As of late, there have been massive tornadoes, hail, and wind storms - causing severe property damage in parts of Texas, the South/Southeast, and parts of the Midwestern United States. Just yesterday massive tornadoes damaged parts of Bell County, TX. (dumping hail larger than a human hand), and also damaged parts of Ennis, TX.
The Question is: Who has your back when dealing with property damage insurance claims? Answer: The Voss Law Firm, P.C. (seasoned policyholder attorneys). The Voss Law Firm, P.C. has been protecting policyholder’s rights for the past 18 years!
Sometimes insurance carriers do the right thing when it comes to storm damage claims. However, sometimes they do not!
In times of back-to-back massive storm events, insurance companies might sometimes try to offset their financial losses, by employing the age old tactics of deny, delay, and the underpayment of claims.
If you are experiencing any of these tactics, give us a call today, before it is too late! We can be reached at 281- VICTORY.
Important Things to Remember When Filing a Storm Damage Insurance Claim
1.) Document your damages with video and pictures.
2.) Call in the claim to your insurance company’s claims department. Remember to write down your claim number. Don’t let the carrier talk you out of filing a claim, if you have damages. Note: you will always be responsible for your deductible.
3.) Keep detailed notes of all interactions with the insurance company. In the notes, record how long it took for the adjuster to call you, and also to inspect your property. Also, keep a time log of how long the adjuster was actually at the property for the inspection.
4) It is also important to have an independent evaluation (separate from the insurance company) completed of your property damage. This is important, so you have an idea financially of what it is going to take to restore your property to a pre-loss condition.
5) Mitigate your damages with tarps, temporary repairs, etc.. Before, you do any temporary repairs, take lots of pictures and videos. Keep track of all receipts regarding any temporary repairs.
6) If your insurance carrier decides to send out an engineer, give us a call right away. We can be reached at 281- VICTORY.
7) Make sure to always keep a full copy of your insurance policy on hand. Note: the full copy can be 20-90 pages in length. If you do not have a copy, call or email your agent, and request a copy right away.
If Your Insurance Company Denys, Delays, or Underpays Your Storm Damage Claim...
A good policyholder attorney is the final part of the equation. A good policyholder attorney will hold the carrier’s feet to the fire when claims arise. It is well documented that insurance carriers can sometimes implement various tactics when trying to lessen their financial exposure to claims, including: underpayment, denial, and the delay of claims. This is no surprise, given the record number of increasing weather events in the last several years (as documented in earlier VLF blogs).
This is why it is important to consult with a reputable policyholder attorney when filing a claim, and especially if your claim has been denied, delayed, or underpaid.
The Voss Law Firm, P.C. has been protecting policyholder’s rights for the past sixteen years, recovering billions of dollars in settlements for our clients.
Feel free to call, or email today for a free consultation on your file.
We are 100% contingency fee based. No recovery, no fee.
Todd Farr- Director of Client Relations.
(832)-278-9378