A home is a huge investment, so you protect it with insurance to cover events like fire, flooding, storms, hurricanes, hail, and burglary.

You dutifully pay insurance premiums and expect your insurance company to help you in your time of need.

However, insurance companies sometimes don’t come through on their end of the bargain.

They might even deny a valid claim to increase their profits.

Many New Orleans homeowners insurance companies assume that you won’t fight a denied claim. They may think they can intimidate you into giving up on the money you’re owed. 

However, you can fight back. In fact, our purpose at The BFH Law Group is to help you challenge those who wrong you.

If your homeowner’s insurance in New Orleans has denied your insurance claim, give our Louisiana insurance lawyers a call at (866) 309-3499 or send us an online message.

To learn more about homeowners insurance in New Orleans, keep reading.

TYPES OF HOMEOWNER INSURANCE IN NEW ORLEANS

When disputing an insurance claim denial, the first thing you should determine is what your policy covers. Read the insurance policy’s language carefully to understand its terms.

There are six basic types of homeowners insurance in New Orleans.

Basic Form 

Basic Form policies cover specific perils like fire, lightning, windstorms, hail, smoke, vandalism, theft, damage from vehicles or aircraft, explosions, riots, and sinkhole collapse.

If a peril is not listed in the policy, it is not covered.

Broad Form 

Broad Form policies cover named perils in Basic Form as well as additional problems like water damage, falling objects, and building collapse.

Special Form 

Special Form policies cover your home for all perils not specifically excluded.

Special Form policies usually exclude perils like earth movements, acts of war, nuclear explosions, rupture of water pipes, mechanical wear, pollutants, and vermin.

They also provide protection for personal property with respect to named perils.

Comprehensive Form 

Comprehensive Form policies cover all perils for both your home and your personal property that are not explicitly excluded.

Tenant Broad Form 

Tenant Broad Form policies cover a tenant’s personal property only.

Special Condominium Form 

Special Condominium Form policies cover personal property and the interior but not exterior of the condominium.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SUFFER PROPERTY DAMAGE

After you suffer property damage, you may feel surprised and unsure of how to safeguard and repair your home.

There are important steps you must take to prevent further damage and receive compensation under your New Orleans homeowners’ insurance policy.

This is especially important when it comes to weather events like Hurricane Laura.

File a Claim

First, you should file a claim with your insurance company.

Take notes of all conversations with your insurance company and keep all written documents.

Take Photos

Take photos of any damage, and write down your recollections of the incident that caused damage. 

Mitigate Damage

Then you should perform repairs to prevent further damage. This might mean putting a tarp over holes in your roof or cutting off the water supply to a leaking pipe.

Don’t Throw Away Anything 

Don’t throw away anything until the insurance company has inspected the property. An insurance appraiser needs to see your property damage before you throw away any ruined materials.

Don’t Put Yourself at Risk

If your home is uninhabitable due to flooding, electrical concerns, structural damage, or other life-threatening circumstances, don’t go inside. Contact the insurance company, and leave it to them to investigate the incident when there is an active risk.

Keep All Repair Receipts

When you start property repairs, keep all receipts and invoices. You can use these bills to get your New Orleans homeowner’s insurance company to reimburse you for repairs.

Call an Insurance Attorney

If your insurance company is not paying you what they owe or is causing unnecessary delays, contact an insurance attorney.

An experienced Louisiana home insurance lawyer is familiar with New Orleans homeowner’s insurance companies and knows how to address their claim denials and stall tactics.

DO YOU NEED AN INSURANCE ATTORNEY?

If you aren’t getting the payment you need from your insurance company, an insurance attorney can help. At The BFH Law Group, our experienced lawyers put pressure on big insurance companies. We insist that insurance companies pay our clients according to the terms of their New Orleans homeowner’s insurance policy.

Contact us today or call (866) 309-3499 for a complimentary consultation. We’ll review your case, look over your insurance policy, and advise you of your legal options.

While you focus on repair or rebuilding, we’ll negotiate with your insurance company for the maximum settlement available under the law.