Insurance Companies Continue to Deny Hurricane Ike Claims

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release October 30, 2008

Personal Injury Attorneys of Walker Texas Lawyer Advise Texas Victims, Court System May Offer Only Recourse for Windstorm and Flood Insurance Claims Denied in Wake of Worst Hurricane Texas Coast Has Seen in Decades

HOUSTON – The attorneys at the Walker Texas law firm remain outraged at the number of legitimate hurricane claims being denied clients, who are seeking legal advice after another devastating storm season. Just as many experienced with Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita, Hurricane Ike victims are being denied what they thought their insurance policies should cover.

“When times got rough and these people needed their insurance company the most, the one they thought they could count on and for which they pay heavily, their insurance companies deserted them in their time of need,” stated Attorney Jim Walker.

“Wrongfully denying claims and offering insufficient payment for damages has become an everyday practice for many insurance companies in the wake of these hurricanes. We feel the unspoken motto of the insurance industry is; ‘Delay, Deny, Defend and Disappoint,’ ” added Walker.

According to the attorneys, most claims have gone unpaid due to the storm surge conflict – wind verses flood. Storm surges are caused by wind which results in flooding therefore insurance companies have denied claims due to lack of flood insurance, not windstorm coverage. This type of creative insuring leaves many victims reliant on the civil court system as a last resort – the only viable recourse victims have to contest a denied.

The cost of Hurricane Ike is expected to reach over 20 billion dollars, making it the third costliest hurricane behind Katrina and Andrew and the fifth most expensive insurance event in U.S. history.

Many are urging the federal government to step in and better regulate insurance companies, holding them accountable for mistreating hurricane victims. Unfortunately, it offers no immediate relief for the thousands of Texans fighting their insurance company today.

Many are continuing to pick up the pieces left behind from Hurricane Ike. Individuals believing that they have been a victim of their insurance company are encouraged to log onto www.walkertexaslawyer.com or call 1-800-732-2934 for a free consultation.