Water Damage Attorney in Baton Rouge

Has your home or property suffered water damage in Baton Rouge? Unfortunately, even if you have sufficient insurance coverage, getting the insurer to pay you fairly for what you’ve lost could be harder than it should be. Don’t make the mistake of taking on the powerful insurance company alone. Instead, contact Insurance Claim HQ.

For over 25 years, our law firm has earned a reputation across Louisiana, the Deep South, and nationally. Insurance companies and their defense attorneys know we aggressively fight to hold them accountable when they delay, deny, or underpay claims for property casualty matters like water damage. Our tenacity has led to over $1 billion recovered for 70,000-plus policyholders like you.

However, the fact that many of our attorneys live in the Pelican State gives us intimate knowledge of what our clients go through — and how much they lose — when disaster strikes. We’ve experienced firsthand the emotional and physical strain of recovering and rebuilding from severe water damage. Our clients are our neighbors, and their fight is our fight.

Contact ICHQ today for a free initial case evaluation with a Baton Rouge water damage lawyer. Discover how our firm can help you demand the compensation you need and deserve.

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

If an accident or storm has caused water damage to your property, the last thing you should have to do is fight the insurance company to pay you fairly for what you’ve lost. The legal team at ICHQ can help you secure the financial resources you need to repair your property by:

• Thoroughly investigating your case to secure documentation and information that can support your insurance claim, such as photos or independent estimates/appraisals
• Working with contractors and appraisers to determine the value of your water damage claim
• Helping you prepare and file your proof of loss with the insurance company
• Communicating with the insurance adjusters to pursue a favorable resolution of your claim
• Reviewing denial letters from the insurance company to determine your options for challenging the insurer’s decision
• Guiding you through the internal review/appeals process
• Pursuing bad faith claims in court should your insurance company wrongfully deny your claim
• Never charging you anything unless we recover money on your water damage insurance claim

What Are Common Causes of Water Damage?

Some of the most frequent causes of water damage in residential and commercial properties in Louisiana include:

• Pipes bursting
• Leaky roof, which can let rainwater into the walls/structure or building interior
• Storms with heavy rainfall, such as hurricanes
• Floods
• Broken appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, or refrigerators/freezers
• Sewage, including backed-up in-home plumbing, failed septic systems, or clogged storm drains

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Water Damage to Louisiana Properties?

Water intrusion can cause serious property damage in a number of ways. For example, water entering a home or business can damage or destroy furniture, appliances, electronics, and stored documents. It can also cause more significant and catastrophic damage when it enters a structure’s walls and frames. Water intrusion is especially dangerous to wood-framed buildings, as it can compromise structural integrity and eventually lead to collapse.

Why Would My Insurance Carrier Deny My Water Damage Claim?

Insurers deny water damage claims for various reasons, including the following:

• The Insured Failed to Submit Sufficient Supporting Documentation/Information – Insurers frequently deny claims because the insured submitted insufficient information for the insurance company to evaluate the claim.
• The Insured Submitted an Untimely Claim – Insurance policies typically cover losses within the policy period. When water damage occurs before or after the policy period, an insurer may deny the claim. Insurers can also deny claims if a policyholder submits a claim after the policy’s timeframe for submitting claims after a loss.
• The Insured’s Claim Falls Outside the Scope of the Policy – Certain water damage claims, such as flood-related damage, may fall outside the scope of a homeowner’s or commercial property insurance claim.
• A Policy Exclusion Bars the Claim – Even when a property damage claim falls within the scope of coverage, a policy exclusion may give an insurer a basis to deny the claim.
• The Claim’s Value Falls Below the Policy Deductible – Most property insurance policies include deductible provisions that make the policyholder responsible for losses up to a specific dollar amount, with the insurer covering losses above that amount. When the cost of property damage falls below the policy deductible, an insurer may deny the claim.
• The Insured Breached the Policy – An insurance company may deny a claim by claiming that an insured breached the policy, such as by failing to pay premiums or to install safety measures required by the insurer.

Working with a water damage lawyer in Baton Rouge can help you take control of the fight for the fair compensation you deserve.

How Could Insurance Companies Act in Bad Faith in My Water Damage Claim?

Under Louisiana law, insurance companies must act in good faith when dealing with policyholders and claimants. Insurers have an affirmative duty to resolve claims fairly and promptly and make a reasonable effort to settle water damage claims. When they do not, they could face legal liability over bad faith insurance tactics. Examples of behavior that may constitute bad faith by an insurer include:

• Misrepresenting material factors or policy provisions concerning the water damage claim
• Failing to pay a written settlement within 30 days
• Denying coverage or pursuing settlement of a claim due to an alteration of an application of which the insured has no notice or knowledge
• Arbitrarily or capriciously denying coverage for a claim

A water damage attorney in Baton Rouge can assess your situation to determine what your best course of action could be.

What Should I Do if My Water Damage Claim Was Denied?

Should your insurer deny your water damage claims, you can take the following steps to protect your rights and interests to recover compensation for your losses:

• Read over your insurance policy to understand your coverage.
• Review the insurance company’s denial letter to understand the reason(s) for rejecting your water damage claim so you can better understand what you need to appeal the decision.
• Gather evidence and documentation you have for your claim, such as photos of damage, lists of damaged/destroyed property, bills/receipts/invoices, and repair estimates.
• If you need to relocate from the property, keep records of out-of-pocket expenses, such as hotel/short-term rental costs, gas expenses, and restaurant receipts.
• Keep copies of all correspondence with the insurance company.

Finally, contact a water damage insurance claim attorney from ICHQ as soon as possible to discuss your options for pursuing your property claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Water Damage Claim in Louisiana?

The deadline for filing a water damage claim with your insurer will depend on the terms of your policy. If you do not notify the insurer in a timely fashion or attempt to file your claim after the relevant deadline, you’re putting your coverage at risk. The insurance company could have a basis to deny coverage on your claim, as the delay in filing a claim will have prejudiced your insurer’s ability to investigate the incident.

Should your insurance provider act in bad faith when denying your water damage claim — such as unnecessary delays, unfair denials, or the minimization of your claim — you have the right to file a lawsuit for bad faith. In Louisiana, the statute of limitations typically gives you 10 years to file a lawsuit, but there could be exceptions that could reduce the time to file a lawsuit to as little as two years.

It’s important to review the terms of your insurance policy carefully to determine if you have grounds to take legal action. If you’re unsure about the specifics of filing either an insurance claim or a bad faith lawsuit, a knowledgeable ICHQ lawyer can help.

What’s the Difference Between Flood Damage and Water Damage?

Flood and water damage differ based on the cause(s) of the water intrusion. Flood damage typically occurs when a storm causes a storm surge from wind or heavy rains that overflow lakes, rivers, and storm drainage systems. Flood waters can rise and inundate one or more building floors, severely damaging or destroying the structure and property.

On the other hand, water damage can occur from a less catastrophic event than a flood or a severe weather system like a hurricane. Water damage can occur over time due to intrusion into cracks in a building’s roof, façade, or foundation from ordinary rainstorms. However, though less dramatic than a flood, water damage can still cause significant or catastrophic building damage like structural damage or mold.

What Are Best Practices for Filing a Water Damage Insurance Claim?

The process of pursuing a property damage insurance claim is a complex and challenging one. You can give yourself the best chance of success by following these best practices:

• Notify your insurer of your potential water damage claim as soon as possible.
• Take steps to prevent further water damage, such as sealing cracks, boarding windows, or putting plastic tarps on damaged roof sections.
• Take photos of visible water damage, including wall cracks/discoloration or mold formation.
• Make a list of damaged personal property inside the building, such as appliances, electronics, clothing, and furniture.
• Consult contractors and independent adjusters for repair estimates or damage appraisals.
• Keep records of additional expenses you may incur.
• Contact a water damage insurance claim lawyer from ICHQ as soon as possible to discuss your eligibility for compensation under the terms of your policy.

Contact a Baton Rouge Water Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer Today

If your water damage claim is denied by your insurance company, you need experienced legal counsel to advocate for your rights and interests. At ICHQ, our attorneys have decades of experience fighting insurance company tactics to get clients fair settlements. With more than $1 billion recovered for policyholders, the insurance carriers know we mean business. Further, as residents of Louisiana, we know the risks of water damage and the devastation it can cause.

Don’t leave your future to chance. Instead, contact ICHQ today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Baton Rouge water damage attorney to discuss your legal options.