Insurance claims can be very complicated and confusing to deal with, and during the aftermath of such a large disaster as Hurricane Harvey, filing can be even more so. The lawyers at Carabin Shaw in Victoria know how you and your family are feeling right now. Many victims of the hurricane lost their homes to damage and destruction, but this doesn’t mean you have to be financially ruined forever. Our legal team is here to help give you more information on what steps to take when filing a Victoria Hurricane Harvey insurance claim. We want to try to make this process as simple and straightforward as possible so that you and your family don’t have to worry.
The first thing you’ll want to do is contact your insurance company. It may be somewhat hard to get through to the right person because of the volume of calls they are getting, so make sure you note who you speak with and everything that was discussed. If you’re unsure about what you’re covered for in your specific policy, this is a great time to ask.
Unfortunately, many Hurricane Harvey victims in Victoria will discover that they aren’t actually covered for flood damage by their private insurance. However, if this flood damage was caused by the lack of a roof or a hole in the wall, you may be covered under wind damage. If you speak with your insurance agent and are still not sure whether you’re covered or not, you can easily contact a Victoria hurricane insurance claims lawyer to help you understand your policy and what kind of coverage you have.
Because of the large amount of claims that are coming in, the insurance company may find it difficult to send someone out to your property to assess the damage and get photographic evidence. It may take weeks or even months. If you have already started to clean some of the debris or throw away damaged property, the insurance agent might claim that it never existed, and therefore won’t be covered. However, you and your family can combat this by taking very detailed photographs of your property damage. Be sure to get every dent and scratch, no matter how small. If you don’t have access to a camera, or are unsure what to photograph, one of our attorneys can go out to your property to help you collect evidence of your damage for your Victoria Hurricane Harvey insurance claim.
Besides taking photos and documenting damage, it is also important for you to keep records of all purchases made that may have been due to the hurricane. This includes receipts for all purchases made to clean and repair damaged property, as well as purchases made while evacuating, such as travel, gas, and hotel costs. All of these purchases may be covered under your policy. The more evidence and detailed records you keep, the harder it will be for an insurance company to dispute your claim. Many insurance companies are trying to pay as little as possible to their clients because of the amount of clients affected by the hurricane. The lawyers at Carabin Shaw in Victoria can help fight the insurance company to make sure you are getting your full amount of compensation.
As tempting as it may be, it is also best to refrain from doing too much cleaning and repair work before you can gather evidence. The more you document and the more you can give to the insurance company, the easier it will be to get the compensation you need. If you begin to clear the debris and make significant repairs on your home that remove physical evidence of the damage, insurance companies may deny your claim. That is why it is very important that several photos are taken and all lost or damaged items or listed clearly and precisely.
Filing a Victoria Hurricane Harvey insurance claim may seem like a daunting task without all the extra legwork required to collect evidence and keep documentation added on to it. The attorneys at Carabin Shaw in Victoria can help you each and every step of the way. Our lawyers will not only make sure that your records will stay organized and detailed, we will also make sure you are being treated fairly by your insurer and getting the correct amount of compensation you are owed for all damages.
Call us today for a free consultation, and one of our dedicated lawyers can get to work on your Victoria hurricane claim as soon as possible. There is no reason this destruction and confusion should keep you from getting back to your life. Contact our offices today at 361.485.1400 or toll-free at 1.800.682.1260.