Commercial Roof Collapse Claim Resolved with $650K Settlement
After a tropical storm caused a partial roof collapse at a strip mall, the property owner filed an insurance claim for structural damage and business interruption. The insurance carrier acknowledged “minor damage” and offered $142,000. The attorney representing the owner believed the scope of damage and loss was severely underestimated—and needed expert estimating support to challenge the offer.
Client
Insurance Litigation Firm Representing Commercial Property Owner (Hialeah, FL)
The Challenge
The insurer’s engineer limited scope to superficial repairs
Roof damage led to interior water infiltration across four units
Business tenants had already filed rent abatement requests, adding urgency
A commercial-grade estimate and scope report were needed—fast
Our Role
On Point Estimating & Appraisals was retained to produce a comprehensive commercial damage estimate and support the law firm’s mediation strategy.
We Delivered:
On-site inspection and structural review within 72 hours
Xactimate-based estimate totaling $678,200, covering roof, HVAC, electrical, and tenant interiors
High-resolution photo documentation and drone footage of roof collapse
Separate line-item cost breakdowns by unit for tenant-level impact
aMediation-ready report package and affidavit of findings
The Outcome
Our estimate formed the core of the legal strategy at mediation
Carrier’s counsel conceded their scope failed to account for commercial code upgrades and tenant impact
Final settlement: $650,000—an increase of over 350% from the original offer
Tenant lease disputes were resolved with no further litigation
Client Feedback
“On Point’s precision and professionalism helped us push the carrier to the table. Their report gave us exactly what we needed to show real loss—unit by unit.”
Key Takeaways
Commercial property claims require deeper analysis than standard residential estimates
Unit-by-unit scoping and proper documentation strengthen the legal position
High-quality visuals and clearly presented data accelerate settlement outcomes