Theft Claim Attorney in Baton Rouge

Discovering your home or business has been broken into can cause your heart to sink, especially as you learn what valuable or sentimental items have been taken from you. If you’ve been the victim of a theft in your home or business, you could be entitled to compensation through your homeowners’, renters’, or business insurance policy. However, getting this compensation is likely easier said than done, which is why you need Insurance Claim HQ on your side.

Our team has decades of experience negotiating property insurance claims and helping homeowners and businesses maximize their financial recovery. We have a proven track record of success, including over $1 billion in insurance and property casualty settlements for our clients — including losses from theft crimes.

Don’t wait to get the legal help you need to pursue financial recovery and move forward after a theft incident. Contact Insurance Claim HQ for a free initial case evaluation with a compassionate Baton Rouge theft claim lawyer.

How a Baton Rouge Theft Claim Insurance Lawyer Can Help with Your Case

A Baton Rouge insurance lawyer from ICHQ can help you secure the financial compensation you deserve after a theft or break-in by:

• Gathering supporting documentation for your insurance claim, including requesting police reports and organizing photographs and receipts
• Documenting your losses, including working with appraisers for high-value items like jewelry, collectibles, or artwork
• Reviewing your insurance policy to determine your available coverage
• Helping you prepare and file your insurance claim and dealing with the insurance adjusters on your behalf
• Vigorously negotiating for a fair settlement that provides you with maximum compensation
• Filing bad faith lawsuits when your insurer wrongfully delays or denies your theft claim
• Never charging you anything unless we recover compensation on your theft claim

What Is a Theft Claim in Louisiana?

A homeowner or business owner who suffers a break-in by a burglar who proceeds to steal things from the home or business may have grounds to file a theft claim. Homeowners’, renters’, and business insurance policies frequently cover property stolen in a break-in, paying for the replacement costs of their stolen property or current fair market value.

What Stolen Items Could Be Covered Under My Insurance Policy?

A homeowners’ insurance policy may provide financial compensation for items stolen from a homeowner’s property during a break-in. Insurance coverage may pay for replacement costs (the cost of buying replacements for stolen items) or fair market value for the items, depending on which type of coverage a policyholder purchases. Common types of theft claims include:

Note that homeowners’ insurance will not provide coverage for someone breaking into your home and stealing your car. Instead, you would need to file a claim with your auto insurance provider if you have comprehensive coverage in your auto policy.

What Are the Possible Exceptions for Theft Claims Under My Insurance Policy?

Your insurance company may rely on various exceptions to deny or minimize your theft claim. Some of the most frequently used exceptions or exemptions include:

• Stolen Vehicle or Items Stolen from a Vehicle – Suppose a thief breaks into your home and steals a vehicle from your garage or breaks into your car and steals items from inside. Homeowners’ insurance typically does not cover theft of vehicles or property inside vehicles, even if the theft occurred while your vehicle was inside your home. Instead, vehicle theft or theft from a vehicle falls under comprehensive coverage in an auto insurance policy.
• Items Stolen by a Household Member – An insurance company may deny coverage for property stolen by someone who lives n the house, such as a roommate or family member stealing valuable property to sell for cash.
• Insufficient Proof of Loss – Insurers may deny claims submitted without sufficient supporting documentation, such as a police report, to prove that the theft occurred.
• Theft Occurred During a Rental or House-Sitting – An insurance company might have grounds to deny the claim of a homeowner who suffers a theft while renting out their property on Airbnb or another similar platform. Similarly, the insurance company may deny a claim for a theft committed by someone you let stay at your house or house-sit for you.
• Leaving the Home Unoccupied for Extended Periods – Insurers may deny or limit coverage for theft when a homeowner leaves their property unoccupied for extended periods without having someone to house-sit or check on the property occasionally.
• Policy Limits – Homeowners’ insurance limits coverage for stolen property to a specific aggregate dollar amount. As a result, an insurance company may deny theft claims that include multiple high-value items like jewelry, high-end watches, or artwork unless the homeowner specifically lists those items for coverage.

What Legal Rights Do I Have as an Insurance Policyholder in Baton Rouge?

As a homeowner or business owner with a property insurance policy, you have the right to have your insurance claim handled fairly and promptly by your insurance company, which must refrain from acting in bad faith when processing or settling your claim. Under the law, you also have the right to timely action by your insurer.

For example, your insurer must begin adjusting your claim within 14 days of receiving it. Once you’ve provided satisfactory proof of your loss, your insurer must either pay your claim or make a settlement offer within 30 days. Finally, after you’ve reached a written agreement with your insurer, it must pay the settlement within 30 days.

How Could Insurance Companies Act in Bad Faith in My Theft Claim?

In Louisiana, the law imposes a duty of good faith and fair dealing on insurance companies. Insurers have an affirmative obligation to handle claims fairly and promptly and to make a reasonable effort to settle claims with a policyholder. An insurer who breaches these duties may have acted in bad faith and may face liability to a policyholder.

The law identifies several kinds of behavior as constituting bad faith by an insurance company, including the following:

• Misrepresenting material facts or insurance policy provisions relevant to the coverage(s) at issue
• Failing to pay a settlement within 30 days of reaching a written agreement
• Denying coverage or negotiating a settlement of a claim based on an application the insurer knows was altered without an insured’s knowledge or consent
• Misrepresenting the applicable prescriptive period under the insurance policy
• Failing to pay a claim due after receiving satisfactory proof of loss
• Arbitrarily or capriciously failing to pay claims

In a bad faith claim, an insured may have the right to recover the fair amount of their insurance claim plus penalties up to two times the compensation awarded or $5,000, whichever is greater.

What Are the Steps to Take Once I Discover My Property Is Missing?

Taking prompt action after a break-in is critical to put yourself in the best position for an approved claim. The following are some steps to take after you discover that property is missing from your home or business:

• Report the break-in and theft to local law enforcement and request a copy of the police report. Review the report for accuracy and have the police department update it if it has errors or missing information.
• Carefully go through your home or business to identify everything the burglar has stolen.
• Gather copies of receipts or invoices for the stolen property or list purchase dates and prices.
• Take photos of any property damage caused by the break-in, such as a broken lock or smashed window.
• Make temporary repairs, such as boarding up a broken window, to prevent future damage or vandalism.
• Report the theft to your insurance company.

Finally, contact ICHQ as soon as possible. A theft claim attorney in Baton Rouge can discuss your rights and options for recovering insurance payments for property stolen from your home or business.

What Does Proof of Loss Mean?

A proof of loss is a document a policyholder submits to initiate a claim with their insurance provider. In a proof of loss, a claimant provides basic information about their claim under oath, such as the nature of the loss, the date when the loss occurred, and the amount of compensation the claimant seeks from the insurance company.

The proof of loss allows the insurance company to investigate the claim and determine whether it qualifies for coverage and its value. In many cases, an insurance policy will require an insured to submit their proof of loss within a certain period after the loss occurs. As a result, claimants should submit their proof of loss as soon as possible to ensure they qualify for coverage.

Contact a Baton Rouge Theft Claim Insurance Lawyer Today

If you’ve recently become the victim of a break-in of your home or business, you may have the right to pursue financial recovery from your insurance provider. However, in the event that you’ve had your theft claim denied by the insurer, you need experienced legal guidance to protect your interests.

Contact ICHQ today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Baton Rouge theft claim attorney. We will discuss your options and rights for pursuing compensation after someone has stolen from your home or business.