Houston Trial Lawyer Blog : Houston Business Litigation Lawyer & Attorney : Arnold & Itkin Law Firm : Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Accident Claims

The amount of Hurricane Ike insurance lawsuits continues to snowball as insurance companies deny and delay claims to storm victims. The deadline for filing has been set for June 8th.

Last week alone, 14 insurance lawsuits were filed in Jefferson County against insurance companies who, victims say, are forcing people to struggle for relief. The week before that, six lawsuits were filed. According to one report, an Orange County couple was shocked when their insurance company denied their Ike claims. Their home was severely damaged, including a cracked foundation and holes in the roof, making it unsafe to live in. That is only one of the many cases. Across southeast Texas, victims whose homes were damaged when Ike hit were forced to hire insurance attorneys to recover the claims they are rightfully entitled to. The Federal Emergency Management Agency set the deadline for insurance lawsuits to be filed for June 8th.

Meanwhile, it appears houses of God have not been spared claims denials either. Seven churches filed insurance lawsuits in Galveston accusing Texas Windstorm Insurance Association of not paying the full amount of their individual claims. The churches include Jerusalem Baptist Church, Live Oak Missionary, Macedonia Missionary, Mt. Calvary, Progressive Missionary, St. John Missionary, and St. Luke Missionary. The churches, who all filed separate lawsuits, are included in more than 50 such lawsuits that were filed in State District Court in Galveston. Since Ike struck in September, there have been 160 hurricane lawsuits filed in Texas.

Insurance attorneys often see the numbers of frustrated policyholders rise a few months after a hurricane hits, and people begin to get anxious about their payouts. Unfortunately, for many insurers, delaying or denying claims is business as usual, and concerned policyholders pay the price in physical discomfort, mental anguish, and financial burden.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, power outages left small business owners at the mercy of swamped insurance companies, unsure if their much-needed claims would be approved.

On October 10th, 2008, the Houston Chronicle reported small business owners Scott Spencer, the owner of a wine shop, and Patty Larkin, the owner of Pattywhacks and Co., were still waiting to hear from their insurance companies after 4 weeks of post-hurricane stress. Spencer lost power for four days after the hurricane and $8,000 in daily sales; he has business insurance, but heard from others that "power outages aren't covered under business interruption coverage." Larkin's store was closed for 12 days costing her an estimated $10,000 in sales and after her insurance company told her the loss would not be covered and then backtracked saying it might be covered, she still awaited a final decision.

Where homeowners insurance typically provides the same coverage for everyone, business insurance is much more convoluted. In addition to finding a way to make up for lost revenue, small business owners like Spencer and Larkin had to learn the ins and outs of business insurance and how to deal with their insurance agents. Business interruption coverage protects companies in the event of a disaster or other circumstance that stops normal business, but only if the damage resulting in the halt is covered in the policy, like wind or flood, for example. Also, most small businesses don't have insurance for loss of market, which refers to a loss in revenue due to regular customers moving out of the area or to another company offering similar products or services, simply because they are open. These are only a couple of examples of the complications and nuances inherent in hurricane insurance claims.

Insurers are required to accept or deny claims within a stipulated period of time and, if they intend to deny a claim, must notify the policy holder of the reason for denying the claim. If the insurer is unable to determine whether a claim will be accepted or denied they must inform the policy holder of their need for additional time.

Hurricane Insurance Litigation

Figuring out how to approach insurance malpractice and pursuing hurricane claims against big insurance companies can be frustrating and intimidating. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, our attorneys have years of experience and expertise litigating successful insurance malpractice lawsuits against some of the biggest insurance companies in the nation.

If you or a loved one has been denied rightful claims by an insurer, contact an insurance attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free consultation.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

One month after Hurricane Ike cut a destructive swath through southeast Texas leaving more than an estimated $11 billion in insured damages, the impact of the storm is still apparent.  Here are some statistics as reported by the Houston Chronicle, from sources including FEMA, US Army Corps of Engineers, American Red Cross, and local government officials:

• Almost 688,000 households in 29 Hurricane Ike-stricken counties who have applied for state or federal assistance
• $186 million-plus Federal Emergency Management Agency funds approved for housing and other emergency needs
• $45 million is the sum expended by Houston chapter of the American Red Cross in Ike-related relief
• 36 deaths of Houston-Galveston area residents because of Hurricane Ike
• 134 names remaining on list of missing persons
• 14,650 CenterPoint Energy customers still without power, mostly in Galveston
• $30 million in Small Business Administration disaster loans
• 308 homes and buildings destroyed in Galveston

If you have been impacted by Hurricane Ike and you are experiencing difficulties getting a hurricane damage insurance claim settled fairly by your insurance company, you may be entitled to compensation. Don't be bullied by unfair insurance settlement practices. Get help from a qualified hurricane insurance claims lawyer today.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Nearly a month after Hurricane Ike hit the Houston-Galveston area, most of the area's residents have returned to a nearly normal life.  But for many whose homes or business property were damaged by the storm, the stress and complications of dealing with unfair insurance practices are still taking their toll.  The Texas Business Lawyers of Arnold & Itkin LLP have published information to help business and homeowners understand their rights and options in the hurricane insurance claims process.

Texas law defines certain rights of the insured and duties and deadlines for the insurer. Read about Texas insurance laws and requirements for prompt payment of insurance claims, and about other duties and deadlines imposed on insurers at Arnold & Itkin LLP.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link