The property damage lawyers in the state of Louisiana at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC work closely with homeowner’s and commercial property owners who are having difficulty with their property damage claims. Challenges with making property damage claims can include denied claims, or disputes with your insurance adjuster about the value of your claim. Other challenges can include confusion about the nature of your insurance policy. Many property insurance policies contain a great deal of fine print and hidden within the fine print can be many exclusions of coverage. The property damage claim lawyers at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC can review your insurance policy, help you understand what is and isn’t covered, and fight to help you get the best possible compensation permitted under the law.
If your home or business has experienced damages, it is important that you report your damages to your insurance company as soon as possible. Once you have reported property damage, and submitted proof of losses, insurance companies have 30 days to settle your claim. However, sometimes insurance companies act in bad faith, delaying a claim by saying that you didn’t submit adequate proof of loss when you did. Or they may offer you a lower settlement than you may deserve. Or they may wrongfully deny your claim. It is illegal to misrepresent the terms of your policy to deny a claim, but sometimes insurance companies take advantage of the fact that homeowner’s or property owner’s aren’t subject matter experts on property insurance policies or the law. When you are having difficulty with a property damage claim, it helps to have a lawyer on your side. The property damage claim lawyers in the state of Louisiana at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC work closely with individuals facing challenges dealing with insurance companies.
Helping Victims of Bad Faith Insurance Settlements in the State of Louisiana
If you think your insurance company is dealing with you in bad faith, you may have the right to fight back. The property damage claim lawyers at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC in the state of Louisiana can review your insurance policy, review your correspondence with insurance companies, review the settlement or denial, and help you fight for your rights either inside or outside of court. Our lawyers are willing to take cases to court, when needed. We take insurance bad faith seriously, and help our clients seek justice.
What are some ways you can protect yourself from insurance bad faith? For one, it is important to understand the exact limitations of your insurance policy. This is easier said than done because insurance policies can be multi-page documents, written in legalese, with many exclusions. The property damage lawyers in the state of Louisiana at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC can work with you and your family to understand your policy, deductibles, and its limitations.
Next, it is important to report property damage as soon as possible and provide your insurance company with proof of loss. It is important to carefully outline your losses in detail and if possible, provide quotes for repairs from contractors. Be sure to keep copies of all proof of loss information you have submitted to insurance companies.
If your insurance adjuster attempts to offer you a settlement amount by phone, or deny your claim by phone, ask for the denial or settlement amount in writing and ask for an explanation. If your insurance company is acting in bad faith, this step requires the insurance company to put in writing its reasons for denying your claim or offering you a low settlement amount. Your property damage lawyer in the state of Louisiana, like the lawyers at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC can look at these documents, look at your policy, and better determine if your insurance company is acting in bad faith.
If you don’t understand why your claim has been denied, or why your settlement amount is lower than you believe it should be, you may want to reach out to a property damage law firm like the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC in the state of Louisiana. Sometimes insurance companies use formulas or computer algorithms to estimate the value of a claim. And sometimes the data used to estimate your claim is outdated or inaccurate. The property damage lawyers at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC can get to the bottom of what is happening with your settlement and assist you with fighting back. Insurance companies have a responsibility to honor their contractual obligations to you. You paid your insurance bills. Insurance companies have a responsibility to pay your claim on time. The Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC helps clients fight for their rights.
Fighting Threats of Cancelation from Insurance Companies in the State of Louisiana
Insurance companies sometimes threaten to cancel policies to avoid having to cover you and sometimes they may even try to retroactively cancel a policy after you make a claim to avoid having to pay. There are several legal reasons why an insurance company might be able to cancel a policy. If you make too many claims in a short period of time, your insurance company may try to cancel your insurance. It seem counterintuitive because insurance companies should be there for you when you need them—that is what you’re paying for after all. But if you make too many claims, insurance companies might deem your property or home too much of a risk, or request that you purchase high risk insurance.
Another reason why an insurance company might cancel a policy is if your home isn’t being properly maintained. Property insurance is designed to protect you from unexpected losses, not from losses stemming from your own neglect. For example, every home or building has regular maintenance that needs to be done which includes repairing a roof, repairing or securing windows, and making sure pipes are regularly maintained. Another reason why an insurance company may threaten to cancel a policy is if there has been a change in circumstances on your property. Built a new pool? Created a new addition to your home? Added a wall, or a moat with alligators? Any changes you make to your property could potentially change your insurance risk.
Finally, if when you make a claim, your insurance company discovers you made false statements to get insurance, this could jeopardize your settlement or even lead to a denied claim.
If your insurance company is threatening to cancel your insurance or retroactively cancel after you have made a claim, it is important to take this seriously. Your insurance rates could go up dramatically if you need to get other insurance, and you could lose out on a settlement you may deserve. Sometimes insurance companies may have legitimate or legal reasons to cancel, but there are many cases where insurance companies cancel on policyholders in bad faith. This is where a property damage lawyer in the state of Louisiana at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC may be able to help. Our property damage claim attorneys can work with your insurance company, present reasons why your insurance should not be cancelled, and assist you with any claim you may have. We are here to protect your rights.