Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law has successfully represented clients against insurance companies for decades. When you choose our firm, you get the benefit of:
- A founder who spent over two decades as a judge
- Seasoned attorneys with decades of experience
- Three Texas Board-Certified attorneys
- A firm that has recovered $1 billion for clients
- 24/7 access to professionals who care
- A free initial consultation.
You also get a no-fee guarantee when we take your case, meaning you only pay attorney’s fees if you win.
When Insurance Companies Are Bad Actors
Hurricanes unleash immeasurable forces on land, leading to billions of dollars in destruction, serious injuries, and, invariably, loss of life. Victims want nothing more than to start putting their lives back together after a hurricane, but they are sometimes stymied by insurance companies that unjustifiably deny or delay their claims. Our hurricane damage attorneys can help.
At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we represent clients in search of policy payouts they are owed. Our experience in handling insurance company tactics makes us a formidable advocate for our clients, and we are ready to represent you.
Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free hurricane damage claim consultation.
What Happens If a Hurricane Insurance Claim Is Denied?
Storms in Texas have been increasing in intensity over the past years, which has directly translated into more property damage, injuries, and death. Hurricane victims — and those of other types of storms — need timely and just compensation now, more than ever.
Unfortunately, hurricane claim denials are not uncommon; neither are those for other storm-related claims, such as claims based on hail or flood damage.
What happens if a hurricane insurance claim is denied? Fortunately, denial is not always the end of the story for hurricane victims. If you have experienced hurricane damage and have had your claim denied or reduced, you may still be entitled to a policy payout.
When you receive a denial, the insurance company handling your claim must give you a reasonable explanation in writing for denying your claim. It is a part of their duty to act reasonably and in good faith toward their policyholders. If they do not, then they may be on the hook for certain damages.
Upon receiving a denial or a low offer, you have the right to file an appeal. If the insurance company has sent you any paperwork to sign, do not sign anything that states you agree with the reasons for the denial or lower payment.
Additionally, do not cash any check or receive or spend any funds given to you by the insurance company. Doing either of these could effectively end your claim for just compensation.
If your appeal fails or yields an unsatisfactory award, you may be able to recover what you are owed through a bad faith claim and lawsuit against the insurance company handling your claim.
To get optimal results, speaking to a hurricane claim attorney is recommended after your claim is denied but before proceeding with further action. You can schedule a free consultation and have an insurance lawyer review your claim and give you a fair evaluation.
Filing a Bad Faith Insurance Claim Lawsuit
A Houston Hurricane Claim Attorney Can Help You Recover What Is Rightfully Yours
Insurance companies are required to follow certain standards when handling customers’ claims. They must transact business fairly and in good faith, which means they must honor their agreements without unnecessary delay or hassle. Failure to do so opens them up to liability for a “first party” bad faith insurance claim lawsuit.
In Texas, suing an insurance company for bad faith dealings will require your hurricane damage attorney to prove that the insurance company knowingly acted unreasonably in its conduct toward you during the claims process. Your Houston hurricane claim denied attorney would accomplish this by presenting evidence of the company’s bad faith actions.
Bad Faith Actions
Bad faith is a general term that describes various actions demonstrating that an insurance company is failing to keep its promises. Common bad faith actions in insurance claims include:
- Failure to acknowledge receiving a claim
- Failure to investigate a claim diligently
- Attempting to pay less than what the claimant is owed without justification
- Failing to notify the claimant of material policy alterations
- Failing to settle a claim within a reasonable time
- Making unnecessary document requests of a claimant
- Providing no explanation for denying a claim
- Making unreasonable, false accusations against the claimant
- Using threats or aggression to achieve their goals
- Recommending that a claimant forgo the services of a hurricane claims attorney.
Essentially, bad faith is any action willfully undertaken by the insurer to thwart a claimant’s efforts to promptly realize the full value of their claim.
Damages
Unreasonably denied claims and delayed payments lead to more losses for hurricane victims and victims of other natural disasters. Whether your home was damaged or destroyed by a hurricane, hail, or a flood, you will likely incur more losses from an insurance company’s bad faith actions.
Examples of recoverable losses may include:
- An award of up to three times the amount of the claim, if paid properly
- Court fees and costs, attorney’s fees, and similar expenses
- Mental anguish
- Punitive damages in cases of especially egregious or malicious and willful behavior.
The insurance company may also have to pay statutorily mandated penalties calculated as interest on the delayed payments. Generally speaking, the more reprehensible the company’s conduct, the more damages you will likely receive.
How a Seasoned Hurricane Damage Attorney Can Help You
An Experienced Hurricane Claim Attorney Can Negotiate a Just Settlement for You
Successful denial-of-claim cases do not always end up at trial. From the time your hurricane damage attorney files the suit — and throughout the pre-trial stage — they will be engaged in negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf.
Experience plays a big role here. Familiarity with the process and intimate knowledge of insurance-company tactics help seasoned hurricane insurance lawyers negotiate just settlements and avoid trial. This means a faster settlement for you.
With that being said, many instances require hurricane insurance lawyers to take the case to trial. If the insurance company makes an insufficient offer or refuses to settle, your advocate will be ready — although resolving the case before trial is often the optimal outcome.
An experienced hurricane insurance lawyer will also handle the somewhat complex procedure involved in prosecuting a bad faith claim. All paperwork, filings, and appearances will be your lawyer’s responsibility, so you do not have to worry about missing deadlines or filling out paperwork.
Why Choose Us to Help with Your Denied Hurricane Damage Claim?
Our Hurricane Insurance Lawyers Fight for the Resources You Need
Money cannot bring back all of the things you lost, but it can help you rebuild. Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law takes hurricane damage denied claims seriously, because the stakes are so high.
Over the years, we have fought hard to earn a reputation for caring about our clients and going to great lengths to get them the compensation they deserve. Our lawyers have won victories that have helped our clients rebuild their lives.
Choosing Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law means choosing a firm with:
- A distinguished track record of winning over $1 billion in compensation
- A founder who is a former judge
- Board-certified attorneys ready to fight for you
- 35+ years serving Houston and other communities in the state
- Numerous awards and accolades
- Strong ties to the community
- A reputation for caring and going above and beyond.
To schedule a free consultation with a denied hurricane damage claim lawyer in Houston, call (713) 973-8888 today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Insurance issues arising from the claims process can sometimes be complex. If you have questions surrounding bad faith insurance and denied hurricane insurance claims, feel free to keep reading for answers to some of the most common questions relating to this topic.
Bad faith insurance claims are subject to a statute of limitations of two years from the date of the deceptive act. However, the time limit can be extended if your hurricane damage attorney can prove that the insurance company attempted to dissuade or delay you from filing the lawsuit. *Always speak directly to an attorney for the exact deadlines that apply to your potential claim(s).
Because of the statute of limitations and other considerations, it is important to hire a hurricane damage claim denied lawyer as soon as possible after a denial. In some instances, it is a good idea to seek legal help during the initial claims process and before a denial, most notably in cases when the insurance company is engaging in one or more bad faith activities.
In addition to bad faith, there are numerous other, valid reasons why a hurricane damage insurance claim may be denied, such as:
- Failure to pay premiums in a timely manner
- Failure to file a claim in a timely manner
- Failure to provide complete documentation for damages
- Exclusion clauses in your policy.
With that being said, if you have a claim denied for any of the reasons above or any other reason, you might consider speaking with a hurricane damage claim denied lawyer to evaluate your case. Your claim may still be worth pursuing, and you may still be entitled to a payout.
When you contract the services of a Houston hurricane claim denied attorney, they will likely take your case on a contingency basis. This means you owe nothing upfront as they represent you in your lawsuit. When the case is resolved, your attorney’s fees will be drawn from the settlement or verdict.
If the case goes to trial and you receive a positive verdict, it is common that you will also receive an award for attorney fees, which means your final payout will be higher.
Also subtracted from your award — be it a settlement or a verdict — will be court costs and attorney expenses related to the lawsuit, such as medical and police report gathering and investigator and disaster-site inspection services.
It is not possible to give a timetable for bad faith claims. Each case is different and follows a unique trajectory with its own timing. Generally speaking, if your Houston hurricane claim denied attorney settles matters before going to trial, the process could take months instead of years.
Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law understands the overwhelming stress hurricanes bring and the need for financial resources. As a policyholder who has paid the premiums, you deserve to have the terms of your insurance contract honored in a timely manner.
Sadly, many storm claims — from hurricanes to hail claims — face difficulties requiring extra time to resolve.
If you still have questions about denied claims, give us a call at our office and an experienced hurricane claim attorney can set up a free consultation to provide you with the answers you need.
Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law Fights Hard to Hold Insurance Companies Accountable
Our Hurricane Insurance Lawyers Can Help You Get the Relief You Need
The losses you suffer during a hurricane can be devastating. The last thing you need is an insurance company unjustifiably denying your claim or holding up your payments. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we hold insurance companies to their contracts and fight hard to get our clients the payouts they deserve when they need them the most.
If an insurance company is preventing you from putting your life back together, you do not have to stand for it. Let Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law put years of successful experience to work for you. Call our office today at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 for a free consultation to discuss your hurricane damage claim.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
