Hurricane Damage Claim Lawyer in Lafayette

If your residential or commercial property sustained damage due to a major storm, a Lafayette hurricane damage lawyer from our team at Laborde Earles can help you cope with the insurance company paperwork and details to get the money you need to move forward.

A Lafayette insurance claims lawyer could help you get the compensation you need to start rebuilding your property and your life. Our team will go to work immediately, fighting for the monetary coverage of your insurance policy and protecting you from shady insurance practices.

Our legal team stays available to help 24/7, and we’ve brought clients like you over $1 billion in compensation. You can contact us now to learn more about the specific services we can provide to meet your needs.

Why Hire a Hurricane Claim Lawyer in Lafayette, LA?

Hiring a Lafayette personal injury lawyer after a major natural disaster means you’ll have someone on your side, putting you first and handling all legal matters so you can focus on moving forward and caring for your family.

To make the recovery process easier for you, our team can:

• Review your insurance policy and any riders or attachments
• Review your history of insurance claims and payouts
• Build a comprehensive and supportive evidence file
• File an appeal if the company denies your initial request 

Our team understands how insurance law works. We also understand how challenging it can be to navigate insurance company forms, requests for information, and the bureaucratic process that often accompanies claims for compensation.

However, with our experience and legal know-how, we may compel your insurer to live up to the protections your policy should provide by providing you with fair compensation for all of your losses.

Post-Hurricane Damages You Can Recover

The compensation available to you after a natural disaster will depend on the insurance coverage you purchased before the storm. Your attorney will need to review the specifics of your insurance policy to identify all forms of covered damage.

Once we understand your policy, we can carefully list all the covered damages, which could include:

• Damage from falling trees and debris
• Power outages and roof damage
• Interior and exterior structural damage
• Foundation damage and total property loss
• Damaged and destroyed furnishings and appliances

After we have a full accounting of your losses, we can help you file your hurricane insurance claim. You can also rely on our team to appeal a denied property damage claim.

We Can Handle Your Hurricane Damage Claim

When a hurricane strikes, insurance companies and their representatives must juggle multiple claims at once. While our team understands the frustration this can cause, it does not excuse the mishandling or lowballing of your application. To ensure the insurance company handles your case correctly, we will:

Take Charge of the Legal Process

Because a hurricane can create immediate panic and long-term emotional turmoil, taking stock of your damages and losses can be a challenging task. Fortunately, you do not have to handle it alone.

We know that hurricanes can be dangerous and deadly. They can also cause devastating damage. While you focus on making temporary accommodations for yourself and your family, our team will take steps to ensure that you receive the benefits of your insurance policy, allowing you to start making long-term plans.

Compile Proof of Your Losses

We can help you compile proof of your hurricane losses, including before-and-after photos of your property’s interior and exterior, as well as inventory lists of your lost belongings.

We’ll handle every aspect of your case, from compiling evidence to fighting for a fair financial settlement.

Combat Bad Faith Insurance Practices

Unfortunately, not every insurance company acts ethically, lawfully, and in your favor when you file a request for monetary compensation. Louisiana has laws in place designed to prevent bad faith insurance practices. Your insurer owes you:

• A duty of good faith
• A duty of fair dealing
• Fair claims adjustments

We know how to spot bad faith insurance practices after a hurricane and can help combat adverse responses to your application, including misrepresentation, failure to provide prompt payment after reaching an agreement, or altering an application or its facts.

Offer Other Forms of Assistance

We’ll help you document your hurricane-related losses and support you throughout the claims process. In addition to offering attentive and responsive legal assistance, we’ll also work diligently to provide ongoing support throughout a challenging recovery process. You can rely on us to:

• Explain beneficial assistance programs
• Handle online, written, and verbal communication
• Explain how to prepare for an insurance adjuster after a hurricane
• Take care of all the details involved in filing an appeal

We’re here to support property owners. Don’t wait to get help, reach out to us today to discuss your next steps.

Assessing Your Interior and Exterior Hurricane Damages in Lafayette

We aim to help victims of the recent hurricane in Lafayette get the insurance settlement they need to restore their property. If the extreme winds and flooding damaged your home or business, our Lafayette hurricane damage attorneys may help you seek compensation from your:

• Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance provider
• Flood insurance provider

We’ll fight hard to help you get the most out of your policy. You deserve the insurance coverage you had the foresight to purchase, and our team will work hard to ensure you get it.

Can You Get Compensation for Commercial Property Damage?

Commercial property owners have a chance to get compensation after a hurricane if they have insurance coverage. Our team can review insurance policies for business owners and other individuals who own commercial property.

We’ll walk you through the claims process and use our legal experience to provide the support you need during this challenging time. You can even review our guide to hurricane damage claims for commercial properties.

Insurance Coverage Considerations After Hurricane Damage

It is essential to assess whether your insurance coverage is sufficient to meet your needs. Remember, the insurance company is not required to cover your hurricane damages in full. The highest amount of compensation they may pay you is equal to the amount of coverage you purchased through your policy.

You should verify whether you have purchased separate types of insurance coverage as required. For example, you might be surprised that your homeowners’ insurance policy does not cover flood damage. You would need a separate flood insurance policy for this.

If your hurricane damage exceeds the limits of your policy, you may be stuck with out-of-pocket expenses you need to cover on your own. Your policy may also have a deductible that you must pay before receiving assistance.

How Insurance Companies Pay Claims

The insurance company will only pay your claim after it has completed an investigation of your case. Once you have filed your claim, an insurance adjuster will be responsible for opening an investigation. They will need to review your claim and supporting evidence and potentially request further review of the hurricane damage before paying your claim.

Your hurricane damage losses may exceed the limits of your policy. If this happens, you must cover the remaining damages. However, do not be surprised if the insurance company argues that you did not purchase the correct type of insurance coverage or that you are otherwise not entitled to compensation through your claim.

Your attorney can handle the insurance company on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your property repairs and your family following the hurricane.

Legal Options if the Insurer Won’t Settle Your Claim Fairly

It is more common than you might think for insurance companies to deny claimants access to the compensation and benefits they are entitled to. The insurance company will lose money if it pays your claim, and insurance companies don’t like to lose money.

However, this should not be your problem. You have the right to compensation and benefits based on the terms of your policy, as long as you have paid your premiums. If the insurance company delays the processing of your claim or denies your right to benefits, your Lafayette hurricane damage lawyer can take legal action.

In many instances, we can simply provide the insurance company with additional records and supporting documentation or adjust any mistakes you may have made on your initial application to ensure the adjuster overturns your denial. However, your lawyer can bring your case to court should it become necessary to recover the compensation you deserve.

Time Limits for Your Hurricane Damage Claim

How long do you have to file an insurance claim for hurricane damage in Louisiana? Generally, you only have 180 days to submit a claim to your insurance company. It’s essential to move quickly after a storm to protect your claim.

What if you need to file a lawsuit? Generally, you must file lawsuits related to hurricane damage insurance claims within two years of the incident, per RS 22:619. However, the exact amount of time you will have to file can vary widely depending on the circumstances of your case.

To ensure you do not face deadline issues or statute of limitations troubles for your hurricane damage claim, you may want to have a hurricane damage attorney in Lafayette working on your case.

Why Choose Us After a Hurricane?

Our team at Laborde Earles has over 350 years of combined legal experience and a reputation for successfully handling complex claims for property owners. We want to help you get the money you need to recover from damage caused by strong winds, flooding, and the other effects of hurricanes.

We understand the strategies that work to handle storm damage claims and can provide the support you need to build a valid claim.

We’ll stand by you throughout the entire process, giving you the answers and support you need from the time of your initial consultation until the final resolution of your claim.

Our Lawyers Fight Hard for Every Client We Represent in Lafayette

Our law firm is dedicated to client satisfaction and ensuring our clients get the compensation they are entitled to. Some of the testimonials we’ve received from previous clients say:

• “At any time that I had a question or concern it was promptly answered. Furthermore, I also appreciated them updating me without being prompted to… To truly have someone explain the process to you is an added benefit. I would definitely return in the future.”– Colbe Mitchell
• “They are very organized and… returned our phone calls and emails in a very prompt and professional manner. We feel very safe and protected by them and give them our trust without hesitation. I thank all of the team at Laborde Earles for taking such great care of my wonderful wife.”– Christopher Vlahogeorge
• “I had the pleasure of dealing with Mrs. Kim Fontenot. She was very knowledgeable and also very kind while being professional. Everyone there was also kind and helpful. I would definitely recommend anyone looking for legal advice to give these guys a look.”– Jason Guilbeau

Choosing the right law firm is a critical part of the battle with your insurance company. Hearing from clients we helped with insurance company issues in the past can tell you a lot about working with our client-focused team.

Talk to Us After Facing Hurricane Damage in Lafayette

Your insurance company should not make the days and weeks after a hurricane more stressful than they already are. So, when you’re ready to let our Lafayette hurricane damage attorneys handle the details and minutiae of your insurance application, contact one of our team members at Laborde Earles.

An experienced attorney can provide the dedicated support you deserve after a powerful storm. We’re here to help you get the money you deserve based on the coverage you paid for, so reach out now.