Property Damage Attorney in Shreveport

Have you suffered property damage from a hurricane, storm, or fire in Shreveport, Louisiana? Are you having trouble with your insurance carrier? Insurance Claim HQ is here to fight for your rights and help you get back to where you were before everything went wrong.

For over 25 years, we at ICHQ have acquired keen knowledge of the tricks that insurance companies use on vulnerable policyholders. Our law practice has recovered more than $1 billion in insurance claim settlements for 70,000-plus satisfied clients across Louisiana, the Deep South, and nationally. We’ve fought insurers’ tactics to get homeowners and business owners the money they need to rebuild their property and put their lives back in order.

There’s something that gives ICHQ a distinct advantage, though. We have firsthand insight into the physical and emotional strain that comes with rebuilding and recovery. Many of our attorneys live in or are from the Pelican State. We know what storms, hurricanes, heavy winds, and floods do to our neighbors, so we fight passionately for them.

Don’t take pennies on the dollar for your property damage claim or accept an insurer’s claim denial. Instead, let us assert your rights and demand the recovery you need and deserve. Contact ICHQ for a free initial case review with a dedicated Shreveport property damage lawyer.

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

Property damage due to hail, water, or wind is quite common in Louisiana. The Pelican State sees more than its share of hurricanes, thunderstorms, and other major weather events. Shreveport homeowners carry insurance to protect their property, but if they can’t count on their insurance carrier, all those years of paying premiums can come to nothing.

A Shreveport property damage lawyer can help make filing a home property damage claim less stressful and more effective. Your attorney can help you evaluate the damage to your home and assess your losses with the help of independent and reliable contractors and adjusters. They can also help you thoroughly and correctly fill out your claim so the insurance company won’t have any excuse to deny it. Finally, your ICHQ lawyer can help you understand your insurance policy and exactly what your policy is supposed to cover.

Once you’re ready to file your claim, your attorney can handle communications with your insurance carrier so you don’t have to deal with it. They can handle negotiations about a settlement to resolve your claim. If the property insurance company doesn’t make a reasonable offer, your ICHQ attorney can file a lawsuit and represent you in court.

What Are Common Property Damage Claims?

Common property damage claims in Shreveport and throughout Louisiana include:

Why Would My Insurance Carrier Deny My Property Damage Claim?

The real reason an insurance carrier would deny a policyholder’s property damage claim is often profit-based. If insurance companies paid out every claim, they would make much less money. To prevent this, insurance companies look for any reason to say no on a claim.

Some of these reasons are legitimate in the sense that the denial is based on what your policy says. Other bases for denial are not legitimate but are simply a case of the insurance company not wanting to pay more than necessary.

Common reasons for a property insurance denial include the following:

Insurance carriers often deny claims due to policy exclusions, which are types of damage not covered by the policy. Common property insurance exclusions include the following:

Check your insurance policy to determine whether any of your losses fall under a policy exclusion. You can often buy additional coverage to insure yourself against anything excluded from your homeowners insurance policy.

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

When an insurance company treats its customers dishonestly or unfairly, it is said to be acting in bad faith. The following are examples of bad faith behaviors by an insurance company:

• Making a lowball settlement offer and pressuring you to accept it without consulting an attorney
• Not responding promptly when you try to get in touch with them
• Taking too long to investigate your claim or never doing a full investigation
• Interpreting the results of an inspection in a biased and dishonest way
• Demanding excessive evidence or documentation from you
• Interpreting your policy terms in a distorted and self-serving way
• Telling you something incorrect or not telling you something you need to know
• Denying your claim without giving a clear reason
• Denying your claim for a reason that contradicts your policy

When your property insurance company is acting in bad faith, you need the help of a property damage attorney in Shreveport to keep them honest.

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

You can find your legal rights as an insurance policyholder in Shreveport listed in the Louisiana Policyholders Bill of Rights, which include:

• The right to competitive pricing and to compare the coverage of different insurance companies
• The right to accurate and honest marketing
• The right to do business with a financially stable insurance company
• The right to fair and honest treatment by your insurer
• The right to deal with honest and competent insurance agents
• The right to have your questions answered by the insurance agent
• The right to have insurance companies regulated by the Department of Insurance
• The right to check and confirm your insurer’s license
• The right to a 30-day written notification if the company decides to cancel or not renew your policy unless you haven’t been paying your premiums
• The right to a written explanation for cancellations, non-renewals, and denials
• The right to receive a settlement offer in writing or payment within 30 days after the company gets your complete proof of loss form
• The right to documentation of the insurance company’s claim adjustment process, except for privileged documents
• The right to a readable and complete policy
• The right to make a complaint to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, who will conduct an investigation
• The right to legal remedies if the insurance company violates Louisiana law

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

If your property damage claim is denied and you don’t have a lawyer, you should do the following:

• Review the denial letter to find out why the company denied your claim and whether the denial makes sense based on your policy.
• Gather additional evidence and documentation to support your claim.
• Appeal the denial before the insurance company’s deadline. In your appeal, you can explain why you believe the company was wrong to deny the claim.
• If you get another denial from the insurance company, you have the right to make a complaint to the Louisiana Department of Insurance.
• Get the help of a property damage lawyer in Shreveport immediately.

When you retain ICHQ to represent you, we will always put you first. Our clients are our No. 1 priority, and our goal is always to help them get back to their pre-disaster state.

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

Every insurance policy is different, and the amount of time you have to file a claim depends on the specifics outlined by your policy. However, if your insurance company engages in bad faith tactics, you generally have 10 years under Louisiana law to file a lawsuit. Note that insurance policies can set a shorter deadline for bad faith claims, so review your policy to determine the applicable time limits for your claims.

Speak with a Shreveport property damage attorney from ICHQ right away to gain a full understanding of your legal rights and options.

What Are Best Practices for Filing a Property Insurance Claim?

When you’re filing a property damage claim, you should always do the following:

• Review and understand your insurance policy.
• Hire a lawyer to help you with your case.
• Let your lawyer handle all negotiations and communications.
• Document everything and keep all your documentation.
• Take photos and videos of all damage.

The following are some of the things you should never do:

• Never accept a lowball settlement offer.
• Never exaggerate your losses.
• Never tell the insurance company something dishonest.
• Never try to defraud the insurance company.

What Does Proof of Loss Mean?

Property damage claims often include:

• Damage to personal property such as electronic devices, clothing, and furniture
• Damage to roofs, windows, and doors
• Damage to plumbing and electrical systems
• Damage to air conditioners and hot water systems

The insurance company will request a Proof of Loss form, which will include:

• A description of your property damage
• The value of every damaged item
• Supporting documentation such as receipts, bills, photographs, and witness statements
• Your signature

Contact a Shreveport Property Damage Insurance Claim Lawyer Today

Have you experienced property damage due to a hurricane, fire, flood, or other natural disaster? ICHQ is dedicated to fighting for the rights of people just like you.

When the insurance company doesn’t keep its word, your Shreveport property damage attorney is here to hold them accountable. Our team members are familiar with Louisiana’s storms and disasters from personal experience, and we know how often the insurance companies try to find some way out of honoring their obligations.

If your insurance company is giving you the runaround, making lowball offers, or trying to deny your claim, we know how to deal with them. We have decades of experience maximizing compensation for our clients, and we have collected more than $1 billion to date for over 70,000 clients.

ICHQ offers a free, no-obligation consultation to property owners like yourself. We’ll discuss your situation, explain your legal options, and provide you with the legal advice you need to move forward. Contact a Shreveport property damage lawyer at ICHQ today to get started.