You do not necessarily need a lawyer for your hurricane property damage claim. However, hiring legal representation can greatly benefit you throughout the claims process, especially if your insurance provider denies your claim or refuses to offer a fair settlement that covers all your losses.
Our Corpus Christi hurricane damage claims lawyers take cases on a contingency fee basis, so you will only pay them at the end of your case if they secure compensation for you. You have nothing to lose by calling us for a free hurricane damage claim consultation.
Can I File a Hurricane Property Damage Claim Without an Attorney?
You are not legally required to hire a hurricane property damage claims attorney to assist with your insurance claim. You can attempt to file your claim and negotiate with your insurance company on your own. However, hiring a lawyer is never a bad idea, especially if you feel overwhelmed or your insurance company is treating you unfairly.
How Can a Hurricane Damage Claim Lawyer Help Me?
An attorney can help you throughout the property damage claims process by:
- Gathering evidence of the damage your home or commercial property experienced
- Reviewing all applicable insurance policies to determine what coverage you qualify for
- Filing your insurance claim on your behalf
- Helping you appeal a denied or underpaid claim
- Negotiating with the insurance adjuster for the maximum compensation allowed by your policy
- Protecting your legal rights and, if necessary, representing you in court
You don’t have to accept a lowball offer or a claim denial. Let a Corpus Christi insurance claims lawyer fight on your behalf.
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.
Does My Home Insurance Policy Cover Hurricane Damage?
Many standard homeowners insurance policies will cover wind-related hurricane damage to the roof, windows, and other parts of your home. However, homes on the Gulf Coast also typically require a separate windstorm and hail insurance policy to cover hurricane-related wind damage.
Additionally, receiving compensation for damage caused by flooding (which often happens during a hurricane) generally requires a separate flood insurance policy.
Depending on the details of your insurance policy or policies, you may be entitled to compensation to repair or replace property damaged by:
- Hurricane-force winds
- Flooding due to severe rains
- Fallen trees
- Damage caused by flying debris
- Hail damage
- Tornadoes spawned by a hurricane
According to the Insurance Information Institute, your policy may require you to pay a hurricane deductible (which is often higher than your standard deductible) before your coverage kicks in. Other exceptions and exclusions may also apply.
If you believe you deserve coverage for a specific peril but your insurance company pushes back, a Corpus Christi homeowners insurance claims attorney can review your policy and negotiate on your behalf.
What if a Hurricane Damaged My Commercial Property?
Similar to homeowners policies, whether your commercial insurance will cover your hurricane property damage depends on the language in your unique policy. Depending on the coverage you purchased, you may qualify for compensation covering:
- Physical damage to the building
- Business interruption or relocation expenses
- Costs associated with mitigating the damage, such as boarding up windows or tarping the roof
If you’re having trouble securing fair compensation for damage to your business’ building, a Corpus Christi commercial insurance claims lawyer can represent you in negotiations and fight for fair coverage.
What Should I Do if My Insurance Company Delays or Denies My Hurricane Damage Claim?
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, your insurance company has several responsibilities during the claims process. For example, it must generally:
- Acknowledge receipt of your claim within 15 days
- Send an insurance adjuster to examine your property and create an estimate for repairs
- Accept or deny your insurance claim within 15 business days of receiving all relevant information
- Pay your claim within five days of its approval
In some situations, insurance providers can request extensions of these deadlines to allow more time for investigation. This may happen if they are inundated with claims after a hurricane devastates many properties in one area.
If you hire a hurricane damage claim lawyer, they can ensure your insurance company treats you fairly and does not unlawfully or unnecessarily delay your claim.
Bad Faith Insurance Practices
In some cases, insurers engage in bad faith practices to protect their bottom lines. According to Texas Insurance Code § 542.003, these practices may include:
- Misrepresenting all or part of your policy
- Failing to acknowledge your claim
- Refusing to communicate or negotiate with you
- Delaying your claim unnecessarily
- Offering a settlement that is far less than you deserve
If you have fallen victim to any of these deceptive practices, a Corpus Christi bad faith insurance claim lawyer can help you take legal action against your insurer and potentially secure additional compensation for the harm you have suffered.
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
How Long Do I Have to File a Hurricane Damage Claim?
The deadline for filing a claim should be listed in your policy. In most cases, it’s best to file your claim as soon as possible after a hurricane, as filing promptly can help you avoid delays and allow you to repair or rebuild your property as soon as possible.
Also, if you fail to file promptly, your insurer may allege that another event caused the damage instead of the hurricane, which may result in a claim denial.
Your claim may also need to meet other deadlines. For example, if you want to file a bad faith insurance lawsuit against your insurer, you generally have two years to do so.
Your Corpus Christi property insurance claims lawyer can ensure you meet all required deadlines throughout the claims process.
You need a skilled advocate to protect your legal rights and present your claim in such a way as to maximize your recovery.
Let an Experienced Attorney Help With Your Hurricane Damage Insurance Claim
While you legally do not need a lawyer for your hurricane property damage claim, choosing to hire one can relieve stress and provide great peace of mind.
A hurricane property damage claim attorney from our team at Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, can handle your insurance claim from start to finish while you focus on relocating your family and recovering from the storm’s aftermath. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.
