Hurricane Damage Attorney in Shreveport

Was your property damaged in a hurricane in Shreveport, Louisiana? Is the insurance company trying to avoid covering your losses? Was your hurricane claim denied? A Shreveport hurricane damage lawyer at Insurance Claim HQ is here to help.

When you have the ICHQ team on your side, you get 25-plus years of experience in Louisiana insurance and property casualty law. Our attorneys know the tactics insurance companies will use to get around paying out claims after policyholders suffer severe damage. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for 70,000-plus clients throughout Louisiana, the Deep South, and across the country. The insurance carriers know we mean business.

What sets us apart, however, is our firsthand knowledge of what’s involved when it comes to rebuilding and recovery following a hurricane. Many of our attorneys are from or live in the Pelican State and the Deep South, so we’ve seen and been through what hurricanes do to people’s homes, communities, and lives. There’s immense physical and emotional strain that comes from a devastating hurricane, and our neighbors deserve an advocate to fight for them.

Reach out to ICHQ today for a free case review and consultation with a caring, dedicated Shreveport hurricane damage lawyer. You’ll discover how our law practice can guide you through the insurance claims process and what we can do to pursue fair and full compensation for your property damage.

How a Shreveport Hurricane Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer Can Help with Your Case

When you pay your insurance premiums for years and years, you expect the insurance company to honor its commitment to you, especially if you fill out the claim properly with all the necessary supporting evidence. Sadly, insurance companies don’t always deal fairly and honestly with their policyholders.

What can you do when the insurance company doesn’t keep its word? You can call a Shreveport hurricane lawyer at ICHQ. Many of the attorneys and other team members at ICHQ have lived through disasters here in Louisiana, so we know what it’s like from personal experience.

Our practice is built on a straightforward principle: defending the rights of property owners who have suffered losses in a hurricane or a disaster. When the insurance company doesn’t want to pay, ICHQ steps in. We have successfully negotiated property casualty claims for decades, and we know how to maximize your compensation.

A Shreveport hurricane damage attorney can take on some of the most challenging aspects of pursuing a hurricane claim, including:

• Analyzing your policy to assess what’s covered and what is not
• Assessing your losses and the actual value of your insurance claim
• Helping you avoid any errors that could weaken or sabotage your claim
• Handling all communications with the insurance company on your behalf
• Negotiating with the insurance company to pursue maximum compensation
• Filing a hurricane claim lawsuit if necessary

In the aftermath of a disaster, the last thing you want to do is to take on the stressful task of dealing with an insurance company yourself. Let ICHQ do it for you, secure in the knowledge that we have the experience and the determination to do it right.

What Does a Hurricane Insurance Policy Typically Cover?

A hurricane insurance policy in Shreveport, Louisiana, normally covers:

• The cost of temporary relocation after the hurricane
• Structure damage to the walls, roof, foundation, or windows
• Damage to any structures on your property other than the house, such as a garage or shed
• Damage to your personal property, such as furniture, devices, and clothing

According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, most policies cover additional living expenses. This is the difference between your everyday spending on food and other necessities and what you need to spend while away from home.

What Are the Possible Exceptions on a Hurricane Insurance Policy?

Most insurance policies include exclusions or exceptions. These are types of damage not covered by the policy. A hurricane insurance policy may not cover:

Your policy may also include a hurricane deductible, which is usually a percentage of the value of your home. You must meet this deductible out of pocket before insurance will help you.

Does Hurricane Insurance Cover Flood Damage?

According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage, which is covered separately through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program. According to FEMA, flood damage is “almost universally excluded” from most insurance coverage, leaving the NFIP as the only flood insurance option for most homeowners.

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

How can you know if your insurance company is acting in bad faith toward you? “Bad faith” refers to unfair or dishonest behavior by an insurance carrier toward a policyholder. Insurance companies sometimes engage in bad faith practices such as:

• Arbitrary claim denials with no justification in your policy
• Unreasonable delays in communication
• Unreasonable requests for more documentation
• Unnecessary delays in investigating a claim
• Not investigating a claim thoroughly before making a decision
• Misinterpreting your policy in a self-serving way
• Offering a settlement that is much smaller than what they owe you
• Making false statements or leaving out the information you need
• Trying to pressure you to agree to a settlement without the help of an attorney

Why do insurance companies sometimes deal with their policyholders in bad faith? They do so to protect their bottom line and make a larger profit at your expense. When you contact ICHQ, a hurricane damage lawyer in Shreveport can assess whether your matter would constitute bad faith and explain your legal options.

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

The rights of Shreveport insurance policyholders are spelled out in the Louisiana Policyholders Bill of Rights. You have the right to:

• Competitive prices
• The ability to compare the policies of different insurance carriers
• Honest advertising
• Financially stable carriers
• Fair treatment with no deception
• Honesty and competence from your insurance agent
• Balanced regulation by the Department of Insurance
• The ability to confirm your insurer’s licensing
• Written notice at least 30 days before cancellation or nonrenewal, with a written explanation
• A settlement offer or payment within 30 days after the company receives your proof of loss form
• An explanation in writing for any denial
• Access to all relevant documentation from your insurance company about any first-party claim, except for privileged materials
• The ability to have complaints investigated by the Department of Insurance
• Insurance policies that are readable and complete
• Legal remedies for any violations of Louisiana insurance law

How Much Time Does My Insurance Company Have to Respond After a Hurricane?

According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, the insurance company should send out an adjuster to inspect the damage to your property within 30 days after you file your claim. Delaying an investigation is a bad faith practice insurance companies sometimes engage in. Be sure to contact a hurricane damage attorney in Shreveport immediately if the company doesn’t send an adjuster within 30 days.

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

You have 180 days to file a hurricane insurance claim in Louisiana, or one year if there was an official disaster declaration. It takes some time to fill out a claim, but the Louisiana Department of Insurance encourages policyholders to file as soon as they can do so.

What Are Best Practices for Filing a Hurricane Insurance Claim?

Whenever you file an insurance claim, you will have a better chance of getting the company to honor your claim if you do everything correctly. Best practices include:

• Hiring a Shreveport hurricane insurance lawyer from ICHQ before filing
• Letting your lawyer handle your communications with the insurance carrier
• Going over your policy and making sure you understand what it covers
• Taking photos and videos to document all damage to your property
• Keeping all documentation, including bills, receipts, and communications with your carrier
• Refusing to accept a lowball offer from the insurance company
• Filing an honest and accurate hurricane insurance claim

What Does Proof of Loss Mean?

Hurricanes in Louisiana can cause damage to both the exterior and interior of your property, including damage to:

Whatever your losses, the insurance company will expect you to document them by providing proof of loss. Proof of loss refers to the evidence you submit to the insurance company to document your losses. This is usually done by filling out a proof of loss form, including:

• A detailed description of all damage to your property
• The value of each item that was damaged
• A request for payment
• All your supporting evidence, including receipts, bank statements, bills, photographs, witness statements, and police reports
• Your signature

Some policies require you to submit a notarized signature with your proof of loss form, and some do not. Your insurance company may or may not provide a standard proof of loss form.

Contact a Shreveport Hurricane Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer Today

At ICHQ, our guiding light as a law firm is to put the client first. Our team is focused on helping property owners in Shreveport and throughout the U.S. return to normalcy after disasters like hurricanes. We will do whatever we can to help you achieve this.

Our legal team is known for compassion for our clients and an aggressive approach to negotiating with the insurance company. We know our approach is effective because we have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements for over 70,000 policyholder clients.

If you’re faced with a hurricane claim that your insurer denied, let ICHQ go after the recovery you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. You can discuss your claim with a hurricane damage lawyer in Shreveport and learn more about your legal rights and options.