With hurricane season in full effect, residents are feeling its wrath as hurricane Beryl has made landfall in Texas and along the Gulf Coast, affecting people across the state including Houston and the nearby cities of Sugar Land and The Woodlands.
Texas homeowners are no strangers to major hurricanes and the damage that can result from these storms, including flooding, potential tornadoes, and damaging winds. Most Texans have homeowner’s insurance policies or separate hurricane insurance policies that cover water damage, wind damage, and other property losses that can occur from a major tropical storm such as Beryl.
Policyholders may have legal options if they are having difficulty getting compensation for damages that were caused by Hurricane Beryl and should be covered under their insurance policies. Skilled attorneys, such as those at the law offices of Florin|Roebig, can assist in holding the insurance company accountable so that you receive rightful compensation after the hurricane.
What Are Your Options If Your Home Is Affected By Hurricane Beryl?
Texas insurance codes give people living in the state up to two years to file a hurricane claim, depending on your insurance company. It is important to know the time limits within your policy and to file your insurance claim as quickly as possible in Hurricane Beryl’s aftermath. Doing so gives you plenty of time to fight for compensation should you end up in an insurance dispute.
If your property is covered under your insurance policy, you should not have an issue getting compensated after Hurricane Beryl. However, insurance companies sometimes act in bad faith, refusing to pay for damage that should be covered under a policy.
In these cases, you may need to hire an experienced attorney, who will advocate for your needs with your insurance company, holding them accountable for the money they owe you.
What Damages Can A Hurricane Or Tropical Storm Cause?
Hurricane Beryl’s heavy rains, damaging storm surge, and strong winds have left major damage across much of the eastern region of the state of Texas, causing Acting Governor Dan Patrick to add 81 counties to the state’s Hurricane Beryl Disaster Declaration.
As you begin the claims process after sustaining property damage in this major storm, you might be wondering what types of losses can be covered after a hurricane.
Some of the most common types of damage that occur in hurricanes include:
- Water and flood damage: Hurricane Beryl’s heavy rains and storm surge have left entire areas underwater. Most hurricane insurance policies include flood insurance to cover damage that occurs during high water.
- Wind damage: Hurricane-force winds can cause extensive damage, uprooting trees, shearing off paneling and roofing, and causing large items to fly into and collide with valuable property. As a Category 1 storm, Beryl’s wind speeds were expected at a dangerous 74-95 mph.
- Hurricane storm damage: Hurricanes can cause damage to property in many ways, including tornadoes that may happen alongside the storm, flying debris, mold damage after the water recedes, and more.
Hurricanes can damage just about every aspect of a home, from the foundation to the roof, windows, interior finish work, fencing, and more.
If your home has been damaged in Hurricane Beryl and you have insurance that covers the damage, you need to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Don’t let insurance adjusters cheat you out of money they owe you. Contact Florin|Roebig today to hold your insurance company accountable.
How Did Hurricane Beryl Affect Different Areas Of Texas?
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the coast of Texas on July 8, 2024, and caused major damage across many communities, including at least two deaths. Find more information below on how the storm affected cities in Texas.
Before the storm’s landfall, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had sent resources to Texas including personnel and supplies to assist storm victims. FEMA urged residents to stay aware and mobilized the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to aid with emergency power needs to critical public facilities.
As the hurricane brought heavy winds, torrential rain, and flooding, nearly 2 million Texans lost power and began to sustain property damage to their homes. Within hours after Beryl came ashore as a Category 1 hurricane, it had weakened into a tropical storm and continued to dump 5+ inches of rain in many areas.
Strong winds caused downed power lines, uprooted trees, and caused flying debris in many areas. This damage was also seen across Houston-area neighborhoods where homes were left without power and residents worried the contents of their refrigerators would be lost.
What To Do If Your Insurance Claim Is Denied After A Hurricane
Even though storms like Beryl are precisely why many people purchase property insurance, including hurricane insurance, some insurance companies attempt to exploit customers during crises like this and refuse to cover damages.
If your insurance company denies your claim after Beryl, you still have options. A skilled attorney can assess your case and assist you in determining if you have legitimate grounds to seek reimbursement from the insurance company.
After large storms like Beryl, insurance companies often look for any reason to deny claims because they are experiencing an “insurance crisis”, or a period of overwhelming numbers of claims. By hiring an attorney, like the experienced lawyers at Florin|Roebig, you can guarantee that any compensation you are legally owed will be paid out by the insurance provider.
Your lawyer will first attempt to settle your case out of court, meaning the insurance company agrees to pay you the money you are owed. If they still won’t pay, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit and take the case to court, where your attorney will attempt to explain to a judge why you should be compensated for damages your property suffered in the storm.
How Can A Hurricane Damage Lawyer Help?
Hurricane damage lawyers are trained to help people who have had their claims denied or are experiencing trouble with their insurance companies.
Stop Attempts To Reduce Your Payout
After a storm like Hurricane Beryl, insurance companies may attempt to take advantage of policyholders by offering lowball settlements or seeking ways to decrease payouts. Identifying when your insurance company is trying to unfairly reduce your payout offer can be challenging. Hiring a hurricane damage attorney can help. They can review your claim and confront the insurance company to ensure they are paying the full amount they are obligated to.
Ensure Your Claim Is Not Delayed
A lot of people have filed property insurance claims after Hurricane Beryl, and insurance companies might be struggling to keep up with the claims. One tactic they could use is to intentionally delay your claim.
A hurricane damage lawyer will represent you and hold your insurance company accountable, making sure they don’t delay your claims process and that you receive payment as quickly as possible so you can make necessary repairs.
Challenge Denied Claims
If your claim has been denied after Hurricane Beryl, an insurance claims attorney might be able to help you. Many claims have been denied in Texas because insurers say that you must have separate flood insurance. In some cases, this is not a legitimate reason for claim denial. Contact an insurance claims attorney to fight a denied claim and get the payout you deserve.
Get Help From A Qualified Insurance Claims Attorney
Insurance premiums are expensive, and you deserve to have your insurance company uphold their side of the contract. After a major storm like Beryl, the last thing you want to deal with is a hassle with your insurance company. The attorneys at Florin|Roebig are here to help if your home or property has been damaged in Hurricane Beryl and your insurance is refusing to pay.
Call us today for a free consultation, where we can help you determine whether you have a case against your insurance company and if pursuing legal action is the right thing to do.