How long it takes to settle a hurricane damage claim depends on the unique circumstances behind the claim and the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate in good faith. While rare, some claims may need to go to trial for final resolution, which can significantly lengthen the process.
If you feel your hurricane damage claim is taking too long to settle or you run into other roadblocks that you’re unsure how to overcome, a Corpus Christi hurricane damage claims lawyer can represent your best interests, streamline the process, and ensure your claim doesn’t encounter any unnecessary delays.
Factors that Can Affect How Long it Takes to Settle a Hurricane Damage Claim
Several factors can affect the timeline for a hurricane property damage claim, including:
The Complexity and Value of Your Claim
In general, complex property damage claims may take more time to settle. For example, if your home only experienced minor damage, your claim may be fairly quick and simple. However, if the hurricane completely destroyed your property and your damages have a high monetary value, your claim may take longer to resolve.
Whether the Insurance Company Disputes Your Claim
If the insurance adjuster assigned to your case believes you don’t have sufficient evidence, you didn’t take sufficient measures to protect your home from damage, or that something other than the hurricane caused the damage to your home, they may dispute your claim.
In this situation, your Corpus Christi homeowners insurance claims attorney may need to gather additional evidence and go through multiple rounds of negotiations, which can lengthen the settlement process.
The Insurance Adjuster’s Willingness to Negotiate Fairly
Even if you present adequate evidence and your insurance policy clearly covers the hurricane damage your property experienced, sometimes insurance companies will do everything possible to avoid giving policyholders fair compensation. They may try to find loopholes or use technical jargon to confuse you in an attempt to convince you to settle for less than you deserve. This can drag out the negotiation process significantly.
If your insurance company refuses to treat you fairly, you can hire a Corpus Christi property insurance claims lawyer to use their extensive experience to negotiate on your behalf.
Whether Your Claim Goes to Court
In rare situations, some hurricane damage claims may need to go to trial for a final resolution. If this happens in your case, it can make the process take much longer than you expected. However, you can rest assured that your attorney is representing your best interests and fighting for the best possible resolution to your case.
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.
The Insurance Company Must Meet Specific Deadlines During the Claims Process
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, insurance companies have several deadlines they must meet during the claims process. While some exceptions exist, your insurer generally must:
- Respond to your claim and begin an investigation within 15 days of filing
- Inform you whether they are accepting or denying your claim within 15 business days of receiving all required information from you
- Send payment within five business days of approving your claim
If your insurance carrier fails to meet these deadlines (without a reasonable explanation) or your claim experiences other unnecessary delays or challenges, you may qualify to file a bad faith insurance lawsuit seeking additional compensation. A Corpus Christi bad faith insurance claim lawyer can help you through this potentially complex legal process.
The Policyholder Must Also Meet Certain Deadlines
As the policyholder, you must also meet certain deadlines outlined in your policy. While each insurance company has unique deadlines related to filing a claim and taking other steps in the process, we recommend notifying your insurer of the damage to your property and filing your claim as soon as possible.
You also must meet the statute of limitations if you wish to file a lawsuit against your insurance company for acts of bad faith. Per Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, you generally have two years from the date the damage occurred to sue for property damage. The statute of limitations for bad faith is also two years, per Texas Insurance Code § 541.162. When this statute of limitations starts running can be tricky. Your attorney can ensure you meet this and other relevant deadlines.
What Can I Do if the Insurer Denies My Hurricane Damage Claim?
If your insurance company denies your hurricane damage claim, you still have options. We recommend allowing a hurricane insurance claims attorney to help you with the following steps:
- Reviewing your denial letter and your insurance policy to understand why the insurer denied your claim
- Gathering additional evidence to prove your property damage and the value of your claim
- Filing an appeal with your insurance company according to its guidelines
- Filing a lawsuit if necessary to secure fair compensation
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
How Can a Hurricane Damage Claims Attorney Help Your Claim Stay on Track?
While some aspects of the process are out of their control, a Corpus Christi insurance claims lawyer can ensure your claim stays on track and doesn’t experience any unnecessary or unlawful delays. They may do this by:
- Ensuring your claim contains all necessary evidence to avoid requests for additional information
- Checking your paperwork for errors before submitting it
- Reviewing your insurance policies to understand what coverage you qualify for
- Using their extensive experience in insurance law to make negotiations as effective and quick as possible
- Ensuring your case meets all applicable deadlines
- Following up with the insurer as necessary to ensure your claim doesn’t get lost in the shuffle
- Anticipating potential problems and addressing them promptly
- Recognizing any acts of bad faith and using proven strategies to counteract them
You need a skilled advocate to protect your legal rights and present your claim in such a way as to maximize your recovery.
Let Our Experienced Hurricane Damage Lawyers Help with Your Claim
If you’re concerned about how long it will take to settle your hurricane damage claim, hiring an attorney from our legal team at Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC can benefit you in many ways. We can avoid delays in the process, help you appeal a lowball offer or claim denial if necessary, and fight for your rights along the way.
If you want to resolve your hurricane damage claim as quickly as possible, contact us today for a free initial consultation.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.
