How can a field adjuster determine if damage is due to windstorm or normal wear and tear?

The determination of whether damage is due to a windstorm or normal wear and tear involves a thorough analysis that includes several aspects, particularly the examination of meteorological data alongside the property's maintenance history. This approach is critical because meteorological data can provide evidence of prevailing weather conditions, such as wind speed and storm occurrences, during a specific timeframe. This helps establish a relationship between the reported weather events and the timing of the damage.

Additionally, evaluating the property's maintenance history allows the adjuster to assess how well the property has been cared for over time. If a property shows a consistent pattern of poor maintenance, it would be more likely that certain types of deterioration are due to normal wear and tear rather than being linked to recent weather events.

By analyzing these two important sources of information together, the field adjuster can make a more informed and objective judgment about the cause of damage, thus supporting a fair and accurate claims process. This systematic approach is more reliable than relying on anecdotal accounts or single-source information such as interviews with neighbors or the property owner's perspective alone.