How to File a Bad Faith Insurance Claim After a Hurricane
You need to submit a legal complaint if you want to file a bad faith insurance claim after a hurricane in Louisiana. Your complaint will need to include proof that the insurance company failed to uphold its duties to you as promised in your insurance policy.
A New Orleans hurricane damage lawyer can handle this kind of claim on your behalf. Working with a lawyer can improve your chances of securing fair payment for the damage caused by a natural disaster, even if your insurance company treats you unfairly.
How Can You File a Bad Faith Hurricane Insurance Claim?
You can rely on a New Orleans insurance claims lawyer to help you file a bad-faith claim after a hurricane. An attorney will explain the forms you need to complete and take care of submitting them to the appropriate legal authorities.
Generally, attorneys need to gather proof of bad faith in insurance before you can move forward with a claim.
After collecting the appropriate evidence, your attorney can file a complaint against the insurance company. Typically, the insurance company will have a chance to reply to this complaint. The resolution process will vary based on the company’s response.
Can You File a Bad Faith Insurance Claim Following a Hurricane?
You may file a claim against your insurance company if a lawyer can show that the company engaged in bad-faith behaviors. For example, you may have a valid claim if your insurance company:
Repeatedly Delays Your Claim
Sometimes, insurance companies will stall the claims process. They may try to delay claims in the hopes that property owners will eventually give up or accept a lowball offer to cover some of their losses. This action can represent bad faith behavior.
Refuses to Investigate Your Losses
The insurance company may refuse to assess the extent of your losses and summarily deny your claim. In this situation, the company fails to live up to its obligations to you after a hurricane.
Provides Subpar Settlement Offers
Your company may ignore evidence showing the full extent of your losses in order to push low settlements at you. If the company’s settlement offers do not match your insurance policy terms, you could file a bad-faith insurance claim against the company.
Intentionally Misinterprets Your Policy
Your insurance policy should clearly lay out the company’s obligations to you after a hurricane. If the company tries to misrepresent your policy to avoid covering your losses, a lawyer can step in to help.
Changes a Policy Without Your Approval
Your insurance company may try to adjust portions of your policy without your express approval. An attorney can explain how to file a bad faith insurance claim after a hurricane if the company engages in this form of misconduct.
You can rely on a legal professional to explain how to spot bad faith insurance practices after a hurricane in more detail. Your attorney can also determine if you qualify to file this kind of claim.
Why Should You File a Bad Faith Insurance Claim After a Hurricane?
Filing a bad faith claim against your insurance company can help you get fair compensation after a natural disaster. This kind of legal claim helps you force the insurance company to fulfill its obligations to you based on your policy.
Depending on the terms of your policy, your lawyer may help you secure funds to cover:
- Structural repairs for your home
- Cosmetic damage caused by a hurricane
- Destroyed possessions (including furniture)
Note that your insurance policy may not have to cover all the losses caused by a hurricane. For example, many homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage. You can explore the funds available in your specific situation with an attorney.
How Long Do You Have to File a Bad Faith Insurance Claim?
You may have limited time to file a claim after your insurance company engages in bad-faith behavior. Louisiana typically gives you a few years to move forward with a claim. A lawyer can provide information about the specific deadlines for your situation.
If you wait too long to file a claim, you will lose your chance to secure compensation, so it’s vital that you reach out to a lawyer for help immediately.
Talk to Us About Filing a Bad Faith Insurance Claim in Louisiana
Do you need to know how to file a bad-faith insurance claim after a hurricane? Our team at Laborde Earles can provide the guidance you need to navigate the legal system during this challenging time.
We proudly serve as Louisiana Attorneys That Care. We have over 350 years of combined experience and the resources to stand up to big insurance companies on your behalf, allowing you to focus on recovering after a natural disaster.
You can learn more about the services we offer when you call or complete our online contact form.
