The Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC is a hurricane lawyer in the state of Louisiana that may be able to assist you with your insurance claim if it has been denied, delayed, or if the settlement amount insurance adjusters are offering you is lower than the value of your damages (in some circumstances). Insurance companies have an obligation to honor your policy. Unfortunately, not all policyholders understand the fine print of their policies. Sometimes insurance adjusters may use the complexity of the claims process or this knowledge to offer policy holders lower settlements than they may deserve under the law, or they may even engage in insurance bad faith and misrepresent what is covered under the policy.
If you are having difficulty with your hurricane insurance claim, you are not alone. In the aftermath of a hurricane, many families face delays from insurance companies, are offered settlements lower than they may deserve, and have their claims denied. The Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC is a hurricane lawyer in the State of Louisiana that may be able to help you. We can review your policy, and help you navigate the complexities of the hurricane insurance claims process.
Why do Hurricane Insurance Claims Get Denied in the State of Louisiana?
Hurricane insurance claims get denied for many reasons in the state of Louisiana. Some insurance claims are denied for valid reasons. For example, some policies have exclusions for some kinds of damage. For example, virtually all standard homeowner’s insurance policies exclude flood insurance. If you want to be covered for flooding, you’ll generally need to purchase flood insurance. Some homeowners or property owners live in flood areas and don’t realize it. Flood zones have been shifting and flood maps don’t always warn about the danger or risk.
Many homeowners don’t know what is or isn’t covered in their policies and this is completely understandable because of the technical language that makes up most insurance policies. If your claim is being denied or if aspects of your hurricane claim are being denied, the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC is a hurricane lawyer in the state of Louisiana that can review your homeowner’s insurance policy and help you negotiate with insurance adjusters to get the settlement you may deserve under the law.
Flood insurance exclusions can raise other complexities if a hurricane caused water damage in your home. For example, if your roof was damaged or if a window was damaged and this caused water damage, sometimes insurance adjusters may deny a claim stating that your home was damaged due to a flood. If this is the case, you may need to show your insurance company that the water damage was due to water damage coming from a roof or window and not flood damage. If your home was damaged due to flood damage and water damage due to a damaged roof or window, then your insurance policy may also claim that you are not covered because some policies exclude certain types of damage if damage was due to multiple causes. Sound confusing? It can be! This is why when homeowner’s have claims denied or don’t receive the claims they believe they deserve, homeowner’s may benefit from reaching out to a hurricane claims lawyer in the state of Louisiana at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC. Our hurricane claims lawyers understand how insurance works and can fight to help you get the settlement you may deserve under the law.
Another issue that can arise if your claim wasn’t the full amount you expected, is if your insurance has a high deductible, and you didn’t take this into account when your insurance adjuster presented you with an unexpected settlement. When making an insurance claim, you’ll want to understand your policy and take this into account. But if you are having trouble understanding what is covered or not covered in your policy, the hurricane claim lawyer at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC in the state of Louisiana can help you.
There are other reasons why your insurance settlement may be unexpected. Insurance adjusters may use algorithms and formulas to estimate the value of your claim. If prices have changed or if the estimates of costs are not accurate, your settlement may not be what you expected. For example, inflation or other factors can result in the rapid rise of labor costs or costs of rough goods. The good news is that by providing insurance companies with accurate information and understanding what is and isn’t covered in your policy, you can often receive the settlement you may deserve under the law. Sometimes adjustments may not reflect the cost of repairs, especially if contractors are in high demand after a hurricane. Negotiating with insurance adjusters and presenting them with accurate quotes can make a difference.
The Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC is a hurricane claims lawyer in the state of Louisiana that may be able to help you get the settlement you may deserve. Many homeowner’s and property owners face challenges with insurance claims after a storm. You are not alone. The Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC may be able to help.
What to Keep in Mind During the Hurricane Insurance Claims Process in Louisiana
While insurance companies are required to settle your claim in a timely manner, it is understandable that it can take some time for them to get an adjuster or investigator to you right away after hurricane damage occurs. Many people may have suffered severe damage all at once after a hurricane. However, the law gives insurance companies a specified period of time by which they must offer you a settlement and if that time period has passed, you may have a right to pursue a lawsuit or demand a settlement. For example, in Louisiana, insurance companies have 30 days to settle a claim from the date you report damage. Sometimes insurance companies delay a claim in bad faith in the hopes that by delaying they can get you to accept a lower settlement. Sometimes they fail to hire enough adjusters or properly staff their operations after an emergency. The hurricane claim lawyer at the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC in the state of Louisiana may be able to help you with your settlement if this is the case.
Another thing to keep in mind is your responsibility to secure your property is the adjustment process or settlement process takes time. For example, if you have a hole in your roof or a broken window that lets water into your home, you may need to make temporary repairs. You can be covered for these repairs, but if you fail to make them and additional damage occurs in your home, your insurance company may not cover this additional damage.
Finally, it is important to remember that even though the insurance company may have strained resources due to the sudden influx of claims following a hurricane, it is still the insurance company’s job to offer you a fair settlement and honor its obligations. If you are having trouble getting the claim you may deserve or if you believe your claim was wrongfully denied, the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC is a hurricane claims lawyer in the state of Louisiana that may be able to help. Reach out to the Houghtaling Law Firm, LLC today.