Wind Damage Attorney in Baton Rouge

Has your home or business property in Baton Rouge suffered wind damage? If so, Insurance Claim HQ can help you pursue the full compensation you deserve under the terms of your insurance policy.

Our firm has decades of experience negotiating with insurance companies to maximize our clients’ financial recovery. We’ve secured more than $1 billion in settlements for 70,000-plus clients who have suffered property damage in storms and other severe weather events. Our goal is to take the stress of a complex insurance claim off your shoulders and to get you the money you need to get your life back on track.

What sets us apart from the others at ICHQ is our firsthand knowledge and experience. Several of our lawyers call this area home, so we have direct understanding of what residents of Louisiana and the Deep South must endure when tornadoes, hailstorms, windstorms, and hurricanes hit. To us, you’re not simply a client — you’re a neighbor who needs help.

Contact us at ICHQ today for a free initial case evaluation with a Baton Rouge wind damage lawyer to learn more about what we can do for you.

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

If you’re dealing with the aftermath of wind damage in Baton Rouge, an attorney from ICHQ can help you get the compensation you need to repair your home and replace damaged or destroyed personal property by:

• Reviewing your homeowner’s or wind insurance policy to determine your coverage
• Investigating your case to obtain the evidence needed for your insurance claim
• Documenting your losses, including working with contractors or independent adjusters to obtain repair quotes or appraisals
• Helping you prepare and file your insurance claims
• Communicating with adjusters and insurance company representatives to take the stress of the claims process off your shoulders
• Vigorously negotiating for maximum compensation in a settlement
• Filing lawsuits if the insurance company delays or denies your claim in bad faith
• Never charging you anything unless we recover money on your water damage insurance claim

What Kinds of Damage Can Winds Cause?

Tornadoes, hurricanes, and other severe storms are significant causes of wind damage. Some of the most frequent types of wind damage include:

Why Would My Insurance Carrier Deny My Wind Damage Claim?

Insurance companies sometimes have legitimate reasons for denying property owners’ wind damage claims. However, they also often hide behind these reasons to wrongfully delay or deny property damage claims or to minimize property owners’ financial recovery. Here are some of the most common reasons insurers deny wind damage claims:

• The Property Owner Submitted an Untimely Claim – Insurers may deny claims if they believe claimants submitted them after a policy deadline has already passed.
• The Property Owner Submitted Insufficient Supporting Information and Documentation – An insurer may reject a wind damage claim because it has determined that the property owner submitted insufficient supporting information for the insurer to evaluate the applicability of coverage or the claim’s value.
• The Policy Does Not Cover the Loss – Insurers may deny wind damage claims by asserting that the claimant’s policy does not cover the loss, such as when a homeowner’s policy specifically does not cover wind damage caused by hurricanes.
• The Loss Falls Within a Coverage Exclusion – An insurance company may cite a policy exclusion to deny coverage, claiming that the loss falls within the scope of that exclusion.
• The Value of the Loss Falls Below the Deductible Threshold – Homeowners’ and wind insurance policies usually have a deductible, which is an amount of loss that the policyholder agrees to pay before insurance coverage kicks in. An insurance company may deny a wind damage claim if it determines the value of the damage falls below the deductible.
• The Loss Occurred Outside the Policy Period – Insurance policies typically cover losses within a specific timeframe. An insurance company may deny a loss claim if it determines the loss occurred before or after the policy period.
• The Policyholder Breached the Policy – An insurance company may deny a wind damage claim by asserting that the policyholder violated the terms of their insurance policy, such as failing to pay premiums, not making repairs, or not mitigating damage.

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

In Louisiana, insurance companies have a statutory duty to act in good faith and deal fairly with policyholders and claimants. Specifically, insurers have an affirmative duty to adjust claims promptly and fairly and to make reasonable efforts to settle claims with property owners. An insurer who violates these duties may become liable to compensate a property owner in a bad faith insurance claim.

The following are examples of common bad-faith tactics that insurers engage in:

• Misrepresenting material facts or insurance policy terms
• Failing to pay an insurance settlement within 30 days of reaching a written agreement with a claimant
• Denying coverage or attempting to settle a claim based on an application the insurer knows was altered without the insured’s knowledge or consent
• Misleading a claimant about the applicable prescriptive period
• Arbitrarily failing to pay any amount due within 60 days of receipt of satisfactory proof of loss or failing to do so without cause
• Arbitrarily failing to pay claims

What Should I Do If My Wind Damage Claim Was Denied?

Has your insurer denied your wind damage claim? If so, taking the following steps can help you get the compensation you deserve:

• Review the insurance company’s denial letter to understand the reason(s) for the denial.
• Review your insurance policy to confirm your coverage, policy exclusions, the deductible, and the deadline for filing a claim after a loss. Check whether your insurance company has an internal appeals process, such as the ability to request reconsideration of your claim. Confirm any deadlines to appeal the denial of your claim and whether you must submit additional information or documentation with your appeal to further support your claim.
• Gather copies of your correspondence with the insurance company, including notes of phone calls with adjusters or company representatives.
• Review your records for any additional information or documentation you can submit to address the reason(s) for the insurance company’s denial of your claim.

Finally, talk to a wind damage insurance claim lawyer from ICHQ as soon as possible to get help dealing with the insurance company. Our firm will evaluate your claim for free and without obligation to give you a second opinion. If we determine that you have a valid wind damage claim, we can help you pursue the financial relief you need and deserve.

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

Your homeowner’s or wind insurance policy will likely have a deadline for filing a claim against it. You should review your insurance policy to confirm how long you have to do so, as filing an untimely claim puts you at risk of coverage denial. Filing too late means your insurer has a basis to deny your claim, as doing so will have prejudiced your insurer’s ability to investigate the incident.

Should your insurance company deny your wind damage claim in bad faith, the statute of limitations typically gives you 10 years to file a lawsuit against your insurer. However, an insurance policy can shorten this deadline, making it critical to review your policy to avoid filing an untimely bad faith claim.

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

You can give yourself the best chance of successfully recovering compensation from a wind damage insurance claim by adhering to the following best practices:

• Take photos of the property damage you sustained.
• To prevent further damage from weather or vandalism, make temporary repairs to your property, such as boarding up broken windows or placing tarps over damaged roof sections.
• Make a list of damaged personal property, such as appliances or electronics, and gather receipts/invoices for those items or note dates of purchases and purchase prices. Do not throw out any damaged items until an insurance adjuster has seen them.
• Keep records of any temporary living expenses you incur if you need to leave your home due to wind damage, such as hotel/short-term rental, gas, and restaurant expenses.
• Review your insurance policy to understand your coverage (including deductibles and exclusions) and confirm the deadline for filing your claim.
• Keep copies of all correspondence with the insurance company, including notes of phone calls with adjusters or customer representatives.
• Get independent repair quotes from contractors or hire an independent adjuster to appraise the value of your property’s wind damage.

Finally, reach out to ICHQ as soon as possible. A wind damage attorney in Baton Rouge can meet with you to discuss your legal rights and options and provide help in dealing with the insurance company.

Contact a Baton Rouge Wind Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer Today

Did your property insurance company deny your wind damage claim? We at ICHQ understand what you’re up against and know tactics the insurance carrier might use against you. That’s why our team has recovered over $1 billion in settlements for clients like you.

Don’t wait for the legal guidance and support you need to demand compensation for your suffering. Contact ICHQ today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Baton Rouge wind damage attorney.