Looking for a Hurricane Attorney in New Orleans, LA?

Of course, the heavy rains and powerful winds during a hurricane are incredibly dangerous, and you’ll need to seek cover until the storm is over, no matter how worried you are about your property. But it’s easy to underestimate the safety issues that arise after a hurricane, like:

• Downed power lines
• Damaged gas lines
• Sharp or falling objects (including damaged trees or structures)
• Floodwaters (which may contain sewage, bacteria, animals, or sharp objects)

Before surveying your property for damage, make sure that it has been declared safe to go back to the area, and keep an eye out for potential safety hazards.

One of the best things you can do for yourself before filing a hurricane damage insurance claim is documenting the damage you find right away.

• Take clear pictures from multiple angles to clearly show the damage done
• Take a written inventory of everything you find, from damage to missing property

As you might expect, wind and water damage are a couple of the most common types of hurricane damage, and they can affect both the interior and exterior of the structure. Make sure to be thorough when looking the property over so you don’t miss anything.

As soon as you’re able to, it’s a good idea to cover or otherwise secure your property to prevent further damage from the elements or vandals. This might mean:

• Covering holes in the roof with tarps
• Pumping water out of the home to prevent mold
• Boarding up broken windows or doors

If you fail to take common sense precautions to protect your property from further damage after a hurricane, you might have trouble proving to your insurer what damage was caused by the storm and what happened afterwards. Even if you have an experienced hurricane attorney fighting your case by that point, the more you can do from the beginning to make your claim go smoothly, the better chance you have of seeing a quick and fair resolution.

In most cases, it makes sense to file an insurance claim for hurricane damage before enlisting the help of a hurricane attorney, unless you have reason to believe that the insurance company will refute your claim. The sooner you file your insurance claim the better, because:

• The details are still fresh in your mind (and hopefully, you have ample photos and written records to back them up)
• There’s less time for additional damage to occur
• The sooner you file a claim, the sooner you can rebuild with the damages you receive
• There might be a time limit after which you can no longer file

Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to file an insurance claim as soon as you have ample evidence to prove the damages you’ve incurred.

Unfortunately, insurance companies are in the business of making money, which means they don’t always have their customers’ best interests at heart – of course, this means that they’ll often do whatever they can to minimize the amount they pay out in insurance settlements. While you can certainly file a storm insurance claim without the help of a hurricane attorney, we highly recommend seeking counsel as soon as you suspect your insurer is going to try to avoid paying all or some of what’s owed to you.

Some signs this might be the case include:

• Disputing that you have coverage or what exactly your policy covers
• Lowballing you or refusing to pay
• Asking you to sign a release or sending a check that says “full payment”
• Refusal to negotiate (or when negotiations reach an impasse)
• Failing to pay within the 30-day timeframe required by law

The sooner you enlist the help of an experienced hurricane attorney, the better chance you have of reaching a fair settlement with your insurer. There are several laws in LA that protect policyholders from insurance companies acting in bad faith, but if you don’t have experience with the law and you’re up against a large insurance company, the idea of navigating the situation can be overwhelming.

NOLA Ready is an emergency preparedness campaign put together by the city of New Orleans, LA. The organization connects the people of New Orleans with emergency alerts, preparedness guides, and recovery resources after crises like Hurricane Ida.

Louisiana 211 Statewide Network is a service that operates 24/7 throughout the state of LA. Call them for information on health and human services available in your area. After hurricanes and other natural disasters, 211 can help you find resources like:

• Basic needs: Food, shelter, and clothing
• Health resources: Physical, mental, and emotional
• Support to help you get back on your feet: Employment opportunities, childcare resources, elder care
• And much more

211 services are also available for the hearing impared and non-English speakers.

LSNDC helps unhoused individuals in LA find a variety of helpful resources, such as:

• Temporary shelters
• Food pantries
• Permanent housing
• Work opportunities

To find resources near you, simply visit their website or call their toll-free number.

Hurricane Ida has officially been declared a “Major Disaster” by the federal government, which gives qualified residents access to government assistance. It’s important to note that the aid will not cover any damages that are also covered by insurance, but FEMA provides a variety of help to victims of hurricane damage, from helping with costs of rebuilding to paying for reburials.

The GOHSEP website contains a wealth of information and resources from preparedness tips to follow before a storm, to resources that will come in handy after large storms like Ida. Just a few of the resources on the site include shelter information, roadside closure notifications, and emergency alerts.