When your property sustains damage, your insurance company should pay for repairs, relocation expenses, and other losses covered in your policy. After all, you pay a monthly premium to protect you in situations just like the one you’re experiencing now. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters don’t always honor the policy terms and unjustly delay, devalue, or even deny valid claims.
If your insurance company has treated you unfairly at any point during the claims process, one of our Houston bad faith insurance claim lawyers can fight for your rights. Our team has over 40 years of experience in both insurance and personal injury law. Get in touch with Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, today to learn how our Houston insurance claims lawyers can help you. We offer free initial consultations.
What Our Houston Bad Faith Insurance Claim Attorneys Can Do for You
You shouldn’t have to deal with the costs of property damage when your insurance company should step in. The good news is that you don’t have to fight them alone. When you hire one of our Houston bad faith insurance attorneys to handle your case, our Houston personal injury lawyers can provide these services for you:
- Determine if your insurance company acted in bad faith
- Gather evidence that shows you have a legitimate claim
- Hire a third-party professional to estimate your damages
- Handle all correspondence and communication with the insurance company and other involved parties
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- File a lawsuit, if needed
Our Houston bad faith insurance lawyers will be here for you throughout your entire case. You can text Stephen P. Carrigan or David M. Anderson any time, as they respond seven days a week. Steve also returns phone calls every day. In addition, whenever something new transpires in your claim, we will tell you immediately. You can trust that our attorneys will be in constant communication with you from start to finish.
Don’t worry about trying to figure out how to pay for one of our attorneys to represent you. There are no upfront or hidden fees when you sign on with us. Because we take insurance claim cases under a contingency fee basis, there are no out-of-pocket, hourly, or upfront costs involved. We will take our payment only if we secure a settlement or judgment for you.
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.
Examples of Bad Faith Practices Insurance Companies May Use
Our law firm handles bad faith claims regarding various commercial and residential property damage incidents, such as:
- Damage from hurricanes, windstorms, or hailstorms
- Water damage
- Fire, explosion, or smoke damage
- Theft or vandalism
Note that just because you disagree with the insurance adjuster’s decision, their actions don’t necessarily constitute bad faith. Insurance policies are long and complicated, so it’s easy to miss something or misinterpret the language.
However, some insurance companies may not act with your best interests in mind. Common examples of bad faith tactics they may employ include:
- Purposefully misrepresenting the language in your policy
- Unreasonably denying a valid claim
- Not giving a valid reason for delaying or denying your claim
- Refusing to pay your claim in full
- Asking for unnecessary, irrelevant information
- Failing to notify you about denying your claim within the state-enforced deadline
- Offering an insufficient settlement
David serves policyholders dealing with insurance companies that delay or deny their claims, whereas Steve is a civil trial lawyer who has been practicing law for nearly 40 years. They’ve seen a lot in their decades in the legal world, so they know how to spot an insurance company acting in bad faith.
Deadlines the Insurance Company Must Adhere to During the Claims Process
Texas imposes certain laws to keep insurance claims progressing. For example, the Texas Homeowners’ Bill of Rights generally requires the insurer to acknowledge receipt of your claim within 15 days, decide whether to approve or deny it within 15 business days, and remit payment within five days of approval.
Failing to adhere to these timeframes could indicate bad faith practices. Call Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, for more information and learn how our Houston bad faith lawyers can help you.
Houston Bad Faith Lawyer Near Me 361-884-4437
How Long You Have to Sue the Insurance Company for its Bad Faith Tactics
Sometimes, filing a lawsuit against the insurance provider is the most suitable option to recover fair damages for you. In that event, you must be aware of the statute of limitations (filing deadline) the state imposes. According to Texas Insurance Code § 541.162, you generally have two years to bring a bad faith lawsuit against the insurance company.
This timeline usually starts the day the insurer rejected your claim or the day you learned of your claim denial. Your Houston bad faith insurance claims lawyer can determine the deadline for your situation.
We recommend contacting our law firm as soon as possible. The state takes these deadlines seriously, and the judge might refuse to hear your case if you miss the deadline. Our legal team has several decades of experience under our belt, so we know what it takes to meet the statute of limitations. Still, the sooner you call us, the sooner we can file your lawsuit and start fighting for the justice you deserve.
Representing the injured in all areas of Texas that extends back over 40 years
Possible Costs You Can Recover in a Bad Faith Insurance Case in Texas
Every case is different, so the damages you’re entitled to recover will depend on your unique circumstances. When your Houston property insurance claims lawyer reviews your case and policy, they may find you have grounds to collect a financial award for the following:
- Structural damage to your home or commercial building
- Relocation costs
- Damaged personal or business property
Take pictures of the damage, keep receipts and invoices, and make a record of your property maintenance history to substantiate your claim for damages.
You need a skilled advocate to protect your legal rights and present your claim in such a way as to maximize your recovery.
Our Houston Bad Faith Insurance Claim Attorneys Are Here for You
Receiving an unfair claim delay or denial is frustrating, but it’s not the final answer, especially when you have a Houston bad faith insurance claim lawyer fighting for you. Contact Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC, today for a free consultation.
At Carrigan & Anderson, PLLC we can talk to you about your options and rights.
