What to Do if Your Property Was Damaged in a Hurricane

If your property was damaged in a hurricane, what you should do is take the proper initial steps to protect yourself, your property, and your right to maximize your recovery through an insurance claim. 

From safely assessing the damage to meticulously documenting everything, the actions you take in the first days and weeks after a storm can dramatically influence your ability to get your property repairs covered. You should also hire a lawyer to help you file a claim or fight a denial. 

A Louisiana hurricane damage lawyer can help you put your life back together after destructive tropical events. An attorney knows the challenges you’re facing and the aggressive approach needed to hold insurance companies accountable when they try to underpay or wrongfully deny legitimate claims.

Steps to Take if Your Property Was Damaged in a Hurricane

The first thing you should do after a hurricane is to ensure your own physical safety and that of your loved ones. You may need to vacate a property damaged in the hurricane, or if you are returning to assess damages, make sure you do not enter the premises unless it is safe to do so. 

Once you have taken steps to secure your safety, you can follow these steps to help you prepare a hurricane damage claim. A Louisiana insurance claims lawyer can also advise you further. 

Safely Assess the Damage

Before attempting to inspect any hurricane damage, ensure the area is truly safe to enter and that there are no downed power lines, hazardous debris, or other risks. Once it’s deemed secure, take the following steps:

• Walk around the full exterior, making notes and taking photos/videos of any obvious damage to windows, doors, roof, siding, etc.
• Carefully enter each room, looking for interior damage from winds, rain, and flooding. Watch for potential structural issues that could make areas unsafe.
• Check utilities and shut off any damaged gas/power sources if needed. Have an electrician or plumber inspect systems before restoring them.
• Don’t discard any damaged belongings until fully documented for your insurer.
• Make temporary repairs like tarping roofs to prevent further damage, but avoid permanent fixes until adjusters assess.
• Look into local preliminary damage assessments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Meticulously Document Everything

Thorough documentation providing evidence of all hurricane damage is absolutely vital for insurance claims. No detail is too small. Be sure to:

• Take extensive photos/videos of all damage from multiple angles with dates/times noted.
• Request official inspection reports from licensed contractors on damages.
• Keep samples of any wind/water-damaged belongings like flooring, drywall, and furniture.
• Document communications with your insurance company and keep copies of all claims documents/estimates.
• Track all expenses for temporary repairs, lodging if displaced, and other hurricane-related costs.

Hire a Louisiana Hurricane Damage Lawyer

Insurance policies are complex, and insurers often underpay claims or outright deny coverage. Having skilled legal representation levels the playing field since:

• A hurricane lawyer understands your policy coverages and the insurers’ obligations.
• They conduct exhaustive investigations to calculate a comprehensive and accurate damage assessment.
• Attorneys negotiate from a position of leverage to maximize your compensation.
• If needed, they can file a bad-faith lawsuit against an insurer who refuses to uphold their duties.

File a Claim

To have any chance of insurance coverage, you must promptly report the hurricane damage and file a formal claim. Keep the following things in mind:

• Most policies require filing claims quickly after the damaging event.
• Provide your insurer with copies of all photos, inspections, receipts, and documentation you’ve gathered.
• Comply with any requests from your insurer, such as providing access for adjusters to inspect.
• Avoid giving recorded statements or signing any documents without your lawyer’s approval.
• If dissatisfied with the insurer’s resolution, you have options to appeal through legal channels.

From damage assessment to negotiating a sufficient claim settlement, an insurance claims attorney can advocate for you every step of the way. They can ensure insurance companies do not take advantage of policyholders impacted by devastating hurricanes.

An Attorney Can Help if an Insurer Denies Your Claim After Your Property Was Damaged in a Hurricane

Despite faithfully paying your insurance premiums year after year, it’s an unfortunate reality that many property owners have their hurricane damage claims underpaid or outrightly denied by insurers looking to protect their own profits. When this occurs, hiring an experienced Louisiana hurricane lawyer is crucial for forcing the insurance company to uphold its obligations.

Insurance companies employ adjusters and lawyers focused on finding technicalities to minimize or reject paying out legitimate claims after catastrophic hurricane losses. Without legal representation, policyholders are at a major disadvantage against the resources and bad faith tactics deployed by some insurers.

If your insurer has denied your hurricane damage claim, a skilled lawyer can mount an aggressive appeal armed with evidence that the denial conflicted with your policy’s coverages and provisions. Some of the ways they advocate for you include:

Policy Analysis & Demands for Reversal

Your attorney will analyze your homeowner’s or commercial property insurance policy line-by-line to identify where the denial violates the agreed coverage terms. They then issue comprehensive demands backed by legal precedent for the insurer to reverse its decision.

Documentation of Bad Faith Practices

Experienced hurricane lawyers recognize the underhanded tactics insurers use to avoid paying out claims, like not conducting proper investigations. They gather proof of any bad faith practices deployed against you.

Filing Formal Proceedings

If the insurer still refuses to approve your legitimate claim after being presented with the evidence and legal arguments, your lawyer can file formal mediation or litigation proceedings to have the matter properly resolved.

Work With Our Hurricane Damage Lawyers in Louisiana

Hurricane costs can skyrocket, and you deserve to have your hurricane property damages fully covered so you can rebuild. This guide outlines the critical actions every homeowner and business needs to take to give themselves the best chance at a sufficient insurance recovery.

Don’t go through this difficult process alone while still reeling from the hurricane’s impacts. Let our lawyers at Laborde Earles be your guide on navigating hurricane property damage claims from initial inspection through negotiating a fair settlement. Together, we can get your home or business back to pre-storm condition. Call us today for a free consultation.