Houston Insurance Attorneys
Fight Against Claim Denial, Delay, and Underpayment
Houston Insurance Attorneys
Broker Liability
Business Interruption Claims
Commercial Bad Faith Insurance
Insurance Coverage Disputes
Property Damage & Loss
Shareholder & Partnership Disputes
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Houston Insurance Attorneys
Legal Representation for Filing an Insurance Claim in Texas
At Hawash Cicack & Gaston LLP, our Houston insurance claim lawyers help business owners involved in complicated disputes with insurance companies recover the compensation they are entitled to under their insurance policies. With decades of collective experience representing parties in a wide variety of insurance claims, you can trust our dedicated legal team possesses the skills to defend against bad faith insurance practices. Whether you are dealing with financial losses arising from a natural disaster or another type of catastrophic event, we will gladly use our extensive resources to fight to protect your investment.
On This Page
- \What is an Attorney's Role in Your Case?
- \Types of Claims We Handle
- \Why Do Insurance Companies Deny Claims?
- \Bad Faith Insurance Tactics
- \Complex Insurance Cases for Businesses
- \Frequently Asked Questions
Call (713) 589-7249 to learn more about how our team can help you!
What is an Insurance Claim Attorney’s Role in Your Case?
You have personal matters to attend to each day. Adding the hassle of a dispute with an insurance company to everything might be overwhelming. If you hire our Houston insurance lawyers, you can leave us in charge of all aspects of your case. Indeed, our role as your legal representatives will be to move your insurance claim forward smoothly, so you do not need to even think about it while you take care of your family, business, career, and so on.
Our attorneys can help with your insurance claim or lawsuit by:
- \Reviewing your insurance policy for any unnoticed details that could be relevant to your case.
- \Appraising your damages with the assistance of a third-party insurance appraiser if necessary.
- \Preparing your claim and filing it with the insurance company in a timely manner.
- \Responding to any inquiries or claim denials.
- \Negotiating for an insurance claim settlement to avoid any more delays.
- \Litigating for you in court if the insurance company will not settle.
Types of Insurance Claims We Handle
Having extensive experience representing business litigation matters, our Houston insurance claim lawyers understand that a denied insurance claim can have devastating financial effects when your business or residential properties require urgent repair. Reach out to our Houston insurance claim attorneys today if you need legal guidance regarding any of the following claims:
- \Broker Liability
- \Commercial Property
- \Hail Damage
- \Hurricane & Tornado Damage
- \Property Damage & Loss
- \Vandalism and Theft
- \Business Interruption Claims
- \Fire Damage
- \Homeowners Insurance
- \Insurance Coverage Disputes
- \Wind & Storm Damage
Why Do Insurance Companies Deny Claims?
Although you might expect your insurance company to act in good faith and honor the contract you signed, insurers often deny claims submitted by policyholders without any explanation. Denying or delaying payment on a claim helps them make more money, which is why they will often use various tactics to mitigate their losses, such as making a settlement offer that is far less than the actual value of the claim.
From undervaluing property loss to applying alleged exclusions, we have seen insurance companies use all sorts of devious methods to avoid honoring valid claims.
Complex Insurance Cases for Businesses
Business insurance is a smart investment for people who own businesses of all sizes and types. From mom-and-pop shops to multinational corporations, every business should look into insurance policies available to it. Notably, insurance policies that cover operational costs during an unexpected company freeze or gridlock are incredibly important.
During the coronavirus pandemic, countless businesses big and small fought with insurance providers when trying to use such business interruption policies, though. To make sure that your business and the insurance you purchased for it are respected by the insurer, you should work with our Houston insurance attorneys immediately when starting a claim.
Thanks to our extensive backgrounds as business lawyers and commercial litigation attorneys, we can offer additional insight into all regulated and legal processes when you file a business insurance claim.
Bad Faith Insurance Tactics
When dealing with an insurance company, you need to keep the risk of encountering bad faith insurance tactics in the back of your mind. Essentially, if an insurer mishandles or disrespects your claim intentionally, then bad faith insurance has occurred. Knowing what bad faith insurance looks like before you ever speak to an insurance company to start a claim can help protect you from falling victim to it.
Four of the most common bad faith insurance strategies include:
- \Undervaluing: The insurance company will assess the damages involved in your claim – such as damage to your home after a storm or your vehicle after a crash – and calculate how much money will be required to cover those damages. Yet, instead of reporting that amount in the findings, the insurance adjuster will report a lower amount and hope the claimant accepts it.
- \Delaying for the sake of delaying: Insurance claims can take a while to process and finish. What is important is that the insurance company does its best to progress a claim without unnecessary delays. If an insurer intentionally waits until the last minute to take the next step in a claim, then it could be bad faith insurance.
- \Refusing to investigate: When a claimant reports damage to their property or business that should allow for repayment or coverage through the insurance policy, the insurance company must make an appropriate effort to investigate it. Refusing to investigate a policy is bad faith insurance, even if the company seems to be offering a fair amount of coverage.
- \Using one-sided contracts: It is not just deceitful for an insurance company to create policies that heavily favor it and not the policyholder, it might also be unlawful. No clause in your insurance policy should require you to complete unreasonable prerequisites or be ridiculously limiting.
Insurance Claim FAQ
Should you contact the insurance company first to file a claim?Can commercial litigation be avoided?
Yes, when you have an insurance claim to file, whether it involves your car, business, medical treatments, or anything else, the first thing you should do is contact your insurance company. You should be able to assume that they will investigate the claim fairly and help you. If you have not even spoken to your insurer about your claim yet, then there is not much our legal team can do to help.
How do you know you should hire an insurance claim lawyer?
During any interaction with your insurance company, including conversations you have in email or traditional paper mail, keep an eye open for any suspicious language or policies. The moment your claim is denied or you suspect that it might be mishandled by the insurer is the same moment you should call (713) 589-7249 to talk with our Houston insurance claim attorneys.
What happens if an insurance company refuses to pay a claim?
If an insurance company will not pay a claim, then it needs to have a good reason to deny it, as allowed by the terms of the insurance policy. If no such reason exists, then the insurer is likely committing bad faith insurance, which will mean it is time to speak with our firm.
What happens if you do not agree with the insurance company’s judgment?
When you take issue with the insurance company’s coverage offer or reason for denial, you will usually have the chance to file an appeal. This process is not as simple as saying that you disagree and want a better outcome. Appeals are usually far more complex than initial insurance filings, so you should only proceed with a lawyer’s counsel.
Which insurance company pays for shared property pieces like a fence between yards?
Did your neighbor’s tree land on your fence and break it? In this case, either your homeowner’s insurance company or that of your neighbor should cover the damage. Ideally, you will file a claim with your insurer, it will arrange to cover the damages, and then it will contact your neighbor’s insurance provider to demand compensation. If neither insurance company wants to take responsibility and pay for the fence to be repaired, then it could be time to call an insurance bad faith lawyer.
My policy seems to cover only some water damage – why?
Be mindful about what type of water damage is covered in your homeowner’s insurance policy. Most policies have major exclusions that are hidden in the fine print. For example, most policies will cover damage caused by a burst pipe but not by naturally occurring flooding, or vice versa. Insurance companies are picky about what water damage they cover because it makes it easier for them to deny certain claims.
What is a public adjuster?
In Texas, Public Adjusters (PAs) are insurance claim specialists who only represent policyholders during disputes. While they have important knowledge of insurance claims and values, they usually do not have any legal background or training, so the assistance that they can offer you will be limited. When you work with an insurance claims attorney, you get the best of both legal and insurance knowledge.
Discuss Your Property Insurance Claim with a Lawyer Today
When you choose Hawash Cicack & Gaston LLP to represent you, we will listen closely to your concerns so we can devise a strong legal strategy to protect your investment and recover the full amount you are entitled to. We know that insurance claim disputes can be frustrating, especially for business owners who lose revenue and brand awareness due to the financial losses suffered from business interruption. That is why we take great pride in providing our clients with effective representation as we help them pursue fair compensation.
To schedule an appointment with one of our insurance claims lawyers, please call (713) 589-7249 or contact us online
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Committed to Getting Your Claim Paid
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Lawyers with extensive experience & insight across a wide range of industries.
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A team who genuinely cares about finding you the best resolution.
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Responsive counsel with a track record of success.
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Accepts cases on contingent, hourly, or mixed-fee basis.