As a Texas resident, you may still bear the unsettling memories of Hurricane Harvey—a Category 4 storm that raged across Texas and Louisiana in 2017, killing more than 100 people and damaging hundreds of thousands of homes with up to 60 inches of rain. Hurricane Harvey’s damages were comparable to the costliest hurricane on record: 2005 Hurricane Katrina—with $125 billion in property damage and unprecedented flooding in Southeast Texas and the metropolitan Houston area.
Texas is affected by tropical storms and hurricanes from June through November. September is the most active month, averaging 21 tropical and subtropical storms. You hope that if this type of devastation affects you, your family will stay safe and your home or commercial property will be rebuilt and covered by insurance.
However, insurance companies are for-profit entities. Their goal is to enrich shareholders, not property owners. They will use countless excuses to deny an insurance claim. Our Texas hurricane damage lawyers at Kirk Law Firm, PLLC, have vast experience negotiating and litigating denied claims tied to hurricanes and tropical storms. We could help homeowners, contractors, and commercial property owners with overcoming denied hurricane damage claims to collect the settlement they deserve.
Reasons Property Insurance Companies Deny Claims
Insurance companies deny claims for a myriad of reasons. The most common reason is the insurance company will argue that your damage is not covered. Some insurers carry your policy but exempt or limit claims unless you buy additional coverage. For example, you might not have coverage for flood damage but the damage was actually caused by wind driven rain. You may need additional flood and wind damage coverage, as it may not be covered under a general policy. These issues could be remedied when you entrust our Texas insurance claims attorneys to file and review your claim.
Before rushing to file a lawsuit, contact our experienced lawyers, who could determine why your claim was denied and build an argument for why it should be honored. Most insurers have an internal review process through which our attorneys could aggressively negotiate for a suitable settlement.
What To Do When Insurers Act in Bad Faith
Insurers often act in bad faith, denying valid claims arbitrarily, stalling them, or accusing property owners of filing claims for pre-existing issues. Insurers must tell policyholders in writing why their claim is denied, and refusing to document their denial is acting in bad faith. Companies may also offer less than what you are owed, hoping you will be desperate enough to accept it.
Texas Law permits property owners to sue insurers who have wronged them; however, most insurance policies require the lawsuit to be filed within two years from the date of the deceptive practice or the date the property owner discovers it. The courts may extend that time frame if a policyholder proves the insurance company influenced them to forego filing a lawsuit. A diligent hurricane damage claim denial lawyer in Texas could ensure that you submit all necessary documentation, and if necessary, file suit, within the allotted timeframe.
Seek Guidance From a Texas Insurance Claims Attorney
After a property insurance company denies your hurricane or tropical storm claim, call the Kirk Law Firm, PLLC, to fight against your rejected claim. Our lawyers are familiar with the tactics insurance companies and their adjusters use to deceive you. We could also identify any problems that you may have inadvertently caused and solve them.
Our Texas insurance claims lawyers could take your claim through the negotiation process or—if necessary—to court. Call today to speak with our dedicated attorneys and get the help you need to overcome your wrongfully denied or underpaid hurricane damage claim. We do not get paid unless your claim gets paid!
