New Orleans Hurricane Damage Lawyer

New Orleans is home to many historic areas, including residences on St. Charles Avenue and buildings in the French Quarter. However, these historic areas, as well as more modern buildings, are susceptible to extreme damage from hurricanes. If you are struggling with insurance companies after a hurricane, speak with a New Orleans hurricane damage lawyer.

Experienced Hurricane Damage Lawyer in New Orleans

At Marcelle Robertson Mestayer LLC, we know how devastating hurricanes can be. We’ve even published legal articles discussing the impacts of flooding on property rights. Our experience in hurricane damage claims can give you more power in negotiations with insurance companies.

Types of Hurricane Damage

Some of the most common forms of hurricane damage include physical damage to property. The high wind speeds can break down walls and roofs of a building and also cause large debris, like trees, to fall onto property, which can damage it further.

In other instances, high winds or lightning can damage appliances and other electronics in the home. Pressure from hurricane force windows can damage the seals to windows requiring repair or replacement. Rain can enter through storm created openings and damage flooring systems.

What Does a New Orleans Hurricane Damage Attorney Do?

Unfortunately, an attorney cannot prevent hurricanes from happening, but we can help with preparations beforehand and damage afterwards. Hurricane damage lawyers can assist with:

• Managing liability. Many people do not know that they are not properly insured until it is too late. An attorney can review your insurance policy to make sure that you are as prepared as possible for the next hurricane.
• Insurance contracts. It is crucial to have insurance, but it is also important to read through your contract. It should include important information about what will be covered within the contract. We can recommend additions that can protect you during a natural disaster.
• Insurance claims. It can be difficult to know how to file an insurance claim after a hurricane has occurred. An attorney can help you through the process and make sure you provide as many details as possible to help the insurance companies make claim decisions.
• Negotiations. Unfortunately, some individuals see their claims unfairly rejected by an insurance company. An attorney can review your denial to figure out why it happened. If possible, you can submit more information or even file an appeal. An attorney can even represent you in a trial if the insurance company is not willing to compromise.
• Federal and state benefits. There are many government programs that provide aid after a natural disaster to help rebuild. Many people do not know these programs exist or whether they qualify for them. A hurricane damage attorney can inform you of local programs you qualify for to receive more aid if needed.

Even if you do not live in a high-risk area, it is still important to be prepared. Speak with an attorney as soon as possible to avoid serious problems the next time a hurricane occurs.

How Can I Be Compensated for Hurricane Damages?

One of the most important things to do after a hurricane damages your property is to file a claim with your insurance company. This is especially true if you experienced severe damage. This is most often done through homeowners’ insurance and flood insurance, which could be two separate policies.

Next, record the details of the damage. It can be difficult to evaluate how much your claim is worth without photos of what the damage looks like. This includes both the inside and outside of the house, as well as any natural aspect that has moved and damaged property.

Determine what you have lost as a result of the hurricane. If something was destroyed or damaged as a result of the hurricane, document it. If you have proof of purchase for the item, try to find it to verify that you owned it at one time.

It is also helpful to work with contractors to determine how much it will cost to fix the damage. If you do not know any reputable contractors to do this, contact a hurricane damage attorney. They will know of a trustworthy contractor to estimate your claim.

Unfortunately, it might take a while for your claim to be processed. This is because large natural disasters lead to many claims at once, which slows down the processing of claims.

If your property is so damaged that you have to live outside of your home or use other resources, document where and when you did so. Keep any receipts that come from this as well. These are important when calculating the overall cost of the impact of the storm.

Once you receive an offer, consider reviewing it with an attorney. They can help you evaluate whether the amount is fair for the damage you have suffered. If it is not enough, an attorney can help negotiate to recover more damages if possible.

Why Hire a Hurricane Damage Lawyer?

Sometimes, it takes an experienced attorney to deal with the multiple parties involved in a hurricane damage claim. There are a lot of moving parts involved in a hurricane damage claim, and it can be difficult for one person to work it out on their own.

When you hire a hurricane damage lawyer, they can work with construction companies and insurance companies, along with governmental employees, to determine what the right path forward is for your claim.

Why Choose Us?

At Marcelle Robertson Mestayer LLC, we have extensive trial experience against large insurance companies. This is important because some companies do not want to pay for a claim that they are responsible for, which is unacceptable. We are capable of taking on large companies to support individual people.

Increase the Value of Your Claim

To increase your chances of being properly compensated for property damage due to hurricanes, schedule a consultation with Marcelle Robertson Mestayer LLC.