After experiencing the devastation of a hurricane, you may feel scared, confused, and unsure of how to recover the compensation you need to rebuild your life. Fortunately, you may be able to file a claim for hurricane damage through your insurance company. However, dealing with the insurance company isn’t always straightforward. Some of the top tips for filing your hurricane claim in Louisiana are:
- Never filing a claim without an attorney
- Understanding what your hurricane insurance policy covers
- Remembering that the insurance company seeks to protect their bottom line
- Keeping a thorough record of your damages
- Never settling for less than you deserve
When you need to file a claim with the insurance company or the insurance adjuster is refusing to fairly settle your claim, you may want to hire a Louisiana hurricane insurance lawyer to help you secure the compensation you need.
Do Not File an Insurance Claim Without Your Lawyer
Insurance adjusters may try to limit the amount of compensation they are required to pay out on your claim. For this reason, it is important that you consider speaking with a lawyer before you file your hurricane damage insurance claim.
By getting your hurricane damage lawyer involved from the start, you can show the insurance company how seriously you are taking your case.
In addition, a lawyer can take on your claim while you tend to your family and other responsibilities. They will:
- Assess your losses
- Review your insurance liability policy
- Handle communication for you
- Protect you from the insurer’s bad faith tactics
- Make sure your claim is on track
Understand What Your Hurricane Insurance Policy Covers
As you prepare to file your hurricane damage insurance claim, you will want to review your insurance policies in detail. You may have purchased sewer backup insurance, flood insurance, windstorm coverage, and homeowners insurance. Make sure you go through these policies in-depth to find out which losses are covered. You may be entitled to collect compensation for a variety of damages, including:
- Physical damage to your home or property
- Cost of alternative lodging
- Food and transportation expenses
- Cost of repairing or replacing any personal items
These losses are just a few of the more common types of damages that you may be able to recover as part of your hurricane damage insurance policy. Depending on what types of insurance coverage you purchased, the amount of coverage you carry, and other details, you may qualify for additional losses.
You can find out more about what you should seek from the insurance company when you talk to your hurricane damage attorney about your losses in greater detail.
Remember the Insurance Company Will Protect Their Bottom Line
The insurance adjuster you talk to will likely be polite and seem concerned for you. However, they are employed by the insurance company, so they will work to protect their bottom line.
What you say to the insurance adjuster is likely being recorded and may be used against you. As such, they could alter your statements or try to convince you to accept less than what you may otherwise deserve.
Therefore, we encourage you to leave all correspondence with the insurance company to your lawyer.
Keep a Full Written Record of Your Related Damages
Since the insurance company may try to undervalue your claim, it is important to thoroughly document your damages. Immediately following the hurricane, as soon as it is safe to do so, begin documenting all of the damages. Take photos and videos of any damage to your home, personal items, and/or property.
Be sure to keep copies of your medical records, receipts from any additional accommodations if you were displaced, transportation costs, and other records of the expenses related to the hurricane damage. This documentation will go a long way in forcing the insurance company to compensate you fairly.
Never Settle for Less Than You Deserve
We previously mentioned that insurance adjusters can offer low settlements to their policyholders, as they are often struggling financially. If they can obtain what they consider to be a significant amount of money for a portion of their damages now, it may provide them with the financial relief they need temporarily.
However, insurance companies could make fast offers when they know your claim is worth more. Fortunately, your attorney is familiar with these types of tactics and will never recommend you accept an insurance settlement that is less than your damages are worth.
Get Help From Our Hurricane Damage Lawyer Serving Lousiana Today
Before you initiate the hurricane claims process, consider enlisting the services of a hurricane claims attorney on our team. We have close ties with some attorneys serving Louisiana. Glen Levine even graduated from Tulane, and Nicholas Basco graduated from Loyola. We want to help those who have suffered from hurricanes.
To start your no-cost, risk-free consultation today, get in touch with our office. You won’t pay any attorney’s fees unless we procure a settlement for you.
We Can Help.
