Galen Hair does not send every disputed roof claim straight to a law firm. His preferred path starts with a public adjuster, uses appraisal when the dispute is only about price, and moves to a lawyer when the problem remains unresolved or becomes more complicated.
Appraisal is for a true disagreement about the numbers
Hair supports appraisal when the parties disagree about the amount of loss rather than whether coverage exists. In that situation, appraisal can resolve the numbers dispute without turning it into a lawsuit.
His view changes when the insurer relies on a coverage defense. If the conflict is about whether the policy covers the damage, appraisal may not resolve the central issue. Hair is also not a strong supporter of scope appraisals that move beyond a straightforward price disagreement.
Hair described cases in which a carrier allowed appraisal to proceed and then did not pay after receiving an unfavorable result. Appraisal may fit a pricing-only dispute, but it is not a cure-all for a claim driven by coverage questions.
A roof’s condition before the storm can change the dispute
Hair takes a conservative approach to roofs that were already failing. If a roof needed to be replaced or repaired before the event, he does not view that as the kind of claim he would take to trial.
He distinguishes a roof that needed replacement from one that merely should have been replaced. A roof may look worn, be near the end of its life, or have installation concerns while still keeping the elements out before a storm. In Hair’s view, that pre-storm performance matters when wind or another covered event later damages the roof.
Do not create or exaggerate damage to support a claim. Hair called intentionally damaging shingles to obtain insurance money insurance fraud. He also emphasized that suspicion alone is not proof that a particular person caused the damage.
When to independently vet a lawyer
Hair’s sequence moves to a lawyer when appraisal and the public-adjuster process have not resolved the problem, when someone is being unreasonable, or when the dispute is more than a pricing question. He also said there can be times to go directly to a lawyer.
- The insurer is asserting a coverage defense rather than disputing only the amount of loss.
- Appraisal has not resolved the claim, including a situation where the insurer does not pay after appraisal.
- The claim has moved beyond a disagreement over the numbers.
Hair criticized a referral pattern in which a homeowner hires a contractor or public adjuster and is then sent to a lawyer without independently vetting that lawyer. A referral can be a starting point, but it should not substitute for choosing counsel yourself.
A practical stopping point before escalation
Before adding appraisal or legal representation, identify what remains disputed: the value of the loss, coverage, or payment after an appraisal result. That answer helps separate a numbers dispute from a broader claim conflict and keeps the next step tied to the problem at hand.
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Source: Galen Hair interview
FAQ
When may appraisal fit a roof insurance claim?
Hair favors appraisal when the disagreement is truly about the amount of loss—the numbers—rather than whether the policy covers the damage.
What if the insurer raises a coverage defense?
Hair does not view appraisal as the main answer when coverage is the central dispute. He said a lawyer may be appropriate when the problem is more than a pricing question.
What if the insurer does not pay after appraisal?
Hair described this as a situation he has seen. It can leave the homeowner with an unresolved claim despite the appraisal process and may warrant independent legal counsel.
Does an older or poorly installed roof automatically defeat a storm claim?
Hair distinguishes a roof that was already failing from one that looked worn, was near the end of its life, or had installation concerns but was still keeping out the elements before the storm.
Should I rely only on a lawyer referral from a contractor or public adjuster?
Hair advises homeowners to vet a lawyer independently. A contractor or public-adjuster referral may be a starting point, but it should not be the only basis for choosing counsel.
