Common Reasons Your Hurricane Damage Claim Might Be Denied

Hurricanes are a serious threat in the Gulf Coast region. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that there were 15 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season in 2024. That is a number slightly higher than the seasonal average. For homeowners and business owners who have dealt with a hurricane, putting the pieces back together after sustained damage can be stressful.

Unfortunately, insurance companies can make the process even more challenging. Hurricane damage claims may be denied for a wide variety of different reasons. At Insurance Claim HQ, our team holds insurance companies accountable. We help policyholders challenge denials head-on. The first step is knowing why the claim was denied. In this article, our New Orleans hurricane damage lawyer discusses the most common reasons why these claims are denied.

The First Step: Carefully Review Your Hurricane Damage Denial Letter

Getting a denial letter from a property insurance company after filing a hurricane damage claim is stressful. Thinking about the financial burden that the cost of repairs can put on your family can be truly overwhelming. It is important that you take proactive steps to protect your rights and your interests—and that means preserving your right to appeal.

The denial letter is essentially a document that contains details about why your claim was rejected.

You should look for specific reasons and references to policy terms that the insurer used to justify their decision. A careful understanding of these details is essential. You should be prepared to address each point raised by the insurer in your appeal. Pay close attention to any deadlines for filing an appeal.

Most Common Reasons Insurance Companies Deny Hurricane Damage Claim

     1. Policy Exclusions

After a bad hurricane, many homeowners and business owners run into issues with policy exclusions. Indeed, policy exclusions are perhaps the single most common reason for property insurance denials. Insurance policies often have specific clauses that exclude certain types of damage. For example, while a policy might cover wind damage from a hurricane, it may exclude flood damage caused by storm surges. Indeed, this is a very common term in the Gulf Coast region.

Most policies for hurricanes exclude storm surge-related flood damage. If your home sustains water damage due to flooding and your policy specifically excludes flood damage, the insurance company may deny that portion of your claim. It is crucial to thoroughly read and understand your policy’s exclusions to know what is and is not covered.

     2. Delayed Reporting of Damage

Following a hurricane, you need to notify your insurance company that damage occurred as soon as possible. Delayed reporting of damage can lead to the denial of your claim. Insurance companies require prompt notification after an incident to assess the damage accurately. For example, if you wait several weeks to report that hurricane winds damaged your roof, the insurer might argue that the delay prevented them from verifying the cause or extent of the damage. They may also suggest that the damage worsened over time due to neglect. Reporting damage promptly helps to ensure that this specific reason for denial will not be an issue in your hurricane loss case.

     3. Insufficient Evidence of Loss

Evidence is the key to any successful property damage claim. Whether you are a residential homeowner or a commercial property owner, it is imperative that you carefully document all of the damage related to the storm. Providing insufficient evidence of loss is another common reason for denial. Insurance companies rely on documentation to validate claims. If you submit a claim without adequate photos, videos, or professional assessments, the insurer may question the legitimacy or extent of the damage. For example, if you claim that high winds destroyed your fence but only provide a vague description without visual proof, the insurer may deny the claim on the grounds that they do not have enough evidence of the loss. To prevent this type of denial, you should be sure to thoroughly document all damages with clear images and detailed descriptions.

     4. Pre-Existing Damage

While hurricane damage can be covered under the terms of a valid policy, damage that was already there is not going to be covered.

Unfortunately, claims are often denied due to pre-existing damage.

Insurance policies cover sudden and accidental damage—not issues that existed before the hurricane. For instance, if your home’s siding was already deteriorating and you claim that the hurricane caused it, the insurer might deny the claim after determining the damage was pre-existing. They may review past inspection reports or maintenance records to make this determination. Regular home maintenance and keeping records can help distinguish new damage from old damage. As a best practice, you should take regular photographs of your home or business. Dated photographs can show what was actually there before the storm. If you make a major renovation to your property, be sure to document it.

     5. Failure to Mitigate 

A failure to mitigate further damage after the hurricane can result in a denied claim. Policyholders are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent additional harm to their property. For example, if a storm damages your windows, you should cover those windows with temporary repairs when it is safe to do so. If you do not promptly cover those windows, it could easily lead to further water damage inside your home from a subsequent rain storm. What would happen next? The insurer may deny the claim for the interior damage. They might argue that it could have been prevented with temporary repairs. Taking immediate action is a must.

You Have the Right to Appeal a Hurricane Damage Claim Denial

One of the most important things to remember is that your insurance company does not get the full and final say on your hurricane damage claim. Regardless of the specific reason why your claim was turned down by the insurance company, you have the right to file an appeal. You can directly address the reasons why your insurer denied your claim, and you can take action to get your benefits paid.

Do not go it alone: Our New Orleans property damage appellate lawyer can help.

Why Depend On Insurance Claim HQ for Help With a Hurricane Damage Claim

Dealing with the denial of an insurance claim can be stressful and frustrating—especially after a major hurricane. You do not have to take on a large insurance company alone. At Insurance Claim HQ, our client testimonials and history of case results demonstrate what we can do for homeowners and property owners. We are prepared to aggressively appeal your denial. Among other things, our New Orleans hurricane damage lawyers are prepared to:

• Conduct a free, comprehensive evaluation of your property insurance denial
• Investigate your case—gathering and organizing all supporting evidence
• Review your case for any bad faith conduct by the insurance company
• Handle all paperwork and correspondence with the insurance adjusters
• File a hurricane damage appeal—with a focus on getting your claim paid

Get Help From Our New Orleans Hurricane Damage Attorney Today

At Insurance Claim HQ, our New Orleans hurricane damage lawyers invest the time, resources, and attention to detail to help our clients maximize their benefits. If your insurance claim was denied after a hurricane, we are here as a resource that you can trust. Contact us by phone or online to set up your free, strictly confidential case evaluation. We handle hurricane damage property insurance claims in New Orleans and throughout the entire surrounding area.