Hurricane Ida slammed directly into the Louisiana coastline on August 29, 2021, leaving over a million Louisiana residents without power in New Orleans and the surrounding area and wreaking havoc across the state. The past several years have revealed a disturbing trend: hurricanes are becoming more frequent and more destructive due to human-induced climate change. As storms become more destructive, damage to property in areas affected by hurricanes like Ida becomes more severe.
If you suffered property damage in Louisiana or elsewhere due to Hurricane Ida, then you could be entitled to recover compensation through your insurance coverage for accident-related expenses the storm caused. However, insurance companies almost certainly won’t make it easy for you. Insurance adjusters will use every tool in their arsenal to attempt to minimize or reduce your payout, so it is critical to have an attorney on your side throughout the claim process.
At Mass Tort Alliance, we have the knowledge and expertise to review your claim, collect important evidence on your behalf, help you calculate your losses, and aggressively negotiate with the insurance company. Our goal is to help you seek the full amount of compensation you need to financially recover and rebuild. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your claim.
Hurricane Ida is the second strongest hurricane to ever hit Louisiana, right after 2005’s devastating Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Ida, which initially made landfall on the afternoon of August 29, 2021, caused extreme flooding and extensive structural damage to homes and properties along its path through Louisiana. While the number of casualties remains low compared to Katrina, the damage to properties throughout the state has been devastating for many Louisiana residents.
Hurricane Ida caused property damage across coastal towns and cities in Louisiana, including Houma, Golden Meadow, Grand Isle, LaPlace, Galliano, and others. Houma experienced some of the most severe damage, and many residents’ homes were demolished or damaged. Homes in the Galliano area also suffered severe damage. In Jefferson Parish, many homes lost their roofs due to Ida’s powerful winds.
New Orleans was not spared either. French Quarter homes and properties were damaged in the storm, and almost the entire city was without power, leaving over one million Louisiana residents in the dark. Though most levees in the New Orleans area held, there were multiple reports of water spilling over the top of some of the smaller ones, creating flooding which affected homes and businesses in certain coastal communities.
Hurricane Ida generated some of the most severe property damage across the state of Louisiana since Katrina, particularly in coastal areas. While some homes and other properties were damaged by flooding, Ida’s 150 mph winds may have caused the most damage, ripping roofs off of homes, businesses, and even hospitals.
In the wake of Ida’s destruction, many property owners will be wondering how they are going to cover the cost of home repairs, and in some cases, rebuilding. Many homeowners will turn to their homeowner’s insurance policy and their flood insurance policy to help pay for damages caused by the storm.
As you return to your property and begin to assess the damage, there are some important things you should consider and actions to take or refrain from taking:
The aftermath of a storm like Hurricane Ida can be overwhelming for anyone who has sustained property damage as a result of the storm, particularly when the cost of repairs promises to be high. Consulting with an experienced property damage attorney can help ease that burden.
There are many reasons why hiring and consulting with a hurricane damage attorney may benefit your claim. An attorney will have the knowledge and resources to evaluate your claim, quickly gather and preserve vital evidence to support it, and calculate the damages that you are entitled to recover.
One of the most important reasons to consult an attorney is so that you have a seasoned advocate fighting your corner when you go toe-to-toe with the insurance company.
It’s important to remember that insurance companies aren’t exactly your friend. Even though they should be loyal to their policyholders, insurance companies are chiefly loyal to their shareholders. As “for-profit entities,” insurance companies are in the business of minimizing or outright denying legitimate claims for compensation brought by the people who pay them for coverage.
Insurance adjusters are trained to use a variety of tactics to try and reduce the amount of damages you can recover. In some instances, they may offer a low-ball settlement right off the bat that seems generous at the outset, but in reality, is much less than you actually need and are entitled to. Or, they may attempt to use other tactics to try and reduce your payout.
Ultimately, going up against an insurance adjuster on your own can be challenging and intimidating. If you aren’t familiar with the tactics they use to reduce or deny claims, then you may find yourself having to pay for certain damages out of pocket that should have been covered under your policy.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to consult an attorney to advise you throughout the claim process. An attorney can also negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Attorneys have an intimate knowledge of the tactics that insurance adjusters use to try and minimize payments. An attorney will know how to subvert those tactics and aggressively pursue the compensation that you deserve.
At Mass Tort Alliance, our team of experienced property damage attorneys has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the insurance company and successfully subvert any tactics they may use to try and minimize the payout that you deserve. You purchased coverage with the insurance company and are therefore entitled to receive compensation for property damage that is covered by your policy.
Insurance companies must abide by strict guidelines. Our attorneys have the knowledge and discernment to ensure that the insurance companies are following Louisiana’s rules and regulations with regard to your claim.
If you have sustained property damage due to Hurricane Ida, then don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the Mass Tort Alliance dedicated property damage attorneys as soon as possible. We can provide you with legal advice, help you ensure you have all of the correct documentation you need to file your claim, assist you in determining your deductible and calculating damages, and work tirelessly to seek a fair settlement on your behalf.
Our team is here for you and all of your legal needs as you navigate the claim process. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.