Hurricane Damage Lawyers in McAllen Helping Clients Receive Rightful Compensation For Property Damage

Hurricanes carry with them destructive power capable of destroying infrastructure and disrupting our daily routines for a prolonged period of time. Most of us who live in areas where hurricanes are a threat feel some degree of comfort knowing that we have homeowner’s insurance that can help us recover from a natural disaster such as a hurricane.

Nevertheless, many policyholders do not realize that to fully protect their home and personal possessions, they will need a separate policy for flood insurance. Hurricane-force winds and rains bring with them the high potential to cause flooding and other serious issues with water damage.

If you have suffered the disastrous effects of a hurricane on your home or property and are having issues with the insurance company not wanting to pay your claim, contact the law firm of Flores & Pelaez-Prada PLLC by calling us at 855-STORMS-4 and scheduling a free consultation with one of our attorneys. We can review your claim and make a determination as to how to best proceed in order to recover the money that is owed to you by the insurance company.

What Should I Do to Prepare Before a Hurricane Strikes in McAllen, TX?

Typically, before a hurricane strikes an area such as McAllen, Texas, residents have ample time to prepare and secure their property by boarding up windows, collecting necessary supplies, and making certain that their yard and other areas are free from items that might later become flying debris.

Review Your Insurance Policies: One extremely critical step that many property owners often forget to do is look over their insurance policy before the storm strikes. This is an important step to remember as there is often legal language included in the policy that can be difficult to understand on your own. Insurance companies do not care that you do not understand all of the technical language that they have written into their policies. Therefore, it is critical that you consult with a knowledgeable attorney who can review your policy and explain your coverage in terms that are easy to understand.

Take an Inventory of Your Property and Valuables: Before the storm strikes, it is always a good idea to make a complete inventory of your property and valuables. Be sure to have a complete written inventory stored in a safe place that will guard against potentially being destroyed. Also, it is highly recommended that you take pictures and/or videos to document the state of your property as well as your possessions beforehand. This will make it much easier for you if it becomes necessary to submit a claim to the insurer should a hurricane affect your home or property.

Do I Need to Have Flood Insurance in Case of a Hurricane in McAllen, TX?

Regrettably, many property owners do not realize that flood damage is not covered under their standard homeowner’s insurance policy. Hurricanes invariably bring with them heavy rains and winds that are capable of causing serious issues with flooding. Flood water can uproot trees and damage or destroy your home’s interior and foundation.

In most instances, flood insurance is a separate policy that has to be purchased as a companion to your standard homeowner’s insurance policy. You should understand that when purchasing flood insurance, there is typically a 30-day waiting period before the coverage goes into effect.

One of the worst things that a property owner can do is wait until a hurricane is approaching to purchase this essential coverage. In doing so, you run the risk of your property not being covered should flooding occur. This, in turn, will cause you to have to pay out of your own pocket for any of the damages or losses that you may suffer due to flooding.

What Do I Need to Do If My Property Suffers Damage From the Hurricane?

Minimize the Damage: If a hurricane does damage your home or property, the first thing that you need to do is make sure that all conditions, both outside and inside, are safe for you and your family. Next, take any reasonable steps necessary to minimize any further loss from occurring. You should not attempt to permanently fix the damage yourself, as the claims adjuster will need to see the extent of the damage for themselves.
Minimizing damage included covering up broken windows, tarping a roof (if safe to do so), and making sure that water is not leaking into your home. Being proactive and mitigating possible future damage is one of the best things that you can do to avoid the insurance company trying to blame you for causing some of the damage.

File Your Claim Immediately: After hurricanes strike, insurance companies are customarily overrun with claims and calls and, as a result, may set deadlines for policyholders to file a claim. This is why it is best to file a claim as soon as possible. This also gives you the added advantage of having your damages taken care of in a timely manner and can eliminate the risk of them becoming worse over time.
Before you submit your hurricane damage claim, you need to have a knowledgeable attorney review it to be certain there are no errors in the paperwork and that it has been properly completed and ready to go.

Be certain to keep an accurate running log of all of the interactions that you have with the insurance company, adjuster, and anyone else connected with processing your claim. This can help you avoid your insurer acting in bad faith in regard to your claim.

Contact Flores & Pelaez-Prada PLLC Today

The attorneys at Flores & Pelaez-Prada PLLC are always happy to review your claim and answer any legal questions that you may have. Call us at 855-STORMS-4 and schedule a free consultation. We look forward to working with you.