Hurricane Laura Lawsuit and Insurance Claims

Hurricane Laura was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall with wind speeds of more than 130 MPH.

Millions of property owners have been affected and need help rebuilding in their communities. To protect your rights, you may need to contact an experienced Hurricane Laura lawsuit attorney.

At Pierce Skrabanek, our attorneys know firsthand how challenging it can be to deal with a hurricane insurance company. We can step in and protect your legal rights when your insurance company fails to live up to their promises and policy terms.

Contact us at 832-690-7000 for a free, no-obligation consultation to help determine your next steps for recovery.

Hurricane Claim Insurance: Windstorm vs. Flood Recovery

One of the main points to understand about hurricane insurance is the difference between windstorm coverage and flood coverage. Most Texas and Louisiana residents will already have windstorm coverage, but a majority of residents don’t have specific flood coverage.

Many homeowners make the wrong assumption that their homeowner’s insurance policy includes flood coverage. However, you are only covered for flood damage if you have purchased a specific policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which works in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

State law covers windstorm damage claims. Under state laws, hurricane victims can recover monetary damages, bad faith insurance costs, attorneys fees, and other expenses. On the other hand, you may face many difficulties if you need recovery but don’t have any flood insurance coverage.

Since flood insurance claims are handled through federal courts, the same types of fees and penalties might not be applicable as they are in windstorm cases. Furthermore, you might experience delays or reduced compensation. In many cases, it may be necessary to reopen a claim, sometimes two or three times.

Under law, insurance companies may be required to pay additional damages and compensation, plus attorneys fees, in the event of undue delays.

As such, you may need to consider hiring a hurricane damage lawyer to ensure that you’re getting the recovery you are entitled to under your policy and under hurricane damage laws.

Fully grasping the distinctions between windstorm and flood claims can be difficult without the help of a lawyer. Moreover, there can be much overlap and “grey area” with the two. An experienced hurricane property damage attorney can assess your situation and determine the ideal course of action.

If you or a loved one have been affected by Hurricane Laura, contact the attorneys at Pierce Skrabanek at 832-690-7000 for legal representation. As Texas residents, we understand how devastating hurricane disasters can be, and will do all we can to see that you are fully compensated.

For more in-depth information, listen to Paul Skrabanek discussing the legal impacts of hurricanes in a Ringler Radio Podcast.

Challenges When Filing a Hurricane Laura Damages Claim

Hurricane damage means big business for insurance companies. Unfortunately, insurance companies aren’t always on your side when it comes to restoring your property and getting your life back on track promptly and efficiently.

While certain insurance carriers will eventually pay out for full replacement values, the majority of owners will experience delays, denied claims, or underpaid compensation. To illustrate the situation, State Farm received more than 35,000 insurance claim applications in the week following Hurricane Laura.

Under normal, non-catastrophe circumstances, filing a property damage claim is fairly quick and straightforward. However, in the wake of a major crisis like Hurricane Laura, insurance companies could be receiving thousands of calls a day.

To add to the confusion, many insurance companies have an interest in limiting settlement amounts and delaying claims. For instance, they may claim that the damage happened before the hurricane, or that the homeowner somehow contributed to the damage (for instance, by not securing damaged/dangerous property after the storm).

Dealing with Insurance Adjusters

Hurricane insurance adjusters will be bombarded with a heavy workload immediately after a hurricane. They may arrive at the scene from hundreds of miles away, often unfamiliar with the area, and only staying there for weeks at a time. They could be working maybe 16 hour days, 7 days a week.

Due to this immense pressure, adjusters may seek to shuffle through property assessments quickly, and often in a less-than-thorough manner.

On top of this, you will likely have to file the claim on your phone under trying conditions, and will be presented with documents that are hard to read and full of legal language.

These will likely need the review of an attorney, as insurers themselves may not be fully equipped to explain the documents (many of them have the job as a side gig). Many insurance adjusters may be young, and under-educated and inexperienced.

Adjusters also may not be in a position to negotiate with the full leverage that an attorney can, and will often leave large amounts of money on the table for the insured they are supposed to represent.

They usually charge a percentage of the award, which will reduce your overall compensation.

Thus, you should do all you can to ensure that your claim gets a full review and that you fully prepare for the process, so that you don’t miss out on the full compensation. In some cases, you can request an adjuster; if possible, ask for a large loss adjuster. You may also need to hire a lawyer early on.

If you feel that an insurance company has ignored your claim or violated your rights, you may need to file a Hurricane Laura lawsuit for full compensation. A hurricane lawyer can assist you in the process so your rights are protected. There are also several steps you can take to protect yourself.

5 Steps to Take If Hurricane Laura Damaged Your Property

There are many ways you can prepare for the insurance claims process and increase your chances of obtaining a favorable payout amount. These include:

1. Documenting your property extensively: Be sure to take plenty of photos and videos of any hurricane property damage. Before you throw anything away, make sure the damage is well-documented so you have proof to show the adjuster. Make a list of every single item and area affected.
2. Mitigating potential additional damages: As mentioned, insurance companies and adjusters might look for ways to put the blame on you for the damage. They may try to claim you caused additional damages to lower your overall claim. If there is anything you can do to reduce (mitigate) additional property damage after the hurricane, such as boarding up windows or covering rubble with tarp, you should do so.
3. Checking the adjuster’s background and credentials: Insurance adjusters are paid to examine property damage and help the insured person with their claim. However, they should be properly licensed and certified. Be sure to check their credentials before working with them. If you can get a recommendation for an adjuster from a friend or family member, all the better.
4. Filing your claim promptly: Insurance companies will be backlogged immediately following a major event like Hurricane Laura. To avoid missing deadlines or any other delays, contact your insurance company as soon as it is safe for you to do so. Your compensation depends on when you file, as the investigation doesn’t start until you contact the insurance company. So it’s up to you to start the process quickly.
5. Consulting with a qualified hurricane lawyer: If an insurance company denied your Hurricane Laura claim, or if the outcome was unsatisfactory, contact a hurricane property damage attorney. An attorney can review your claim as well as possible legal alternatives so you get the justice you deserve. It is also recommended that you work with a hurricane lawyer at the outset, even before you file your claim. They can then help guide you through the process as you prepare your claim.

See our Hurricane Insurance Claim Checklist for convenient reference: