In the wake of Hurricane Ike, thousands of homeowners face struggles to repair and restore their homes – struggles in which their homeowners insurance is a vital element. But while Ike has spurred a strong sense of community and a rallying spirit in neighborhoods, that same spirit may not extend to all insurance companies or to all contractors offering their services to clean up or repair.

If you believe you’ve been treated unfairly by your insurance company, contact a Texas hurricane insurance fraud lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates.

Danger signs pointing to hurricane insurance fraud from your insurer

Several danger signs should alert you that your insurance company may not be handling your claim properly.

For one thing, after receiving all required claim items from you, the insurance provider only has a short time to accept or reject your claim. If your insurance company drags its feet after time has expired, it is acting in bad faith.

If your insurance company delays payment for more than a set period of days after receiving all necessary items from you, that company must pay damages on any valid claim. Violating insurers must pay not only the entire amount of the claim, but an additional percentage of the claim as damages.

Remember: The law may allow you to seek additional damages when an insurance company denies a valid claim.

If your insurance company tries to avoid or delay making payments due to ambiguous language in your policy, that is not a sufficient reason. If such language does exist in your policy, courts have a tendency to rule against the policy's drafter -- the insurance company -- when interpreting the policy. In this way, courts often hold the insurance company responsible for its failure to state terms clearly int he policy it wrote.

If your policy states you’re entitled to a certain amount of financial coverage, and your insurance company offers a lower amount with the justification that it is acting quickly and has many claims to process, that is not good enough. You are due what you are due – period. Don’t let an eagerness to get  quick cash from an insurance adjuster keep you from collecting the full amount you are due. When you are underpaid, insurance companies, in effect, are keeping your money.

Beware of insurance fraud runarounds

In short, only accept the full amount of coverage for which you paid when you bought your insurance policy. Do not accept runarounds or recalcitrance on the part of your insurance company. That includes if the company denies coverage without providing an adequate explanation, or if it refuses to pay a claim without a reasonable investigation. Such bad faith actions will not stand a legal test.

Insurance fraud is a serious issue which potentially involves billions of dollars. In a recent two-year period in Florida, it’s estimated that the state suffered $36 billion in damages from four major storms – yet only $15 billion in insurance premiums were collected.

If hurricane insurance is a problem for you, a Texas hurricane insurance fraud lawyer with Jim S. Adler & Associates can help to ensure you receive the coverage to which you are due. Call us today or click for a free case review.

Disclaimer: The law firm of Jim S. Adler & Associates is licensed to practice  law in Texas. The firm also works with local and outside lawyers in America's other 49 states to litigate claims, as needed, including the states of:

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