Louisiana Tornado Damage Lawyers
Trust Your Case with Our Baton Rouge, Louisiana Storm Claim Law Firm
Louisiana ranks 14th in the nation for number of tornadoes annually. Though they might not be as common as they are in other locations, such as in Midwestern states, when a tornado touches down in Louisiana, it has the potential to cause sudden, catastrophic damage to homes and businesses. At Arnold & Itkin, we understand how damaging tornadoes can be, and we’re ready to help people who need to recover from them.
Our Louisiana tornado damage claim lawyers are focused on one thing: making sure our clients are treated right. After paying insurance premiums for years, a person rightfully expects their insurance company to hold up its end of the deal. When an insurer isn’t being fair, our team is ready to put up the fight required to hold it accountable.
If you’re struggling with your claim, call our Louisiana tornado insurance claim lawyers at (888) 493-1629!
Tornado Destruction in Louisiana
A tornado can create wind with speeds between 110 and 300 mph. The damage caused by a tornado is typically influenced by how powerful it is. For “slow" tornadoes, the damage might be minimal and superficial. When a powerful tornado sweeps through an area, it can be strong enough to destroy an entire home in a few moments.
Common tornado damage includes:
- Roof damage
- Broken windows
- Damaged side paneling
- Fallen trees
- Overturned vehicles
- Electrical and gas fires
Since 1965, the state of Louisiana has had seven federal disaster declarations because of tornadoes. In 1908, the state was the site of one of the largest and deadliest tornado outbreaks in United States history. During this year, Louisiana and neighboring states had tornadoes that killed 324 people and injured 1,652 more.
Important things Louisiana residents should know about tornadoes include:
- They strike quickly with little to no warning
- They are transparent until they pick up enough dust and debris to form a visible funnel
- While many move Southwest to Northeast, they can move in any direction
- Tornadoes can move as fast as 70 mph across land
- Tornadoes can accompany hurricanes
To learn more about preparing for tornadoes, read this information from ready.gov!
What Types of Storm Damage Can I Recover After a Tornado?
When you file a claim to recoup your losses after a tornado or other storm, you should review your policy to see what's covered. Involving an attorney is a good idea if your property sustained significant damage, if coverage is in question, or if you're experiencing any delays or problems with your claim.
Depending on your policy, it may cover the following:
- The cost of inspections to determine the extent of damage and what repairs are necessary
- The cost of reasonable repairs to restore your property to its prior condition
- Living expenses if you cannot live in your home
- Business interruption costs if the damage affected sales or operations
- The cost of replacing or repairing furniture, personal property, and other items
- The value of your home or commercial building if it cannot be repaired or renovated
Louisiana Storm Damage Claim Disputes, Denials & Delays
Insurance companies talk about being there for their customers, making it easy to recover damages, and helping people rebuild after serious accidents and storms. Unfortunately, many insurers do not live up to these claims. Driven by the desire to appease shareholders and boost profitability, they may underpay or deny valid storm damage claims in Louisiana, throughout the Gulf Coast, and nationwide.
The following are examples of ways insurance companies may deal with tornado damage claims:
- Delaying inspections, responses to coverage questions, and other communication
- Saying damage was pre-existing to avoid coverage
- Misrepresenting policy language or insurance law
- Denying coverage without good reason
- Offering low settlements that do not cover all the storm damage
- Retroactively canceling a policy
- Refusing to pay a valid claim
As Louisiana insurance claim attorneys, we know how to deal with tornado damage claims and any underhanded or illegal acts by insurance companies to try to underpay claims or avoid paying altogether.
Louisiana Tornado Damage Claim FAQ
What Is the Fujita Scale?
The Fujita scale is a system that’s used to rate how much damage a tornado caused. Notably, a strong tornado can have a lower Fujita scale rating than a smaller tornado if the latter caused more damage. While more than 80% of tornadoes in the United States are considered weak, it only takes one striking the right place at the right time to cause significant damage. If you have a home or business that was destroyed by a tornado, you’ll likely need to turn to your insurance for help.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tornado Damage?
When a person needs coverage from floods or hurricanes, they usually need to purchase specific insurance policies. However, tornado damage is often covered by homeowner insurance policies. If you live in an area of Louisiana with a history of tornadoes, it’s wise to make sure your policy has enough coverage to account for the catastrophic damages associated with them.
What If My Insurer is Denying my Tornado Insurance Claim?
If your insurer is delaying or denying your tornado insurance claim, they might be practicing bad faith. Since insurance companies are businesses, they try to protect their profits by offering settlements that are low or denying them outright. In the end, their goal is to get a person to accept as little as possible for a claim. If you’re having trouble with your tornado damage claim, call an attorney as soon as possible. Doing so will place an advocate in your corner who will investigate your case, work to hold the insurance company accountable, and fight for the fair compensation that you’re entitled to through your policy. While nothing guarantees an outcome, working with a law firm will place an experienced team in your corner.
Call Our Louisiana Tornado Insurance Claim Lawyers Today at (888) 493-1629
At Arnold & Itkin, our team has experience with helping clients after natural disasters. We were there when Hurricane Harvey devastated the Gulf Coast and helped clients obtain the compensation they need to get their lives back on tracks. If you’re suffering from the unexpected destruction brought by a tornado, you deserve help from the insurance company you’ve paid premiums to for years. Our team is ready to fight for the fair compensation you deserve right now. We’ve recovered billions of dollars for clients, and we’re standing by to fight for the reimbursement that you need.
Find out more about what your options are from our Louisiana tornado damage law firm, call (888) 493-1629 for a free consultation. We only collect a fee if we win your case!
