If your home has been hit by a hurricane, the recovery process can be challenging—to say the least. You will be returning home following an evacuation to assess the damage to your home and your belongings. While hurricanes can (to some extent) be tracked and planned for, even those who are fully prepared can be taken by surprise by the fury of such a storm. Clean-up and the transition into a new routine following a Louisiana hurricane can be difficult. If your insurance company is dragging its feet on getting you the help you need—or outright denying your claim—the challenges will become much more difficult. You need a strong legal advocate in your corner in the form of an experienced Louisiana hurricane claims lawyer from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys. We will have your back throughout the process, fighting for you, your family, your home, and your future.
How Are Hurricanes Impacting Louisiana?
Unfortunately, hurricanes are a fact of life in the state of Louisiana. Every year, from June through November, Louisiana residents turn their attention to the Gulf of Mexico, wondering whether the next hurricane will be the “Big One.” Hurricanes impact the state of Louisiana virtually every year, changing the lives of residents as well as the infrastructure, economics, government, history, and culture of the state. The first recorded hurricane to hit Louisiana occurred on October 23, 1527, destroying two ships and killing between sixty and seventy men on the ships. From this point forward, hurricanes in the state became a relatively “normal” occurrence.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, increasing storm activity caused more than 1.25 million residents in the state to evacuate in anticipation of a hurricane. Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 brought the most destructive, costly disaster in U.S. history. Though 1.2 million people were evacuated, it was not enough—1,577 Louisiana residents died from Katrina. Within a month of Katrina, Hurricane Rita destroyed almost 250 coastal miles in Louisiana, and Hurricane Ike in 2008 added to the destruction.
Hurricane Isaac in 2012 pushed such a massive storm surge into the Mississippi River that for twenty-four hours the river flowed backward, flooding some areas with twelve feet of water. The next major hurricane devastation occurred in 2017 from Hurricane Harvey, followed by intense devastation from Hurricane Laura in 2020—the most destructive Category 4 storm to hit Louisiana since 1856. In 2021, Ida became the second-most damaging, intense hurricane, ranking second only to Katrina. As you can imagine, Hurricanes in Louisiana have shaped its history, impacting the lives of residents for many years to come.
Why Choose a Louisiana Hurricane Claims Lawyer from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys?
When you are dealing with the aftermath of a Louisiana hurricane, it can feel overwhelming, particularly if your insurance company is not helping you as it should. While you have many choices in a Louisiana hurricane claims lawyer, once you speak to attorney Peter Diiorio at Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys, we believe your choice will be clear. We focus on helping those in need, who, through no fault of their own, are facing an uphill battle to get their home repaired or rebuilt. A major hurricane can change your life forever, leaving you and your family hurting—financially, emotionally, and physically.
When you are uncertain what you should do or where you should turn, Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys can help alleviate much of the uncertainty your family is facing. We believe deeply in the clients we represent, always putting them first. We get to know each of our clients personally so we can fully understand their needs. We go the extra mile to make sure we are always available to our clients, even when that means they are unable to come to us. No matter the odds, no matter the costs, we are committed to helping our clients get the help they need and deserve from their insurance companies.
What Are Common Types of Hurricane Damage?
Many hurricanes last for days, destroying homes, businesses, and communities in their wake. No matter the size of the hurricane, you could be left dealing with substantial damages to your home, including:
- Broken glass
- Roof damage
- Water damage from flooding
- Cracks in your home’s foundation
- Damage to the electrical and plumbing systems in your home
- Structural damage to your home, fencing, and outbuildings
- Mold and mildew growth from the flooding
- Destruction of furniture, appliances, clothing, and personal items
What Should I Do After a Hurricane Damages My Home?
There are certain steps you must take following a hurricane that damages your home. These steps include:
- When you return to your home, beware of hazards outside your home like broken tree limbs and dangling power lines. If there are downed power lines, contact the proper authority immediately.
- Until you’ve received word that the water is safe to drink, boil all water.
- To the extent possible, avoid flood waters—they can contain harmful bacteria or dangerous debris.
- Wear protective gear when cleaning and repairing damages.
- Food that may have been contaminated by flooding or power outages should be thrown out.
- Once it is safe to do so, have the utilities turned back on.
- Contact your insurance company as quickly as possible. Inform your claims specialist of the mitigation actions you have taken.
- Photograph all damage prior to clean-up and repair efforts begin.
- Complete temporary repairs that will prevent additional damage.
If your insurance company engages in delay tactics, denies your claim outright, or severely undervalues the claim, contact a Louisiana hurricane claims lawyer from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys as quickly as possible. We will zealously defend your right to have your home repaired or rebuilt, holding the insurance company to the commitment it made to you every time it took your monthly premiums.
Will My Insurance Company Cover Hurricane Damage to My Home?
Your homeowner’s insurance policy might not cover all the damage caused by a hurricane. Standard home insurance usually includes coverage for your home, outbuildings, and fences that are the result of wind damage. Your coverage for damage to the interior of your home caused by wind could be extremely limited, depending on your policy. As an example, if the carpeting in your home is damaged when a tree branch crashes through your window and rain pours in, you might be covered.
If your home becomes uninhabitable as a result of the hurricane damage, you may be entitled to loss of use coverage (if your policy includes this coverage). Loss of use coverage will pay for a hotel, food, laundry, etc. while you are unable to live in your home. Even if your policy covers hurricane damage, this coverage may not include damage from flooding. So, if a hurricane causes a local body of water to flood your home, the resulting water damage is unlikely to be covered.
Because of these exclusions, you might want to add flood insurance to your homeowner’s insurance coverage if you live in an area prone to hurricanes. Flood insurance is sold through the NFIP program under FEMA, sold through private insurance companies, and can extend your homeowners insurance to include flood damage from a hurricane.
How Can a Louisiana Hurricane Claims Lawyer Help Me?
At a time when you may be emotionally exhausted, struggling simply to put one foot in front of the other each day, it can be a relief to allow a Louisiana hurricane claims lawyer from Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys to deal with your insurance company. Having a recalcitrant insurer following a home disaster from a Louisiana hurricane is like adding insult to injury. Our highly experienced, compassionate attorneys will fight for you every step of the way, helping you and your family to get back to your normal everyday lives.
Hiring a Louisiana Hurricane Claims Lawyer Near You to Help You Move Forward
Attorney Peter Diiorio and his knowledgeable legal team are fully committed to seeing your insurance claim through to the end. Don’t let your insurance company underpay, delay, or deny your hurricane claim. We will turn the tables on your insurance company, ensuring you are treated fairly, and helping you move toward a more secure future. Contact Gulf Coast Insurance Attorneys today.