If your house is flooded during a hurricane, the most important thing you can do is ensure your safety. You may have to evacuate the premises and come back to document your losses when it’s safe. Make sure to contact your insurance company and any other necessary parties, as it will kickstart the filing process for your claim.
You may also want to consider hiring a Corpus Christi hurricane damage claims attorney from our team. They can manage your case while you take care of things at home. All of their help will be available to you on a contingency-fee basis.
Prioritize Safety in a House Flooding from a Hurricane
Your safety should be your priority if your house is flooded during a hurricane. If your local authorities sent out an evacuation order for your area, please comply. It’s not safe to walk through standing water since it could be contaminated or have debris, so you’ll want to leave the premises before it gets to that point.
Do not return to the house until it’s secure and you’ve been given the OK by the city government officials. Otherwise, you may subject yourself to dangerous conditions.
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.
Document Your Losses from the Flood
After you’ve received the “all clear,” you may return to the home and start documenting the damage. Before you start cleaning or making repairs, take photos and videos of the extent of what happened. In the video, describe the scene to give the insurance company a broader understanding of the situation.
It’s also a good idea to create an inventory of your losses. Make a list of all the items that were damaged and their approximate value. To help with this estimation, you may want to contact an inspector. They can assess all the flood damage and potentially spot things you weren’t aware of. There could be:
- Electrical issues
- Mold and mildew
- Water pollution
- Cracked foundation
- Warped floors
- Damage to appliances, furniture, and electronics
- Ceiling collapse
- Roof leaks
Make sure you maintain a record of all expenses pertaining to your flood damage and repairs. Should you have made any temporary repairs yourself, keep the receipts.
If you hired a cleaning service or repairman, hold onto those invoices, too. All of this documentation will help substantiate your claim for coverage.
Contact Your Insurance Company and Local Authorities
It’s vital that your insurance company knows about your flood damage from a hurricane as soon as possible. This notification will instantly kick off the claims process. You’ll also want to keep a record of all communication you’ve had with the insurer to ensure your claim moves along.
Report the flooding and your damage to local authorities, too. It helps ensure you adhere to certain building requirements and that you receive necessary assistance. It will also enable these officials to assess the severity of the damage and plan necessary disaster response efforts.
Understanding Your Options After Your House Has Flooded from a Hurricane
Before you submit your claim to the insurance company, review your policy. See what your inclusions, exclusions, deductibles, conditions, and terms are.
Note that you will not file your flood damage claim with your homeowners insurance. Flood insurance is independent of homeowners insurance. It’s an optional, separate policy that you would have purchased. The compensation from this policy may cover the following losses:
- Damaged electrical and plumbing systems
- Structural damage
- Foundational damage
- Damage to and destruction of carpeting, cabinetry, and appliances
- Cleanup expenses, like debris removal and sandbagging
- Relocation costs
If you try to file a flood damage claim with your homeowners insurance company, you will receive a denial. However, policy exclusions aren’t the only reason the insurance company may deny your flood damage claim. It may:
- Argue that you missed deadlines
- Claim a lack of sufficient evidence
- Claim insufficient coverage
- Misrepresent policy terms
- Argue that you failed to mitigate damage
- Claim that the damage was pre-existing
- Claim that you failed to properly prepare your property
A Corpus Christi flood damage claims lawyer from our firm can investigate the insurance company’s reasons for a denial and file an appeal. We may find that they were acting in bad faith.
For example, maybe they didn’t give a valid explanation for rejecting your claim. In that case, we would file a bad-faith insurance lawsuit against them. We typically have two years to pursue this action, per Texas Insurance Code § 541.162.
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
Consider Hiring an Attorney at Our Firm to Take on Your Flood Damage Claim
You’re in no spot to navigate the insurance claims process when you’re dealing with the aftermath of a flood in your home. Allow a lawyer from our firm to handle all aspects of your claim while you take care of yourself, your family, and your property.
They may assume the following responsibilities for you:
- Gathering various forms of documentation
- Filling out all necessary paperwork
- Reviewing and interpreting your flood insurance policy
- Managing all correspondence with the insurance company
- Negotiating a reasonable settlement
- Filing an appeal
- Explaining your legal rights
- Going to trial, if necessary
David Anderson is an experienced Texas insurance lawyer, and he’s not afraid to stand up to big insurance companies so that you can obtain the coverage you need.
This approach has proven effective, as we have recovered millions for clients. Whatever your situation, we are here for you.
If you have any reservations or questions regarding your claim, you can text your attorney anytime, as they respond seven days a week. You won’t have to go through a secretary, either, as your lawyer will be your first point of contact. Expect a quick reply, too. On top of that, they’ll give you frequent updates on how your case is moving.
You need a skilled advocate to protect your legal rights and present your claim in such a way as to maximize your recovery.
Call Our Firm if Your House was Flooded in a Hurricane
If your house flooded during a hurricane, we will spend as much time as we need on your case to ensure you get the highest compensation. Since we’re a smaller firm, we’re able to truly dedicate ourselves to every case and give it personalized attention.
Contact Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC today. Our team offers free case reviews.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.
