If your electrical system was damaged in a storm, you should ensure your safety, assess and document the damage, contact an electrician to determine what repairs are necessary, and file an insurance claim to get financial coverage for the damage.
If your commercial or home insurance company denies your claim or refuses to negotiate, a Corpus Christi storm damage claims lawyer can defend your rights and ensure you receive fair treatment.
You deserve enough compensation to make all necessary repairs and ensure your home or business’ safety and functionality, and an attorney can help you throughout the claims process.
How Can a Severe Storm Damage Your Electrical System?
When most people think of storm damage, they imagine torn-off roof shingles, broken windows, or ruined flooring. While these are common effects of a hurricane or other severe weather events, storms can also cause electrical damage, which can be very dangerous for home and business owners.
For example:
- Lightning strikes can cause power surges that damage appliances.
- Flooding can damage an electrical system if water seeps into electrical outlets or wiring.
- Strong winds can knock over power lines or rip wiring loose, leading to power surges or fires.
- Circuit breakers can trip during a storm, leading to various electrical issues.
Carefully watch for signs of electrical damage after a storm. If something seems off, avoid touching any wires or damaged electrical components and contact an electrician for an emergency inspection.
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.
Steps to Take After a Storm Damages Your Home or Business’ Electrical System
If you suspect or know your home or commercial property sustained electrical damage in a storm, we recommend taking the following steps:
Ensure Your Safety
Because electrical shocks and electrocution are very serious risks when electrical systems are damaged in a storm, your safety should be your top priority. To protect yourself, you should:
- Turn off the power to your home or business.
- Report any downed power lines to your local utility company.
- Avoid going near puddles of standing water, especially if electrical wires are submerged in them.
- Don’t touch or try to move any power lines or wires.
Assess and Document the Damage
Unlike a hole in your roof, ripped-off siding, or a flood, electrical storm damage is not always obvious to the naked eye. With safety in mind, carefully assess your property and take notes or photos of any damage your home or business sustained, including:
- Appliance or outlet damage
- Frayed wires
- Flickering lights
- Tripped circuit breakers
- Sparking outlets
- Burning smells or buzzing noises coming from outlets, switches, or your circuit breaker
- Loss of power
Contact a Licensed Electrician
Next, you’ll want to contact an electrician to inspect your property and determine exactly what repairs need to be made to make your home or business safe and functional again. Common electrical repairs needed after a storm include:
- Restoring power to your home or building
- Repairing or replacing damaged electrical circuits
- Repairing or replacing damaged or downed power lines
- Repairing or replacing damaged appliances, outlets, switches, and wiring
- Addressing water damage
The National Weather Service warns against hiring someone who is going door-to-door after a storm and advertising their services for any cleanup or repair efforts.
Instead, take time to do research, read reviews, and get quotes from multiple local electrical professionals to ensure you don’t fall victim to a scam.
According to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, anyone who performs electrical work in the state must be licensed, so it’s also a good idea to request proof of licensure before hiring someone.
File an Insurance Claim
Most homeowners and commercial insurance policies cover electrical damage caused by lightning or other effects of a storm. However, you should read your policy carefully to learn whether it contains any exclusions or exceptions.
For example, according to the Texas Department of Insurance, most standard home insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, so if a flood caused electrical damage to your property, you may not be covered unless you have a separate flood insurance policy.
Once you know what coverage you deserve, you can file a claim. An adjuster will perform an investigation, determine what coverage they believe you qualify for, and make a settlement offer. You can negotiate with the adjuster until you reach an agreement, and they will then send you the payment.
What to Do If the Insurance Company Denies or Undervalues Your Claim
Unfortunately, many insurance companies are more concerned about making a profit than helping storm damage victims. If the insurance adjuster denies or undervalues your storm damage claim, you don’t have to take “no” for an answer. A Corpus Christi insurance claims lawyer can negotiate on your behalf and ensure you don’t fall victim to dishonest or deceptive insurance tactics.
According to Texas Insurance Code § 542.003, illegal actions insurance companies may take include:
- Failing to acknowledge your claim
- Lying about what your policy covers
- Refusing to investigate your claim thoroughly
- Denying a valid claim
- Making an unreasonably low settlement offer
- Ignoring your attempts at communication
- Refusing to negotiate in good faith
Your Corpus Christi bad faith insurance claim lawyer will fight for your rights and file a lawsuit against your insurer if warranted. You may qualify for additional compensation beyond your initial claim if your insurance company has treated you unfairly.
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
Let Our Storm Damage Insurance Lawyers Assist With Your Claim Today
If you’re struggling to get coverage for electrical damage to your property after a storm, Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, is here for you. A Corpus Christi homeowners insurance claims lawyer or Corpus Christi commercial insurance claims lawyer from our team can help you after a storm damages your electrical system by ensuring your insurance company treats you with respect and fairness.
Our lawyers work on contingency, so you won’t pay us anything if we don’t secure compensation for you. We have 40+ years of experience in insurance law and have recovered millions on behalf of our clients.
To learn more about how we can help with your insurance claim, contact Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, today.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.
