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 My Insurance Case 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
My Insurance Case 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 My Insurance Case 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.
