Louisiana Insurance Claims Attorney
We buy insurance to protect against the unexpected. Even when it isn’t required – such as a homeowner’s insurance policy – many of us load up on insurance coverage to ensure that we won’t experience financial distress when disaster strikes. Unfortunately, insurance companies often delay payment on claims, attempt to minimize payouts, or deny legitimate claims entirely.
Insurance is big business in the United States – and it produces a lot of profit. In fact, in 2020, many insurers experienced record profits. These companies use teams of adjusters and lawyers to minimize or deny all types of claims, from property damage to disability and health care to life insurance claims. An experienced Louisiana insurance claims attorney can work with you to ensure that you get paid the money that you are owed for your losses.
Working with a lawyer helps to level the playing field, allowing you to fight for the coverage that you paid for when you purchased your policy. It can also relieve some of the stress of dealing with the insurance company during a difficult time in your life. At My Insurance Case, we advocate for our client’s rights to full compensation for their insurance claim.
Types of Insurance Claims
Our law firm handles all types of insurance claims, including:
We also represent clients in insurance bad faith matters, filing lawsuits against Louisiana insurance companies who wrongfully deny, delay, or minimize insurance claims. Louisiana law imposes a duty of good faith and fair dealing on insurers when it comes to policyholders. When insurance companies violate that duty – such as by wrongfully denying a property damage claim – they may be liable for any damages that result.
A Louisiana insurance claims attorney can help policyholders with filing the initial claim to increase the likelihood of a successful application for coverage. In most cases, however, policyholders hire a lawyer after the insurance company denies, delays, or undervalues their claim. Your attorney will analyze your insurance policy, evaluate the facts of your case, and negotiate a favorable outcome on your behalf.
Why You May Need a Lawyer
Insurance companies make billions of dollars in profit each year. For example, in 2020 alone, State Farm recorded $3.7 billion in profit. In that same year, Allstate reported $5.58 billion in profit.
Insurance is a lucrative business, and it becomes even more profitable when insurers don’t pay full value for claims. Insurance companies make money when they refuse to properly pay according to the terms of the policy. They often get away with this because insurance carriers know that most policyholders won’t challenge them.
If you are involved in a dispute with your insurance company – whether it is over a health insurance claim, a disability benefits matter, a life insurance claim, a property insurance issue, or a commercial policy claim – you have certain legal rights. Under Louisiana law, insurance companies owe policyholders a duty of good faith and fair dealing. If they violate this requirement in some way, then a Louisiana insurance claims lawyer can help you hold them responsible.
Insurers use a number of tactics that violate the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, such as:
- Imposing unnecessary delays in processing your claim;
- Requiring documentation or other requirements to process your claim, even when not mandated in your policy;
- Undervaluing the amount of your claim;
- Refusing to pay the covered losses in full;
- Denying a legitimate claim; or
- Refusing to pay for a covered loss.
If you find yourself battling with your insurance company over coverage, then you may need a lawyer to help you get the money that you are owed under your policy. Your attorney will carefully analyze your insurance policy to determine your legal rights and obligations. From there, they will reach out to the insurance company to seek full coverage for your losses.
In many cases, a Louisiana insurance claims attorney will be able to negotiate a settlement that meets your needs – including a full payment under the terms of your policy. If the insurance company refuses to offer you a fair amount for your claim, then it may be necessary to file a lawsuit to protect your legal rights.
When to Hire an Insurance Lawyer
In Louisiana, there are specific statutes of limitations that cover all types of legal matters. A statute of limitations is the time period in which you have to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file a legal action within that time frame, then it will be barred.
The statute of limitations is different for various types of claims. For example, a lawsuit for most personal injury or property damage claims must be filed within one year of the date of the accident. The statute of limitations for insurance bad faith claims is ten years.
Because of these strict time limits, it is important to reach out to a Louisiana insurance claims attorney as soon as possible after learning that your insurance company may attempt to delay, undervalue, or deny your claim. While many insurance matters aren’t resolved by a lawsuit, talking to a lawyer early on ensures that you will still have the option to file if you cannot come to an agreement on your claim.
At the same time, working with an insurance lawyer soon after a covered loss can help to make sure that the evidence that you need to support your claim is available. Over time, memories fade and evidence is lost. A skilled attorney can work with you to gather and preserve the evidence that you need to get your claim covered by the insurance company.
Fighting with Your Insurance Company? We Can Help
After you experience a loss – whether to your property, your loved one, or another type of loss – you don’t want to have your life taken over by the insurance claims process. If the insurance company refuses to pay you in accordance with your policy, then a Louisiana insurance claims attorney will fight for your rights.
From our law office in Metairie, the My Insurance Case Firm works hard to help Lousianans get the money that they deserve for their insurance claims. For each case, our goal is to make sure that our clients are paid in full for their property damage, commercial insurance, life insurance, disability, and health insurance claims. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with a Louisiana insurance claim attorney, give us a call at 866-970-0977 or fill out our online contact form.
