Compassionate Handling Of Hurricane Damage Claims
If a hurricane damages your home or business, that is when you need your insurance company the most. The law here in Louisiana requires that an insurance company must complete an adjustment and pay your claim quickly. We understand how important it is to get the insurance money that is owed to you according to your policy. You need the money fast to make repairs and to live during those repairs. Sadly, not all insurance companies live up to their obligations to pay like they promised when you bought your policy.
At The Townsley Law Firm, our attorneys handled hundreds of claims against insurance companies after Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Gustav, Hurricane Ike and others. With Hurricane Laura, we can answer your questions about the claims process with your insurance company, and we can help if your insurance company does not treat you fairly.
The Impact Of Hurricane Laura And Other Hurricanes
The wind, rain and effects on lakes and rivers throughout Louisiana from a hurricane are notoriously devastating. The most recent hurricane, Laura, along with past hurricanes, have left homeowners without roofs, with crumbling houses, with severe water damage from rain and flooding and with other serious damage to their homes. In some cases, unfortunately, the damage is detrimental, and the home is a total loss.
Insurance companies understand that, in this area of the country, claims for home damages are common after hurricanes and other natural disasters. However, they will still be evasive in their payment of legitimate claims. Sometimes, claims will be denied in bad faith and we need to take immediate action in order to see that you get the compensation you deserve for your losses. Our lawyers at The Townsley Law Firm do not back down from any insurance company and will aggressively pursue justice if you have been wronged.
Talk To Us Today About Your Claim
When insurance companies act in bad faith and don’t pay promptly, they can be responsible not only for what they owe you under your policy, but also for damages, penalties and attorney’s fees. Please call us at 337-377-0584. You can also get in touch with our firm by using our online contact form. We are ready and able to answer your questions at no charge.
Helpful Resources
Contains a link (http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov) to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. FEMA assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property loss, and other programs to help people and businesses recover from Hurricane Laura.
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner
Contains tips on what steps to take after a storm such as: (a) Contact your insurance agent or company as soon as possible with your policy information to determine what is covered and how to file a claim; (b) Remember that flooding is generally not covered under standard homeowners and renters policies. Flood insurance is provided through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program. Ask your agent if you have flood insurance if you have flood damage; (c) Minimize your losses and document the damage. Take photos of any damage and then make whatever reasonable temporary repairs that are needed and keep receipt for these repairs; (d) Keep your receipts for lodging, food, gas, and essentials if you are unable to stay in your home due to damage from the storm or while you were required to evacuate. Your policy may cover a portion of these costs; and (e) Do not sign any contracts for repairs until you have been instructed to do so by your adjuster and you have checked the license, insurance, and reputation of any contractor you want to hire.
Contains an emergency information page for Hurricane Laura with information including: (a) A copy of the Emergency Declaration for Calcasieu Parish and a statement that the Mandatory Evacuation order remains in effect for Calcasieu Parish. Some insurance companies are requiring policy holders to show them a copy to accept claims for additional living expenses; (b) Collection sites for household food waste, operating hours, and guidelines for what waste will be accepted; (b) Information to obtain free roof tarps; (c) Food, water, ice, and tarp distribution centers and operating hours; (d) Red Cross distribution centers and operating hours to obtain items such as cots, mops, brooms, buckets, PPE, snacks, and bottled water; (e) Pharmacies that are open and operating hours; (f) Salvation Army lunch and dinner locations and operating hours; (g) Airport resumption of flight information; (h) Free COVID-19 Testing and Tetanus/Hepatitis-A shots locations and operating hours; (i) FEMA disaster assistance information; (j) United Way resources; (k) Water and electrical service updates; (l) Garbage pick up and debris removal information and instructions; (m) Returning home and curfews; (n) traffic conditions and road clearance; (o) Generator safety; (p) Burn bans; (q) Animal service updates and information; (p) Better Business Bureau advice on contractors; (q) Communication updates for usage of cell phones and radios; (r) Closure reports and updates for schools, McNeese State University, the Calcasieu Parish School Board, and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury; (s) Disaster assistance provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA); (t) Hurricane Laura recovery briefing videos and schedules.
Provides video streaming of updates by Calcasieu Parish officials and daily schedules for those updates.