed a split web at its joint and a bent nail-on plate. The second truss had a split bottom chord at its joint and also a bent nail-on plate. The third damaged truss had a long split in its bottom chord at the joint. In addition, the (estimated) 65-foot Eucalyptus had caused interior damage to the bathroom, with nail pops and separation of the corner bead at the wall-to-ceiling transition of the gypsum.
Of course, Guardian’s Property & Casualty Group never comments on issues of insurance coverage. Forensic experts simply equip carriers and homeowners the knowledge of precisely what happened and why. In this case, it was the engineer’s expert opinion that the structural integrity of the roof had been compromised and all parties needed to be advised of that immediately. The report noted, however, that roofing materials replacement could be limited to the north facet of the roof as no other significant damage was observed on the rest of the roof.
ABOUT GUARDIAN GROUP, INC.:
When carriers, TPAs, and adjusters need expert, expedient property claim investigations, they often turn to the construction and engineering specialists at Guardian Group, Inc. For over 30 years, Guardian’s fair and fact-based forensic reporting has helped insurers rapidly resolve their construction and engineering-related claims. Put the right expert on the property claim investigation. Put yourself on a first-name basis with Guardian Group, Inc. today.