Over 79,000 people call Lake Charles home. Residents work hard and most own their own homes, but there’s always the fear that a natural disaster can take it all away. As a Lake Charles hurricane insurance claim lawyer, we know that from June to November of every year, you’re focusing on the Gulf of Mexico.
One big hurricane is all it takes to cause catastrophic damage.
Katrina alone led to 1.2 million residents evacuating the state, and we’ve been hit by:
- Rita
- Ike
- Isaac
- Harvey
- Laura
- Ida
Hurricanes shape the lives of residents. Even when you’ve paid for great insurance and believe that your home is 100% covered in a hurricane, insurance companies often negotiate in bad faith and don’t want to pay out every dollar you’re owed.
Dealing with insurance companies who are not taking your claim seriously and are dragging their feet is the last thing you deserve.
We’re here to help.
Since 2005, we’ve been fighting for residents all across Louisiana – never for companies. Our firm has worked with 500+ policyholders, recovering $25+ million in damages, to restore their lives after a hurricane.
If you have to file a first-party insurance claim, don’t let the insurance company put it on the back burner.
Contact Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys and we’ll fight to get your claim approved and for top dollar.
Does Homeowners’ Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage in Lake Charles?
Homeowners’ insurance may or may not cover your hurricane damage. Your policy is one of the first things we’ll review because we need to know:
- Your rights
- Your policy coverage
Insurers use limitations and exclusions to confuse policyholders. For example, you may have coverage for wind damage, but if the damage involves a hurricane, it may not be covered. Water damage from hurricanes may be excluded, too.
As your Lake Charles hurricane damage attorney, we’ll begin:
- Reviewing your policy
- Understanding the damage that occurred
You may have a rider that includes hurricane and flood insurance, which will provide maximum protection for homeowners in hurricane-prone areas.
We’ll use this information to file a claim and get a better grasp of the damages you can claim and what to expect when dealing with the insurer.
What Types of Property Damage Does a Hurricane Can Cause?
Hurricanes are unpredictable. The power of a hurricane is something most people don’t understand until they’re in one. If you’re lucky, you may have minor roof damage, but you can also experience a total loss.
Gulf Cost Insurance Attorneys will fight by your side, offering you the careful guidance of a Lake Charles hurricane insurance claim lawyer who has helped 500+ policyholders file claims for all types of damages, including:
- Total loss: If you have a total loss, it’s the worst type of damage to experience. Your home and all of its contents are considered a total loss, which requires extensive documentation of all damaged items, purchase dates, cost of replacement, temporary living quarter receipts and more.
- Exterior damage: Roofing, siding and windows can also be damaged.
- Interior damage: Floorings, doors, walls and any other interior spaces can also suffer damage from the storm. You may notice a small water spot on your ceiling, and it may be far more serious than you suspect.
- Mold damage: Dampness and water bring – mold. Unfortunately, flood insurance doesn’t include mold. You’ll need specific provisions in your policy to cover the cost of mold remediation.
- Contents damage: You own a lifetime of items, and all of these contents can be damaged by wind or water. Replacement costs are dependent on the depreciated value of the items.
- Vehicle damage: Autos and boats may be damaged, but these are not typically covered by homeowner’s insurance. You’ll need to file a claim with your auto insurer. Often, if you have a bundled policy, you’ll only need to contact a single company to file a claim.
Calculating and managing proof of these damages is a tedious process. We’ll help you understand the extent of the damage and seek the dollar amount necessary to be made whole again.
What Are Your Options Following Hurricane Damage to Your Home?
Hurricanes can cause significant or catastrophic damage to homes. Many homeowners are unsure of their options to start repairing their homes.
Most homeowners have two primary options:
- Pay for the damages out of pocket.
- File a claim with their insurance company.
Filing a claim is the most practical option for homeowners, but the process isn’t always as straightforward and seamless as it should be.
As your Lake Charles hurricane insurance claim lawyer, we can explain the claims process and your options, so you know what to expect.
How Do You File a Hurricane Damage Claim?
If your Lake Charles home has been damaged or destroyed by a hurricane, we know that you are anxious to make repairs and restore your property to its original condition. Filing a hurricane damage claim with your insurance company is the first step.
To file a claim:
- Contact your insurance company to initiate the process of coordinating repairs and getting reimbursed for damage to your home and possessions. Take this opportunity to ask any questions you may have, such as what documents you’ll need to complete your claim or whether you need estimates for repairs.
- Review your insurance policy to understand your coverage and maximum payouts.
- Keep a record of photos, receipts, videos and communication with the insurance company. Having detailed records will make it easy to recall specific details about your claim if needed.
- Document the damage to your property. Take videos and photos of any and all damage, along with descriptions of the damage, approximate purchase dates and estimated values of damaged items.
- Meet with the insurance adjuster, who will assess the damage in person.
Your insurance company may offer a settlement on the spot, or they may want to provide multiple payments.
The insurance company’s offer may not be fair. Some insurers don’t want to pay out claims at all.
A hurricane claim lawyer can help ensure that your insurance company holds up its end of the contract and pays out a fair settlement.
Hire a Lake Charles Hurricane Claims Lawyer Near You to Get Your Life Back on Track
Living through a hurricane and dealing with the aftermath is stressful enough. If your insurance company has denied, underpaid or delayed your claim, a Lake Charles hurricane insurance claim lawyer can help you get your life back on track.
At Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys, we help clients just like you get the settlements they need and deserve. We deal with insurance companies every day. Let us handle the legal process, so you can focus on getting your life back to normal. We know what it takes to succeed with a claim and make policyholders whole.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.