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WJ Gould Law
Free Consultation

Arizona Storm Damage Attorney

When storm damage to your home or business turns into a fight with your insurance company, WJ Gould Law is the firm that handles only first-party property insurance claims — across hail, wind, fire, roof, and tree damage. On contingency, with no fee unless we recover for you.

Free Consultation (602) 999-0158

Free Consultation

No cost to talk through your claim.

No Fee Unless We Win

Contingency. Fee from recovery only.

Available 24/7

Storms don't keep office hours.

Storm damage we handle

Storm damage in Arizona rarely shows up as a single type of loss. A monsoon microburst that tears off a roof also breaks windows, knocks down trees, and lets water into the interior. A wildfire that destroys a structure also damages contents, displaces residents, and triggers code-upgrade requirements on rebuild.

Each spoke below covers the carrier tactics specific to that damage type. The first-party property insurance practice is one continuous set of disputes; we handle the full set.

Practice areas

How to file an Arizona property damage insurance claim

  1. Make sure everyone is safe. Don't re-enter a damaged structure until utility hazards (downed lines, gas leaks, structural compromise) are cleared.
  2. Document everything before cleanup. Photos and video of every damaged area, every elevation, every affected room. Date-stamped. The visible damage is half the proof; the contents inventory is the other half.
  3. Report the claim to your insurer promptly. Your policy's notice provision requires it, and late notice is the carrier's most-used denial basis.
  4. Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage; keep the receipts. Tarping a roof, boarding a broken window, removing wet drywall — these mitigation costs are reimbursable.
  5. Don't make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects. That can compromise the claim. Wait, document, then proceed.
  6. Get an independent inspection from a qualified local contractor. Not the carrier's adjuster. Not a storm-chasing contractor. A reputable local roofer, structural engineer, or restoration professional with experience in insurance claims.
  7. Save every piece of paper. Every email, every scope, every estimate, every revision. The paper trail matters when the claim goes sideways.
  8. Call a first-party property attorney before accepting a settlement. Once you sign a release, the claim is closed and supplemental damage becomes very hard to recover.

How can a storm damage attorney help?

  • Read the policy the way the carrier reads it. Every paragraph is a place the carrier can argue. We translate the declarations page into actual coverage.
  • Document the loss completely. Contractors, engineers, public adjusters, weather data, prior-condition evidence — we marshal the proof that defeats the standard denial bases.
  • Negotiate, invoke appraisal, or file suit. Most disputes resolve once counsel is on the file. When they don't, we use the appraisal provision or sue on the policy.
  • Bring bad-faith claims where appropriate. Arizona recognizes a duty of good faith and fair dealing in insurance contracts. When the carrier crosses the line, the bad-faith claim adds leverage and remedies the policy alone doesn't provide.
  • Handle the supplemental claim. Damage discovered during repair is where carriers nickel-and-dime hardest. We carry the file through final payment.
  • Work on contingency. You pay nothing up front and nothing at all if we don't recover for you.
Attorney William J. Gould, WJ Gould Law

Attorney William J. Gould

Founder, WJ Gould Law PLLC. Admitted in Arizona and Minnesota.

Bill Gould founded WJ Gould Law to stand up for homeowners treated unfairly by their insurance companies. After seeing friends and family shortchanged following storm damage, he committed his practice to leveling the playing field for policyholders.

JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. MBA from Iowa State University. Undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin. Admitted to practice in Arizona (2021) and Minnesota (2021).

Every case is handled personally — no junior associates, no call centers, no handoffs. That's a deliberate choice about the size and shape of the practice.

Read Full Bio

Frequently asked questions

What types of storm damage does WJ Gould Law handle?
Hail, wind (including monsoon microbursts), fire, roof, and tree damage to homes and small businesses in Arizona. We handle the full set of first-party property insurance claims that result from these losses, including denied claims, underpaid claims, and supplemental claims.
Do you only represent policyholders, or carriers too?
Policyholders only. We do not represent insurance carriers in any capacity. That focus is deliberate — it lets us know the carrier playbook from the outside and aligns our incentives with our clients'.
How long do I have to file a storm damage claim in Arizona?
Your policy sets a deadline for reporting the claim to your carrier — usually within a year, sometimes shorter. Arizona's statute of limitations for breach of an insurance contract is six years for a written contract under A.R.S. § 12-548; bad-faith claims have a two-year limit under § 12-542. Report the claim immediately and call us if the carrier delays, denies, or underpays.
What if the carrier already paid me but the amount seems low?
Underpayment is the most common outcome we see on storm damage claims. Carriers pay enough to look reasonable but not enough to actually restore the property. The fix often involves a re-inspection, an appraisal demand under the policy's appraisal provision, or — when those fail — a suit on the policy. Don't sign a release until you're sure the payment is complete.
How does WJ Gould Law get paid?
Contingency fee. No money up front. Our fee comes out of the recovery we obtain for you. If we don't recover anything, you owe us nothing. The consultation is always free.

Free consultation. No fee unless we recover.

Tell us about your claim. We'll review the loss, the policy, and the carrier's position — at no cost.

Call: (602) 999-0158 (24/7)

Email: intake@wjgouldlaw.com

Location: Mesa, Arizona (consultations by appointment)

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