Business Claims

Since 2005, the Gulf Coast region has been slammed by two of the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history: Katrina, which exacted an estimated $110 billion in damages; and Ike, which produced nearly $30 billion in losses. Businesses throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida suffered the heaviest damages to their property, equipment and inventory. Attempts to collect money from their insurance companies have too often been met with delays in payments or denials of legitimate claims.

The Houston-based hurricane insurance lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP have a record of protecting the rights of business owners in their disputes with insurance companies. We know the unique insurance issues that businesses face, and we use a nationwide network of resources and experts to obtain successful verdicts and settlements in our clients’ favor.

Contact us today by calling 877-398-4972 or by using our online form.

At Arnold & Itkin, we are experienced trial lawyers and aggressive advocates for our clients. Our attorneys quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of each individual case and map out a strategy for winning. Our law firm secured over $100 million in compensation for our clients in 2009. Once you meet the legal team at Arnold & Itkin LLP, you will understand why H Texas magazine in Houston named Arnold & Itkin LLP "Top Lawyers for the People" three years in a row and why Texas Monthly has consistently recognized our attorneys as “Rising Stars."

Gulf Coast Hurricane Insurance Disputes

Wind, rain, mold, mud and debris from hurricanes and tropical storms can inflict property damages on businesses, much like those suffered by homeowners. Roofs, foundations, drywall, insulation and garages may all need repairs in a storm’s aftermath. However, some losses are unique to businesses, such as damage to equipment, machines, computers, inventory and business records. Additionally, businesses may experience serious disruptions in the flow of supplies and customers. Those disruptions can last for months or years.

A hurricane insurance lawyer from Arnold & Itkin can review your policy to determine the extent of your coverage, calculate deductibles and identify unique business clauses in your policy that should entitle you to compensation. For instance, most businesses will have “business interruption" coverage, which compensates for loss of income during the period when repairs are made (or the “restoration period.")

When an insurance company tries to deny or delay payments to business owners for hurricane-related claims, Arnold & Itkin's legal team offers legal help with these issues:

• Apportioning Damages: While a business policy may cover wind and rain damage, it may exclude coverage for flood damage. Our law firm’s experts can inspect and examine your property to make sure there is a fair apportionment between your covered and uncovered losses.

• Extended Period of Indemnity: Because it may take time before a business returns to its pre-storm revenue levels, a business insurance policy often allows the insured to recover losses for a period of time after the business has reopened. An insurance company may try to shorten this period or argue that the losses are due to wider economic conditions and not a direct result of a hurricane or tropical storm.

• Contingent Business Interruption: Your business policy may allow you to recover for losses connected to third parties, such as an interruption in your supplies or loss of services like power, water, sewer, telephone or gas. Insurance companies can contest whether your losses are directly caused by these factors.

Contact us Today

If you are a Gulf Coast business that is battling with your insurance company to collect on a valid insurance claim, contact the hurricane insurance lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP today. We know how to counter the insurance companies’ tactics, and we have the resources and experts to take them on. For a free evaluation, call us today at 877-398-4972 or use our online form. We will not charge for our services unless we obtain a successful verdict or settlement on your behalf.