Common Types of Damage Caused by Hurricanes in Louisiana

Over the years, hurricanes have ravaged the areas surrounding New Orleans. They are known as some of the most costly and damaging annual natural disasters to hit Louisiana and other states across the United States.

The most common types of damage caused by hurricanes on the Gulf Coast are as follows:

Other common types of damage caused by hurricanes could involve: uprooted trees, power line damage, blocked roadways and more. A hurricane damage attorney in Louisiana -- or with us at Charbonnet Law Firm -- can help you navigate how to best handle these situations.

For more information, or if you have been impacted by Hurricane Ida and have questions pertaining to your specific circumstances, contact our law firm and speak with an attorney.

Common Types of Property Damage Caused by Hurricanes in South Louisiana

At Charbonnet Law Firm, our hurricane damage and insurance attorneys understand that hurricane season heightens the anxiety of many property and business owners in and around New Orleans and across the state.

While we can now track pending hurricanes with near precision, we are still unable to predict the exact amount of damage the storm will cause.

We don’t know if, once the hurricane makes landfall, it will remain a Category 4 or when and where it will begin to lose steam.

This unpredictability is what tends to frighten and stress out Louisiana residents the most, sending many from their homes to shelters or elsewhere for safety.

Once the hurricane has passed and everyone is able to return to their homes, they don’t know what they’ll face -- if there will be anything left or not. Yet, no matter how moderate or severe the damage, it’s no less devastating for our clients, their families and the community.

Among the most common types of property damage we’ve seen over the years, there can be:

Other common types of property damage could involve: destroyed indoor and outdoor light fixtures, pools, sheds and landscaping; destruction to personal items and household items such as furniture and/or appliances.

There could also be structural damage to your home -- the walls, siding, shingles and gutters -- and other outbuildings on the property such as detached or attached garages.

What to Do if Your Property Suffered Damage in Hurricane Ida

Whether your property sustained moderate or severe damage during Hurricane Ida, our top priority is to make sure that you, your family and all other residents are safe.

The same goes to customers, homeowners and business owners who experience property damage that is commercial or business in nature. Your health and safety come first. Assessing the property damage that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Ida, or any other hurricane that sweeps through the state of Louisiana, comes next.

Despite the fact that there is an annual hurricane season on the Gulf Coast, and many residents have implemented safety measures to protect themselves and their properties, sadly not all damage suffered can be prevented. Serious structural devastation can still ensue.

If this is similar to your circumstances in the wake of Hurricane Ida, all hope is not lost. There are some important steps you can take to ensure that your hurricane damage attorney is in the best position to help you, and that you’re set up for success when you file with your insurance company.

These four essential and helpful steps are as follows:

Important Info Regarding Hurricane Insurance Coverage and Property Damage Claims

Now that we’ve explored the essentials surrounding the loss you may have experienced as a result of Hurricane Ida, and you’ve become aware of the different types of damage and how to protect yourself, it’s time to delve into the world of insurance.

Once the storm passes, you’ll want to file a claim with your insurance company and begin the journey to restoring your property and life back to some semblance of order. However, if you aren’t familiar with how insurance companies operate, or have never had to file a claim of this nature, you’ll want to pay close attention to the following segments.

Whenever a strong hurricane hits -- no matter what category it is -- it’s vital for all property owners, such as yourself, to feel confident that your claims will be quickly processed and that you’ll receive adequate coverage from your insurer after the storm. To do this, there is some important info for you to keep in mind.

In an ideal world, property insurance companies operate with good faith and keep your best interests in mind. This allows everything to go smoothly, and for all policyholders to get the compensation they deserve, which, in turn, permits them to efficiently rebuild.

Unfortunately, as you are probably all too painfully aware, it rarely works this way. Insurance companies avoid granting you an appropriate payout, particularly when losses suffered by a hurricane in New Orleans are on the more extreme side of things.

If you’ve ever been subject to this response from your insurance provider, our hurricane insurance claim attorneys can help you get the cash payout that you are entitled to and deserve.

What’s more, our experienced damage and insurance claim attorneys at Charbonnet Law Firm can help you resolve any and all disputes with your insurer, so that you can secure proper coverage for damages suffered as a result of the storm.

Your Legal Rights Regarding Property Damage Sustained by Hurricane Ida

Here’s a secret that your insurance company won’t tell you, and that you won’t know unless you seek the assistance of a hurricane damage attorney. It’s that you have a legal right to an independent appraisal that assesses the damage caused during a hurricane -- or, in this case, Hurricane Ida.

That’s right! You are entitled to know the extent of the damage the storm caused to your property through an independent appraisal.

Another secret. This legal right remains in place even if you’ve already begun receiving payments from your insurance company. So, it’s certainly worth taking the time to discuss this with an experienced hurricane damage attorney in New Orleans, as this might get you additional compensation in the long run.

They can be your best resource, and most efficient way of resolving any and all disputes that hold your insurance company accountable to their actions. This, in turn, can prevent you from wasting unnecessary and precious time and energy fighting it yourself.

How to Recognize Bad Faith and Other Insurance Company Tactics

As aforementioned, when it comes to dealing with insurance companies, we are far from living in an ideal world where they operate honestly and fairly. In fact, it’s not uncommon for insurance companies to take advantage of their policyholders to avoid providing you the compensation you deserve after a devastation event such as Hurricane Ida.

Insurance company team members are well aware that hurricanes cause billions of dollars worth in damage through the state of Louisiana every year, but still use deceptive tactics that leave you, your loved ones and your fellow community members in a very compromised, stressful situation.

This is actually illegal and what’s known as your insurer “acting in bad faith.”

It’s important to note that you have legal rights and options. When you sign a policy with an insurance company, you are entering a legal contract together that agrees to specific rules and payments.

Your insurance company is legally obligated to honor the agreement to cover certain services -- such as damage caused by Hurricane Ida.

Anytime that your insurance company does not follow through with something written in your policy, this could be considered an action of bad faith.

Some common examples of bad faith tactics include:

Our hurricane damage and insurance attorneys are aware of these tactics and can help you successfully navigate through them. It doesn’t matter whether your claim is being delayed, denied, or underpaid. All of these bad faith practices can be resolved.

So, if you suspect that your insurance company is not keeping to their side of their agreement, it’s time to contact Charbonnet Law Firm and consult with an attorney.

Benefits of Utilizing Our Hurricane Damage Attorneys in New Orleans

Unless you’re an attorney or well-versed with the legal system, trying to understand Louisiana insurance law and all the ins and outs of the legal process following a hurricane can feel impossible.

In fact, anything pertaining to the legal system can feel overwhelming. Then there’s the drama that often happens when handling the insurance companies themselves.

In short, piercing your life together after a natural disaster is not something that you should handle on your own. This is especially true when it comes to the devastation caused by hurricanes.