Property owners in the coastal area of Texas are at risk of substantial damage to their homes and businesses during hurricane season. These large weather events leave buildings with wind, rain, and flooding damage. Even after a smaller tropical storm, thousands are left filing claims for repairs and losses.
At Burnett Law Firm, our hurricane insurance lawyers stand ready to help homeowners and business owners collect the documents necessary to receive compensation. There are many crucial steps to working with your hurricane damage insurance provider, and the company is not always on your side. Schedule a free consultation with a hurricane lawyer in our Houston, TX office to learn more.
How Hurricane Lawyers Can Assist with Your Insurance Claim
When a hurricane or tropical storm ends, residents and business owners are often astounded at the extent of the damage left behind. It can be difficult to know where to start since you want to document what happened but also get started on cleaning up right away. However, if you are not careful, you could unknowingly sabotage your hurricane insurance claim.
There are several types of damage that can occur during these natural disasters, including:
- Wind damage: Winds on the Saffir-Simpson Scale can range from 74 mph at Category 1 to 157mph at Category 5. Roofs, siding, and landscaping can be blown away, and entire buildings can be collapsed.
- Water damage: Heavy rains pushed by strong winds can be forced under the shingles, causing wood rot in the months following a storm. In addition, property can be swamped when a storm dumps several inches of water in a concentrated area.
- Flood damage: Near the coast, storm surges and high tides can lead to flooding. If a levee, dam, or reservoir is damaged, free-flowing waters can wash away homes and businesses.
- Fire damage: In rare instances, lightning during the storm can spark fires in the midst of heavy rain. Buildings may burn internally or suffer scorching from damaged wiring or electrical surges from power lines.
Locating reliable contractors for estimates on the property damage can be difficult in the aftermath, but a reputable hurricane insurance attorney will connect you with their network of trusted professionals. We can also provide guidance on estimating the value of replacing your damaged property.
We Calculate the Full Range of Property Damage and Losses
There are many expenses you will face as a result of the storm damage to your property. It will be easy to overlook some as you struggle with the insurance claims process. The team at Burnett Law Firm has helped clients examine their situations and request compensation for costs such as:
- The cost of temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage.
- Living expenses in a hotel or rental location for you and your family until you can return to your home.
- Lost income from missing work to make repairs, meet with the insurance adjuster, and manage the claims process.
- Loss of profits and cost to assist employees if you experience a business interruption for your company.
Depending on the type of damage and the amount, your property may be declared a total loss. This means that the cost to repair it would be more than the insured value of the property. The value is usually based on your county’s tax appraisal, but if you have made significant improvements, you may become involved in an insurance dispute.
When this happens, it helps to have advice from a seasoned attorney who understands the law around insurance claims. If the insurance company is slow to pay your claim, you need someone who can negotiate forcefully on your behalf so you can begin putting your life back together.
Dealing With Underpaid or Denied Hurricane Damage Claims
Insurance companies are always on the lookout for fraudulent property damage claims. This makes them extra vigilant when examining the costs you request for repairing your damage. The insurance adjuster is responsible for reducing your payout by denying any expenses that seem to be extraordinary.
However, what they call excessive may actually be necessary to ensure your repairs are up to code and safe. This can lead to lowball offers from the insurer and pressure to settle your claim before all the damage is identified. If the adjuster only approves a small amount, a high deductible could mean you do not get any coverage at all.
Delaying their response, pushing back on required repair costs, and other underhanded tactics could mean your insurance provider is operating in bad faith. When this happens, you can turn to a skilled hurricane insurance attorney to negotiate for you. Our team can even take them to court for an insurance coverage lawsuit to recover the payout you deserve.
The Hurricane Damage Claims Process
Depending on the size of the storm, hurricanes and tropical storms can take only a few hours to a few days to pass over the Houston area. Once the winds have died down and the rain has stopped falling, property owners can go outside or return from their evacuation site. Surveying the damage can be heartbreaking, but it is important to begin preparing to submit your claim right away.
Roads and utilities are likely to be damaged, so it could take several days to reach your home or business. Once you are there, try to follow these steps to collect the information your insurance provider will require:
- Review your policy: Prior to the storm, you should gather important papers to take with you if you evacuate. Reading your policy during this time can refresh your memory of your deductible and what your coverage will repair.
- Document the aftermath: Photos and videos can show the extent of the damage from flooding, fire, winds, and other factors. Buildings that are damaged and left standing after a storm may also have mold, debris, or animals inside them.
- Keep any damaged personal property: Photograph and store any items that were affected. Only dispose of them after your insurance adjuster says you can.
- Make temporary repairs: By yourself or through a contractor, cover roof leaks, put up temporary fencing, or make any other temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Your insurance company may reduce your payout if you do not take this step.
- Contact your insurance provider: You can call and ask for a claim number as soon as you know there is damage to your property. They will give you a claim number and assign an adjuster to your case.
- Get repair quotes: Request quotes from a minimum of three contractors to show your adjuster. When you decide on a repair company, arrange for them to meet with you when the adjuster assesses your losses.
- Meet the insurance adjuster: Be present with your chosen contractor when the adjuster visits your property. Point out any damage to be sure they document everything. Your contractor can advise the adjuster on local building requirements.
- Submit your claim: Your adjuster will help you submit the claim. You will provide all receipts and estimates for your costs. The adjuster will coordinate with your contractor before work begins.
- Receive a decision: In Texas, insurance companies must respond to your claim within 15 days. Once it is approved, they will often send a partial payment, with the final compensation arriving after you submit proof the repairs were completed.
Keep receipts for everything you do after the storm. Temporary repair supplies, contractor labor, living expenses until the home is ready, and other costs can be submitted as part of your claim. If the claim is denied or they make a lowball offer, you should contact a reputable attorney to manage the appeal on your behalf.
Which Policy Covers Hurricane Damage? Understanding Flood Insurance vs Homeowners’ Insurance
Understanding which insurance policy is responsible for paying to repair your home or business can be confusing when a hurricane is involved. The two most damaging aspects of these kinds of storms are the wind and the water. When you live in a coastal area that is prone to hurricanes, you must frequently purchase separate insurance coverage for wind and hail, as well as for flood damage.
Your homeowners’ insurance policy does not generally pay for damage from flooding or high winds. However, it can get complicated when you have a combination of problems, such as damage to your roof during a storm. The wind policy would repair your roof, but what about furniture and clothing damaged by the rain that entered the rooms underneath? Which insurance provider pays for that, compared to furniture damaged by flooding on the ground floor?
Understanding the nuances of property insurance is a common concern for policyholders. The basic rule of thumb is this:
- Flood insurance covers damage from water that comes over the ground (storm surge, torrential rain, overtopped rivers) into your home or yard.
- Homeowners’ insurance pays for damage due to rain coming in a roof leak, burst water pipes, or an overflowed toilet.
Your insurance company can offer some guidance as to which property insurance will be activated, but if both providers refuse to pay, you may need legal representation. Our hurricane insurance attorneys will gladly inspect your policies and communicate with the insurers to protect your right to fair compensation for your losses.
Protect Your Rights – Contact the Hurricane Damage Attorneys at Burnett Law Firm
Even though there is often time to prepare for a storm before it hits, hurricanes and tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico can be especially violent. The damage they cause leaves homeowners in temporary shelters and businesses out of commission for months at a time. If you or your loved ones are injured, you have even more worries than getting your house rebuilt.
Instead of adding these concerns, speak with our hurricane insurance claim lawyers at Burnett Law Firm. We are committed to relieving you of these burdens and ensuring you receive the compensation you are owed. Contact us to schedule a free case review about your hurricane property damage using our online form today.