Houston Personal Injury Lawyers: Rejected Hurricane Claims
Insurance companies exist, for a large part, for the aftermath of natural disasters such as fires, floods and hurricanes. Houston personal injury lawyers make sure that these companies understand that an insured’s policy is more than just simply a contract; it is virtually a promise that the company will act in good faith during difficult times. Hurricane claims should be met by the good faith of your insurance company after a loss. However, some hurricane insurance claims are not met with such good faith, and they sometimes reach a point of litigation.
Attorneys are able to handle insurance bad faith claims, leveling the playing field for their clients and making it less profitable for insurance companies to breach their contract with policyholders. A policyholder who has gone though a disaster such as a hurricane has the right to recover up to their policy’s limits, in addition to attorney’s fees, and possibly even punitive damages. By working with Houston personal injury lawyers, policyholders can make sure their companies focus on providing fair, prompt and ethical conduct—or face the consequences of not doing so.
What type of conduct is considered bad faith when it comes to insurance companies? This unethical behavior could include refusing to thoroughly investigate claims in a proper and timely manner. Or, some companies might unreasonably delay payments, using frustrating stall tactics. Some clients could experience a refusal to pay the full value of their hurricane insurance claims, or even have to deal with unfair claim denials. Finally, some companies use a tactic of unreasonably interpreting the policy’s language as a way to get out of paying the policy.
Frustrated policyholders may feel that they can take their frustration out on their claims adjuster, but this is misplaced anger. These adjusters are usually limited by processing guidelines that have been established to cut costs and increase the profits of the insurance company. Therefore, adjusters have neither the support nor the authority to fairly process an individual claim.
Insurance bad faith claims may take many forms, including first or third party claims, which is why it is so important to know that a claim of bad faith must be properly preserved during the handling period. The conduct that gives rise to a claim of insurer bad faith most often occurs before a claim is even denied and the dispute resolved; however, legal action may not be available until the coverage dispute is completely over. Since most policyholders do not feel comfortable keeping records of the actions of their insurance company during the early stages of their hurricane claims, it is usually wise to seek legal help early. The offices of Walker & Crawford are well equipped to handle all types of hurricane insurance claims, and our staff of experienced attorneys can make sure your claim is handled fairly and reaches a satisfactory outcome. For more information on how a Houston personal injury lawyer can help you with your claim, contact us at 832-369-8270.
Additional Resources
Hurricane Ike Business Insurance Claims
Personal Injury Cases: Getting the Help you Deserve
EVALUATION
WALKER & CRAWFORD, PC
Houston Personal Injury Lawyers
1924 Portsmouth | Houston, TX 77098
Phone: 713-552-1117 | Fax: 713-552-0956
E-mail: Info@walkertexaslawyer.com
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