Louisiana Hurricane Damage Claims Attorneys

The strongest storm to make landfall in Louisiana in centuries, Hurricane Ida has brought devastation and terror to the central gulf coast, battering Louisiana and Mississippi and leaving in its wake a trail of destruction.

It can take months – even years – to recover from the damage left behind by a natural disaster of this scale. For those afflicted, it can mean years spent running down insurance agents who are unwilling to process a homeowners insurance damage claim, even when the insured is fully entitled to compensation due to a natural disaster.

Your life has been sidelined by a force of nature; you don’t have the time or the mental fortitude to hound the insurance company responsible for your claim while you’re trying to rebuild your home and your life. We at Babcock Injury Lawyers understand the phenomenally difficult situation you have found yourself in and we’re here to help you get the compensation you’re entitled to for your claim. Discuss your case with a Louisiana Hurricane Ida damage claim lawyer right away.

Common Types of Property Damage From Storms

Every hurricane is different, and so is the damage that it causes. We know that a storm of such a caliber as Hurricane Ida (Category 4) is going to result in some pretty hefty damages. Here are some of the things that Louisiana residents have already reported in the wake of Ida:

Damage to roofs
Broken doors and windows
Vehicle damage
Water damage
Damage to interiors of the home
Damage to building foundations
Uprooted trees and gardens
Damage to decks, pools, and garages

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover

What homeowners’ insurance covers may vary from policy to policy. But in general, almost all homeowners insurance policies cover the following:

Repair costs for the home
Repair or replacement cost of damaged personal property like furniture, appliances, and clothes
Living expenses like medication, temporary accommodation, etc

While your homeowners’ insurance will cover damage caused by wind, wind-driven rain, and water that has seeped into the home from doors or windows or holes in the roofing, it will not cover the damages caused by flooding. For that, you will need to have specific flood insurance coverage.

Confused about what is covered by your homeowners’ insurance and what is not?

Filing a Claim

Being in the middle of Hurricane Ida and the damage it created is difficult enough. Filing an insurance claim and battling insurance companies will make this situation even tougher. You can protect yourself by making sure that you are fully aware of what your insurance policy does and does not cover.

Reread your documents carefully and thoroughly and gather as much information as you can about the circumstances of your claim before meeting with your insurance adjuster. Most insurance policies have a tax-deductible, which refers to the amount of the claim that you should pay out of your pocket before the company pays you the rest.

Read your policy and confirm whether your deductible applies to hurricane damage as well. Some policies may have a higher deductible for damage caused by hurricanes.

Even if you have all of the information before you and you know that your claim is valid, a hurricane damage insurance claim is not always easy to handle.

Insurance companies don’t always have your best interests at heart; especially when it comes to paying the same or higher damages to hundreds or thousands of homeowners affected by the same disaster. Ensuring you get what you deserve is not their priority.

As a result, they resort to many delaying tactics and other methods to either reduce your insurance claim or not give you anything at all. This entire process can get very frustrating. This is why you need Louisiana hurricane claim lawyers to help you with your claims.

Tactics That Insurance Companies Use

Delay or deny the claim and stall communication
Ask for more proof while already having enough proof of the damages
Blame the damage on poor maintenance of the property
Claim that all information was not given when the policy was bought
Try to make a lower offer than you deserve

Excuses Given by Insurance Companies to Deny Claims

Insurance companies are smart. With the kind of destruction that Hurricane Ida created, they know that you and others will be facing devastation and most likely won’t have the time or the will to argue against a smaller claim payout.

Because of this, an insurance company will often prey on your weakest moments, giving you excuses and reasons to delay or deny your claim. Some of the reasons that an insurer may give for offering a lower claim include:

Damage not being caused by the hurricane
Operation of an exclusion clause. For example, your house should have been in a certain condition to qualify for hurricane damage
Damage caused by flooding which is not covered in homeowners’ insurance
Damage caused by wear and tear over time
Cancellation of your insurance policy

How We Can Help With Your Louisiana Hurricane Damage Claims

Providing you with the right amount for your Hurricane Ida damage claim will not be a priority for your insurance company. They will try whatever they can to give you a smaller amount than the original claim; or worse, deny your claim entirely.

Dealing with the insurance adjusters for a hurricane damage claim is not easy. You will need the expertise of a personal injury attorney who deals with insurance companies to work with you.

f things get out of hand, we are always there to help. With decades of experience in both litigation and insurance negotiations, we will make sure you get the right amount for your Hurricane Ida damage claim.

We will go through the paperwork in detail and hold the insurance company accountable for any delays. We will dispute claim denials on your behalf and fight for you in a court of law if required until you are awarded the compensation you rightly deserve.