Your homeowners’ insurance should cover water damage if an event named in your policy caused the damage. An uncovered circumstance (such as a flood due to a natural disaster) could mean your claim is invalid. If your policy covers water damage, it should also cover any mold growth resulting from the water damage. This protection will allow you to repair your home after paying your deductible.
Standard policies exclude some types of water damage, so thoroughly understanding your policy can help you understand your rights. The best way to understand your policy is with a comprehensive page-by-page review by a Corpus Christi insurance claims lawyer. They can also help you file an appeal if the insurance company rejects your claim or the initial offer of compensation is too low.
Frequent Causes of Residential Water Damage
Water can seep through the tiniest of cracks and accumulate at an alarming rate. That makes checking your property regularly for roof leaks or other damage and repairing them immediately an important part of homeownership. Accidental water damage can result from:
- Damaged pipes
- Faulty HVAC units
- Sump pump failure
- Broken dishwashers, water heaters, or laundry machines
Identifying the cause of your water damage is the first step to understanding your insurance coverage options. Homeowners’ policies can contain legal language, insurance terminology, and fine print that could lead to confusion over your coverage for water damage. Your lawyer can provide clarity on any uncertainty.
Be Prepared to Describe How Water Damaged Your Home
When seeking compensation for your home’s water damage, you must first understand when it is covered and when it is not. According to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), home insurance generally covers water damage if the damage was unexpected and accidental and if it came from a source inside your home, such as:
- A burst pipe
- An overflowing toilet
- A broken appliance hose
In addition to the damage caused by these situations, your insurance should also cover any resulting mold damage. If a lawyer represents you, they will document the damage and its cause with photos, video, and expert appraisals.
We have offices in Houston, Corpus Christi, and Victoria; and will travel to any corner of Texas if we are capable of preventing an injustice.
Floods and Other Reasons the Insurance Company May Reject Your Water Damage Claim
It is important to inspect and maintain your home and take care of any known leaks as soon as possible. Your insurance carrier could deny your claim for water damage if slow leaks or seepage that you did not repair promptly caused the damage.
A standard homeowners insurance policy also does not cover flood damage due to natural disasters. You would need a separate flood insurance policy to obtain protection for this situation.
Additional reasons your insurer might deny your claim include:
- Late claim
- Filing error
- Missed payment
- Incomplete claim
- Lack of evidence
- Lack of maintenance
- Policy exclusions
- Lapsed coverage
Inform your lawyer of any coverage you have beyond a standard home insurance policy, and they can help you understand your rights.
A Water Damage Insurance Claims Attorney Can Appeal if Your Insurer Rejects Your Claim
Your home should be a haven, and your insurance coverage should come to your aid when you really need it. If your homeowners insurance company denied your water damage claim, consider contacting a local law firm. They can help you file an appeal by:
- Reviewing the reason for the rejection
- Gathering supplemental evidence
- Consulting water damage specialists
- Proving the costs of temporary repairs
If a flood due to heavy rains, a storm surge, or a hurricane caused property damage, your homeowners’ insurance adjuster might deny your claim. If you have a separate flood insurance policy, your lawyer can pursue it for the compensation you need.
How to Recognize Bad Faith Insurance Tactics and What You Can Do About Them
Insurance adjusters operate with their bottom line, not your best interests, in mind. In some cases, they may even unfairly deny your claim using underhanded or illegal practices. Recognizing bad faith insurance acts is crucial to helping you stand up for your rights.
According to Texas Insurance Code § 541.060, bad faith insurance tactics can include:
- Misrepresenting all or part of your policy
- Unwarranted investigation or settlement delays
- Failure to promptly approve or deny your claim
- Refusal of your claim without a proper investigation
If your home sustained extensive water damage, you do not deserve to become a victim of bad faith insurance tactics. If you feel the insurance company is treating you unfairly, your lawyer can file a comprehensive appeal on your behalf. They can also help you pursue fair compensation by holding the insurer responsible for their actions.
Additional Benefits of Hiring a Homeowners’ Insurance Claims Attorney
Filing an appeal is only one of the ways an attorney can assist you with your homeowner’s policy claim. They can also help you avoid unfairness in dealing with your claim and avoid an unreasonably low settlement offer. Before it reaches that point, your lawyer can provide:
- A pool of legal professionals and resources
- Extensive experience handling claims similar to yours
- Familiarity with potentially complex policies
- Protection from unfair insurance practices
You do not have to cope with all the moving parts of a water damage claim alone. With a lawyer handling your claim, you can focus on safely relocating your family and taking care of your property. Many insurance lawyers will also represent you at no upfront cost, meaning they only receive compensation when you do.
Consider Getting Immediate Legal Support for Your Home Water Damage Claim
A claim rejection might prompt you to contact a lawyer. The best time to do so, however, is as soon as you discover water damage. When a lawyer represents you from the start, it signals the insurer of your seriousness in handling your claim.
Hiring an attorney can also be beneficial if your claim is complicated, your potential recovery is large, or the language of your policy is confusing. Getting help from the start can also mean you avoid saying or doing anything that the insurance adjuster might misconstrue or lead to miscommunication.
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
Let Our Team at Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC Handle Your Water Damage Claim
If your homeowners’ policy covers water damage, our law firm will help you obtain compensation. We have over 40 years of experience in insurance law and can help you file a comprehensive claim for damage caused by a covered peril.
Learn more about whether your homeowners’ insurance policy covers water damage and our commitment to supporting Texas homeowners like you. Get started today by contacting our consultation team at Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.
