Property Damage Lawyers in Houston
If your Houston commercial or residential property sustained damage—whether from natural or man-made causes—you will likely need to submit a property damage claim to your insurance company.
You maintain insurance for events such as these, when you need ready resources to repair or rebuild, and to tide you over until the work is complete. Unfortunately, insurers don’t always process claims in a way that is fair to the policyholder.
If you need to submit a property damage claim, or if your claim has been delayed, denied, or undervalued, a Houston property damage lawyer from the BFH Law Group can help. We fight for our clients’ legal rights and compel the insurance companies to provide the benefits to which policyholders are legally entitled.
Common Types of Property Damage in Houston
Residential and commercial property owners across the country face similar threats to their properties, including damage caused by:
Fire, smoke, and water;
Broken water lines and pipes;
Broken or clogged sewer lines;
Break-ins and vandalism;
Accidental damage; and
Falling trees and debris.
In Houston, we also face a substantial risk of property damage caused by hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, hail, flooding, and damaging winds. Over the past decade, our community has sustained repeated damage from hurricanes and tropical storms. Most recently, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Sally, and Tropical Storm Beta have taken a substantial toll on local homeowners and commercial property owners.
If the current trend toward more active hurricane seasons persists, property owners can expect to experience an increased risk of storm damage and the consequences these events bring.
Will Your Insurance Company Pay Your Property Damage Claim?
If you carry current homeowners insurance or business property damage insurance, you have a reasonable expectation that the insurer will compensate you for any covered losses, in accordance with the terms of your policy.
The type and value of your coverage will depend on your policy. However, in most cases, you should be entitled to recover compensation for natural damages as well as those that are human caused.
Storm damage, including water damage that occurred due to wind, is typically covered under standard homeowners and business property insurance policies. You should also have coverage for incidents such as structure fires, water damage from broken plumbing pipes, break-ins and vandalism, etc.
If you sustained damage from flooding, those losses may or may not be covered under your standard policy. Either way, the insurance company will likely try to deny your claim unless you have flood insurance in place.
The reasons that flood damage occurs are various and subjective. In many cases, an experienced property damage attorney can make a persuasive case for why your insurer has an obligation to cover your losses.
Important Documents to Have Available for Your Damage Claim
Every insurer has its own standards and procedures for submitting a damage claim. However, you will likely need to provide some or all of the following:
Property photos/videos before and after the damage;
Damage repair estimates;
Receipts for covered expenses;
A list of lost or damaged contents;
Proof of value of claimed contents;
Receipts for water remediation, temporary roofing, etc.; and
Receipts for displacement expenses.
Having your insurance policy handy, along with contact information for your insurance company or agent, will also help expedite the process. As soon as possible after property damage occurs, contact an experienced Houston insurance claim lawyer for help.
Your attorney can review the terms of your policy to determine which of your losses are covered and for how much. Getting a quick start on the claims process can help ensure you recover the compensation you’re entitled to as soon as possible.
How a Houston Property Damage Attorney Can Help
Although you can pursue an insurance claim on your own, consider the many significant benefits that having an attorney offers.
Assistance for Homeowners
For homeowners, a Houston residential property damage lawyer can provide invaluable service and support through this challenging time. Having an experienced attorney on your side helps level the playing field between you and the insurance company.
Attorneys understand the complex nature of insurance law and know how to hold insurers accountable for their legal responsibilities to policyholders like you.
Assistance for Business Owners
For business owners, not only do our commercial property damage attorneys handle the process for physical damage claims, but we can also assist you with other covered losses, such as business interruption, lost inventory and equipment, etc.
If you own acreage that sustained damage, talk to one of our Houston private land damage attorneys as soon as possible to determine what your legal rights might be for pursuing a legal claim.
Comprehensive Legal Services
A BFH Law Group attorney will handle every aspect of your claim. We identify your covered losses and calculate the full value of your claim. We document your claim and present a demand to the insurance company, and then negotiate to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
We handle all communication with the insurance company, their attorneys, and other involved parties. Throughout the process, we provide updates so you never have to wonder what’s going on with your claim.
We can also assist you in identifying and vetting qualified repair contractors, obtaining competitive bids, and evaluating estimates. We can negotiate contract values and terms with your contractors to provide you with the best possible protection.
Contact a Houston Property Damage Attorney Today for Help
You have many options available when choosing an attorney to assist you with an insurance claim. However, before you google “Houston property damage attorney near me” and choose the first law firm that pops up, contact the BFH Law Group for a no-cost consultation and case evaluation.
We have a broad base of knowledge and extensive experience helping property owners resolve insurance damage claims in Houston and throughout the gulf coast area of Texas. Our past case results demonstrate how committed we are to getting our clients the compensation they deserve for their losses. Let us evaluate your damage and explain your options for pursuing an insurance claim or other legal action.
Call or contact us now to learn more or to speak with a Houston property damage lawyer.
In New Orleans, you could sustain property damage for any number of reasons, ranging from a hurricane or tropical storm to a fire or broken water pipe. In most cases, your damages should be covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Sometimes, however, insurance companies don’t honor their obligations. They may attempt to delay your claim, undervalue your losses, or even deny your claim outright.
A New Orleans property damage lawyer from the BFH Law Group can help. We stand up to the insurance companies and hold them accountable to help ensure that you recover the compensation you deserve for your damages.
Common Types of New Orleans Property Damage Claims
A personal property damage lawyer from the BFH Law Group can assist you with all types of insurance claims. Some of the most common types of property damages we encounter include those caused by:
Hurricanes,
Tropical storms,
Lightning,
Wind,
Downed trees,
House fires,
Household appliances failures,
Broken water lines/pipes, and
Sewer line blockages.
You could also sustain damage to your home if someone loses control of their car and drives onto your property, or through an act of vandalism or malice. Even if you don’t see the cause of your property damage listed here, contact one of our property claim attorneys in New Orleans now for help.
How Do You File an Insurance Claim for Property Damage?
If you plan to file a claim on your own, you should start by reviewing your homeowners insurance policy to determine the types of coverage you have and the policy’s insured limits. You may have replacement value or actual cash value (depreciated value) coverage for the primary structure of your home as well as:
Detached garages,
Workshops,
Guest houses,
Site fencing,
Personal property/contents,
Property cleanup,
Debris removal, and
Temporary relocation.
Determining what is and is not covered by your policy is the first step to recovering the compensation to which you are legally entitled. Because insurance policies are written in complex legal language, having a lawyer interpret your coverage can be invaluable during this challenging time.
Your insurer may require specific forms or procedures for filing a claim, but typically, you will have to submit information such as:
Before and after photos of your property and damage;
Property repair estimates;
List of lost or damaged contents;
Documentation of contents’ value;
Receipts for water extraction and remediation;
Receipts for board-up, temporary roofing, etc.;
Receipts for replacement items you purchased;
Receipts for temporary housing, meals, transportation, etc.; and
Receipts for any other out-of-pocket expenses you incur.
One of the biggest problems that homeowners face when attempting to file a homeowners insurance claim is the sheer volume of information and paperwork that’s necessary.
If you have an experienced NOLA property damage lawyer to handle your claim, they can take a significant portion of that burden off your shoulders. This leaves you free to handle the more pressing issues you’re facing and helps alleviate the high levels of stress that can accompany a devastating loss of this nature.
Storm & Hurricane Damage: Will You Be Covered?
New Orleans and the surrounding areas have become repeated targets for hurricanes and tropical storms in the Gulf of Mexico. The increased frequency with which we sustain damage has caused insurance rates to soar. At the same time, insurers are finding new ways every day to limit their financial liability for property claims.
Flood damage may not be covered under your standard policy, although you may have purchased a separate flood policy. However, under your homeowners insurance, hurricane damage should be covered. This includes water damage that results from wind-driven rain. Nevertheless, insurance companies may try to avoid their legal responsibility to you as a policyholder.
Some examples of how insurance companies accomplish this include:
Denying you had valid coverage,
Refusing to investigate your claim,
Delaying sending out an adjuster,
Delaying payment on your claim,
Making false or misleading statements,
Undervaluing your claim, and
Denying your claim outright.
The insurer might try to discourage you from talking to a property damage lawyer, despite it being illegal for them to do so. They might offer you what they know is a significantly undervalued settlement right away, hoping you are willing to waive your rights to recover fair compensation.
Our property damage lawyers stand up to the insurance companies and compel them to deal with your claim in good faith. We handle everything on your behalf and fight tirelessly to get you the best possible outcome from your insurance claim. If you sustained property damage related to Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Sally, Tropical Storm Beta, or any other significant weather event, contact us as soon as possible for assistance.
Do You Need a Lawyer for a Property Damage Claim?
Legally, you have no obligation to hire an attorney to handle your insurance claim. From a financial perspective, however, you might find that it makes good sense. Your attorney and legal team will handle calculating the value of your damages and documenting your claim. Your lawyer will submit a demand to the insurer and negotiate to get you the compensation you deserve.
Emotionally, having an experienced property damage attorney on your side can provide peace of mind and help alleviate a substantial amount of stress. This is especially true if you have been displaced from your home and forced to seek temporary housing.
Your attorney will protect your legal rights and fight to ensure that your property damage claim is treated fairly and resolved promptly by your insurance company. This gets you the money you need to repair or rebuild your home.
Contact a Property Damage Attorney in New Orleans Now for Help
The Louisiana property insurance claim lawyers of the BFH Law Group understand the challenges you’re currently facing, and we are here to assist you. You have upheld your obligations to the insurance company by paying your premium. We will fight to ensure the insurer upholds its legal obligations to you.
Our attorneys and legal team can assist you with filing your New Orleans property damage claim. We can also assist you if the insurance company has denied your claim, undervalued your losses, or is delaying the processing of your claim. Further, our attorneys can provide advice on obtaining repair estimates and negotiating contract terms with repair contractors.
To learn more, or to speak with a New Orleans property damage attorney, call or contact us now.