Insurance Property Claims: The Basics

What happens after I open a Hurricane or other property damage claim?

Once a claim is opened with your insurance company, they will typically schedule an adjuster to visit your property, photograph the damages, and collect other evidence of your loss. That adjuster will prepare an itemized estimate of your property repairs or replacements covered by the policy. Your insurance company will then use this information to determine whether or how much to pay for your claim.

Louisiana law requires that your insurance company “initiate claim adjustment” within 14 days, but this deadline is extended to 30 or even 60 days after certain catastrophic events like Hurricanes.

How long does my insurance company have to pay?

Property damage claims must be paid within 30 days of the insurance company receiving “satisfactory proof of loss”—the information the company needs to determine how much is owed under your policy.

For most property claims, the physical inspection of your home or business is enough to trigger this deadline.

What happens if my insurance company is late paying my claim or doesn’t pay fairly?

If your insurance company unreasonably fails to pay your claim within 30 days after it receives proof of loss, they may owe you a penalty of 50% of the amount they owed under the policy, as well as your attorney’s fees in pursuing a claim. If your company’s delay in paying you a fair amount also caused new damages, the penalty may increase to as much as double those damages.

If you believe your insurance company delayed or mishandled your Hurricane or other property claim, call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION!

YOU PAY NO FEES UNLESS WE WIN OR SETTLE YOUR CASE!