San Antonio Insurance Property Damage Claims

What Does Texas Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

Homeowner’s insurance covers the cost of repairs or replacement of your home and belongings if they sustain damage under certain circumstances.

Precisely what your homeowner’s insurance covers depends on your specific policy. It could cover:

• Your dwelling
• Other structures on your property
• Personal property – like furniture and clothing
• Bodily injuries if someone gets hurt on your property

Don’t expect it to cover everything, though, costly items like art and jewelry. You might need to pay for additional riders to your policy.

Each policy covers specific types of incidents and damage while excluding others. Many policies cover issues from severe storms, fires, theft, and vandalism. But most policies don’t cover damage from earthquakes or floods. You have to buy separate insurance policies for those natural disasters.

Common Property Damage Claims

• Water damage
• Storm damage
• Tornado damage
• Lightning damage
• Fallen trees
• Roof damage
• Hail damage
• Wind damage
• Fire and smoke damage
• Vandalism
• Theft

If your claim is common or relatively minor in terms of the cost of repairs, insurance usually does what’s right. It’s when you’re facing significant damage that you might experience trouble. Never hesitate to call an insurance lawyer if your insurer isn’t forthcoming with a payout.

Things Standard Homeowner’s Policies Don’t Cover

Many homeowners in Texas learn the hard way that homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover many issues. You might make a claim only to have it denied. You’ll need to closely examine your policy to review what it covers and exclusions.

Don’t wait to reach out to a lawyer for help. These policies can be confusing, and you might not trust your insurer’s answers. Typical homeowner’s insurance policies don’t cover:

• Floods
• Earthquakes
• Sewage backup
• Sinkholes
• Construction damage
• Infestations
• Normal wear and tear

What Happens After You File a Property Damage Insurance Claim

Once you file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance provider, it opens up an investigation. During this time, you have to cooperate with the insurance company. You’ll communicate with an adjuster who will probably be the one to inspect your home. You may need to get one or more estimates for repairs.

The law requires insurers to meet deadlines, including:

• Fifteen days after you give notice, the insurer must confirm it received your claim, start the investigation, and ask you for any information it needs.
• Fifteen business days after the insurer receives all the information it needs, it must approve or reject your claim in writing.

The company can extend its 15-day deadline up to 45 days, but it has to tell you it needs more time and why. Your insurer can take up to 60 days to evaluate your claim.

Once the insurer approves your claim, it has five business days to pay you.

The Texas Consumer Bill of Rights for Homeowners

As a homeowner, it’s essential to know your rights. Texas has a Consumer Bill Rights that specifically addresses renter’s and homeowners’ rights, though it doesn’t set out every right you have. If you aren’t sure about your rights, always call an attorney experienced with property damage insurance claims.

Your rights include but are not limited to:

• An insurance company can’t make false, misleading, or deceptive statements about your insurance coverage.
• You have the right to be treated fairly and honestly when you file a claim.
• You have the right to refuse to give your insurer information that doesn’t relate to your claim.
• You have the right to reject a settlement offer, including an unfair valuation the insurance company makes.
• The insurance company must tell you in writing why it denied all or part of your claim.
• If the insurance company doesn’t meet the legal deadlines for processing your claim, you have the right to 18% annual interest and attorney’s fees in addition to your claim amount.

Reasons for Property Damage Claim Denials

Many homeowners are frustrated after filing a property damage insurance claim. They expect the repairs to be covered by their policy only to receive a letter denying their claim. Did this happen to you? Give us a call. We work with homeowners who have suffered significant property damage and experienced wrongful denials from their insurers. We work to make it right.

Common reasons for insurance claim denials include:

• Exclusions/lack of coverage: Your insurer might say your policy doesn’t cover the type of damage your house sustained
• Failure to follow policy requirements: Your insurer might claim you didn’t do what you were supposed to under the policy
• Failure to disclose: Your insurer might say you failed to disclose important information when you purchased the policy, during the life of the policy, or when making a claim
• Fraud: Your insurer might claim they suspect you’re trying to commit fraud
• Canceled policy: Your insurer might claim the policy was canceled for some reason, such as failing to make premium payments

Did the Insurer Deny Your Claim in Bad Faith?

There are several valid reasons why an insurance company can deny a property damage claim. But sometimes, the insurance company is in the wrong. It might have denied your claim unfairly to try and save money. Or, it might not have followed the law concerning the claim process. This type of behavior is known as bad faith.

Examples of bad faith include:

• Failing to confirm or deny it received your claim in a reasonable time
• Not performing a proper investigation
• Misrepresenting or lying about your coverage
• Failing to offer a reasonable explanation for the denial
• Requiring you to submit information that isn’t necessary for the claim
• Refusing to pay or unreasonably delaying a valid claim
• Failing to pay your settlement promptly after approving the claim

If you think your insurance company did something wrong, call us right away. We’re highly experienced in handling insurance bad faith cases.

Call The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help

We’re here to help when an insurance company doesn’t handle your claim appropriately or wrongfully denies you. At The Law Giant, Personal Injury & Accident Lawyers, we know you might not have a habitable home right now, or you might be enduring horrible conditions. Our insurance lawyers want to get you the money you need to repair your home and replace your belongings.

Let us use our skills and experience to get what’s right. Give The Law Giant a call at 210-921-2200 for a free, no-risk consultation.