As of this writing, we’ve weathered seven tropical storms since May and have more than two months left in the season. Do you know the answer to the question?

Today, we provide you with eight easy steps to take that can help to ensure the best possible outcome should you become the victim of residential flooding.

Ready? Let’s begin.

Consider Flood Insurance

Standard Texas homeowners’ policies do not cover flood damage unless it is directly caused by a “covered peril.” When you purchased your home and spoke with your home insurer, they likely mentioned a flood insurance add-on from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Depending upon where your property is located, you may or may not have been required to pick up this separate policy. Here in Texas, you should always consider it.

Note, however, that Texas flood policies typically have a 30-day waiting period. So planning to purchase at first glimpse of a tropical storm won’t be enough lead time.

Stop the Water at Its Source

If your flooding is due to a tropical storm, hurricane, or other whims of Mother Nature, this really isn’t a step you can take. In every other instance, however, the very first thing to do when you discover a flooding issue is to find the water source and stop it.

This may mean following the pipes to a main water valve outside the home and shutting it off. Or locating a leak and sealing it up.

Turn Off the Electricity

For weather-related flooding, as a preventative measure turn off all sources of water and electricity prior to evacuating (see below).

If you are experiencing a non-weather flooding emergency, once you’ve got the water turned off or sealed properly, turn off all electrical systems in your home.

In either case, when you cannot reach a breaker box without stepping in water, do not attempt to turn it off. Instead, call an electrician.

Evacuate the Premises

When facing a natural disaster, follow the directions of local authorities. If they say you need to evacuate, there is a reason.

Locate a temporary shelter outside of town through news and other local information sources. Then, get everyone safely relocated and out of harm’s way as soon as you can.

When problems are internal, simply ensure the kids and pets are evacuated to a safe dry spot. Whatever the case, ensure everyone is accounted for and free from injury.

Call for Help

There are a handful of calls to make once you’ve made it to safety. This is who we recommend calling… and the order we think you should make those calls.

Seek Medical Attention. If for any reason if a family member (whether 2- or 4-legged) has sustained an injury, first and foremost, call for medical attention.

Call Your Insurer. After everyone is safe and has received necessary medical care, it’s time to call your flood insurance carrier to explain the damage to your home.

Typically, your bad faith claims attorney won’t need to become truly involved unless an issue arises with your insurer. That being said, you may want to contact them early on simply because bad faith flood insurance claims do happen.

Document Everything

Film or photograph every inch of the flood damage done to your home. Do it before you touch anything or begin any effort to clean. Photos will go to your adjuster and be posted as evidence for your insurance claim.

Before you enter the home, always don protective gear. Take extreme precautions. Floodwaters in your home are likely to contain sewage and/or other hazardous materials.

Further, the more time that passes before you are able to re-enter the property, the more hazardous any standing water will become.

Begin Your Recovery

This section could be an entire handbook in itself. Suffice to say that depending on the source of flooding and the extent of damage, the cleanup can be a long and grueling process.

One specific issue to Texas flood claims is mold damage. Once mold has set in after flood damage, your insurer is not likely to pay the claim. Check out FEMA’s instructions for dealing with flood-related fungi.

We also suggest utilizing the flood manual developed by The Red Cross as a checklist for supplies and tasks. Print it out and store it ahead of time in an easy-to-reach spot.

You’ve Done Everything Right, But Your Texas Insurer Isn’t Paying

The final step you may or may not have to take in the event of suffering damages from a flood is to talk with your attorney about a bad faith insurance claim.

When you’ve paid your premiums, and have done all you can to mitigate damages and document both the existing damage and your personal recovery efforts, your insurer owes you in good faith to uphold their end of the bargain.

Reach out to an experienced Texas bad faith claims attorney if you feel you’ve been jilted by your insurance company after suffering a flood.

In the meantime, don’t face the second half of the hurricane season without the proper protection!

About the Author:

Since she started practicing law in Texas in 2004, Sharon Fulgham has been named a Rising Star by SuperLawyers and a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine multiple times. Additionally, she has worked with some of the best attorneys in the state, and served as a partner at the biggest law firm in Fort Worth. Sharon has successfully handled cases at both the state and federal level, and always provides her clients with legal services that are personalized to fit their needs. Outside of work, the most important things in Sharon’s life are her faith, her family (husband Brandon and three children), and serving her community.

The post Your House Has Flooded — What Texans Should Do appeared first on Fulgham Hampton Personal Injury Attorneys.

When an unforeseen accident or disaster causes damage to your house, you may be stressed but reassured by the thought, “At least I have homeowners’ insurance!”

So when your homeowners’ claim is denied by your insurance company, it can come as an especially heartbreaking shock. Unfortunately, this situation is all too common in Texas.

Self-interested insurance companies may seek every possible opportunity to deny your claim in order to avoid paying it. We’ve explained some of the most common reasons insurers deny claims in Texas below.

Of course, for all the reasons your claim could be denied, there are usually ways to avoid them, so we’ve included a bit of advice, too.

You Filed Your Claim Too Late

With most insurance companies, there is a limited window of time during which you alert them of the incident and report losses and/or damages.

When you file your claim outside of this window, you may lose your right to do so. Avoiding this unfortunate turn of events is easy. Simply report any damage to your home immediately.

Read your policy before you have a need to use it, though, and understand this limitation so you can feel confident should an unavoidable delay present itself.

You Failed to Pay Your Monthly Premiums On Time

Predictably, insurance companies don’t like it when you miss a premium payment or constantly pay late. A history of late or non-payments may leave you open to claim denials due to potential lapses in coverage.

The solution? Pay the correct amount of your premium by your set due date. There are a couple of ways you can ensure this happens.

Most insurers are happy to set up monthly auto-payments through your bank or credit card, and you always have the option of paying 6 months to a year ahead.

Damages Don’t Reach Your Policy Deductible

When you select an insurance policy, part of the agreement you make with your insurer is the amount of money you’re willing to pay on a given claim before insurance coverage kicks in. This is your deductible.

When your homeowners’ policy deductible is higher than the cost to repair home damages associated with your claim, your insurer is not obligated to cover them.

Avoid misunderstandings by familiarizing yourself with the deductibles associated with your policy. Many people choose a higher deductible in order to enjoy a lower premium.

However, if you live in a region where a particular type of damage is common, you may fair better with a higher monthly payment and a lower deductible when it comes time to file a claim.

You Provided Insufficient Documentation

When filing a homeowner’s insurance claim, you have a duty to prove your claim through documentation of the damage. To support your claim, you must record accurate detail of what occurred and take clear photographs of the damage.

This kind of denial is particularly common across all types of insurance policies. Again, read your policy — and ask your agent questions — now so that when the time comes to file a claim, you aren’t scrambling.

You Weren’t Aware of Your Policy’s Exclusion Clauses

In most policies, certain occurrences are excluded from being covered. Common examples include floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, hail, and wildfires — particularly if these happen to be common occurrences in the area you live in.

If you want these disasters covered, often insurers will have add-on components for which you can opt-in. They typically come at a reasonable cost addition.

Disputing a Claim Denial in Texas

While in some situations, you may be able to settle a claim dispute with your homeowner’s insurance company directly, sometimes that’s simply impossible.

When your claim isn’t receiving the proper processing, you have the right to appeal your denial by writing a letter or filing a complaint with your state’s department of insurance.

If your insurance company isn’t budging, it may be time to take legal action.

About the Author:

Brandon Fulgham has an in-depth understanding of both Texas law and Texans themselves. Before practicing law here, he received his undergraduate degree from TCU, and his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. After graduation, he worked in District Attorneys’ offices as a prosecutor. Now, he uses that knowledge to anticipate opposing counsel’s arguments and protect the rights of people in and around Fort Worth. He has been recognized for his work by The National Trial Lawyers, Fort Worth Magazine, and others.

The post Common Reasons Texas Insurers Deny Homeowners’ Claims (And What to Do) appeared first on Fulgham Hampton Personal Injury Attorneys.

Did you know that floods are the leading natural disaster to the U.S.? You may have at least noticed extreme weather events becoming more common.

So in a time when you’re more likely than ever to need it, you would think most homeowners insurance policies would count flood coverage as standard.

You should know, they don’t.

Now, Fort Worth doesn’t see hurricanes like coastal cities such as Houston. Still, the city — the entire DFW area, in fact — is located in the dead center in the northern-most part of a corridor known as Flash Flood Alley. This stretch of land from Central to Northern Texas is always hardest hit by precipitation each year.

Moreover, many parts of Fort Worth are ill-equipped to deal with torrential downpours, further increasing your risk of suffering flood damages.

Depending on the level of risk in your specific location, adding a flood policy to your homeowner’s insurance may be a worthy investment.

Floods are the No. 1 Natural Disaster in the US

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), floods are the number one natural disaster in the US. This means that floods cause more damage every year than even catastrophic events like tornadoes.

Just a few inches of water can wreak havoc (to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars) on your home and valuables.

Floods can happen anywhere at any time, but conditions most often responsible for flooding in Texas include urbanization, slow-moving thunderstorms, hurricanes, and man-made dam and levee failure (or even calculated water release).

Texas Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover Floods

Importantly, the vast majority of homeowners insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, even if the flood occurs due to a natural disaster that is covered under your policy.

We know. That doesn’t seem to make sense.

Let’s say your roof is damaged in a hurricane. If your homeowner’s insurance covers this kind of event, the policy will likely pay out damages from wind or hail. But don’t expect water damage from the hurricane to be covered under your standard policy.

You need to have purchased — in advance — a flood insurance policy for that. Most flood insurance is issued by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is run by FEMA. However, some private insurers also provide flood coverage.

Know Your Risk for Flooding in Texas

If you’re considering flood insurance, you may want to evaluate your relative risk of flooding. This is determined by both the regional climate in your area and factors specific to your home’s exact location. For example, whether your home is on low ground or what’s considered a flood plain.

Texas is more prone to floods than many other states, and most major cities are located in high-risk flood areas. In particular, the coast, where hurricanes are common, and Flash Flood Alley which includes the Dallas Fort Worth Area.

Even if you live in an area with low or moderate flood risk, you’re five times more likely to experience flood damage than fire damage in the next 30 years. In most parts of Texas, this risk is much higher.

FEMA and the NFIP provide resources to help homeowners assess the general risk of flooding in their area. You can also determine whether your home is located in a flood plain using the Legal Service Corporation (LSC) flood zone lookup.

Flood Insurance Cost in Texas

The price of flood insurance depends on a number of factors, including your home’s flood risk, what the policy covers, and how much coverage you purchase.

As a rough approximation, the average flood insurance policy costs about $700 per year. However, your location, coverage limits and deductible will determine your premium.

Generally, for homes not located in a flood zone, flood insurance policies are very affordable and are well worth the investment when considering the catastrophic damage that even a minor flood can cause.

Purchasing a Texas Flood Insurance Plan

Most flood insurance policies are issued by the NFIP. However, you can only purchase flood insurance from an agent or insurer that participates in the program.

The most important thing to remember, flood insurance has a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. Don’t wait until nasty weather is heading your way to make the purchase. The damages won’t be covered.

Start by talking to your insurance agency to take out a policy. If your agent doesn’t sell flood insurance, you can contact the NFIP Agent Referral Center at 1-800-427-4661 to request a referral to an appropriate agent in your area.

About the Author:

Brandon Fulgham has an in-depth understanding of both Texas law and Texans themselves. Before practicing law here, he received his undergraduate degree from TCU, and his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. After graduation, he worked in District Attorneys’ offices as a prosecutor. Now, he uses that knowledge to anticipate opposing counsel’s arguments and protect the rights of people in and around Fort Worth. He has been recognized for his work by The National Trial Lawyers, Fort Worth Magazine, and others.

The post How Do You Know If You Need Flood Insurance in Texas? appeared first on Fulgham Hampton Personal Injury Attorneys.

Roofs are one of the most expensive repairs a homeowner can make. Worse, the severe weather here in Texas can lead to frequent roof damage. Even if your insurance covers roof repairs, navigating the insurance claim process is often stressful, requiring several follow-ups with insurance adjusters, roofing contractors, and potentially even your mortgage company.

To make roof insurance claims more painless and maximize the chance of payment for your claim, we’ve provided some helpful tips and tricks, as well as common mistakes to avoid.

Roof Insurance: Tips for Filing a Claim

To successfully file a roof insurance claim, it’s important to document the damage and contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. You should also select your contractor carefully.

These helpful tips will make the roof insurance claim process more streamlined increase the likelihood of having your claim approved.

Look for Damage Immediately After a Storm

If you suspect that your roof may have been damaged by hail or high winds in a storm, contact a reputable and licensed roofing contractor to inspect your roof. Importantly, even if your roof appears to be intact, there could be internal damage that only a trained roofing contractor can spot.

Many roofing contractors will provide insurance claim assistance. This will make your insurance claim process much easier. When selecting a contractor to assess your damages, ask if they provide this service.

Some policies have stipulations that limit the amount of time you can wait after incurring damages. Moreover, after a major storm you should expect that reputable roofing contractors will be very busy. It’s therefore important to contact a contractor as soon as possible for an inspection.

Take Pictures and Document Any Related Details

Your roofing contractor will know how to find damage and be able to thoroughly document the damage. Ask that they take pictures of the damaged areas and submit a written explanation of what needs to be repaired, as well as the estimated cost. This will make filing a claim easier.

You should also document any related details. This includes the time and date of the suspected damage and the events that caused the damage. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to save hailstones in your freezer. However, a few pictures would be helpful if this is possible.

Contact Your Insurance Company and Find out What Your Policy Covers

Your next step should be to contact your insurance company to verify that the necessary repairs will be covered by your policy. Be sure to get in touch with them as soon as possible, as there’s often a time limit to file claims.

After you have submitted a claim, an insurance adjuster will be sent to independently assess the damage and determine the cost that the insurance company will pay out for the repairs.

Choose a Reputable Roofing Contractor

If the roofing repairs are covered by your homeowner’s insurance, you will be issued funds to repair the damage, and can then choose the roofing contractor to complete the repairs or replacement. Make sure you select a reputable contractor who is licensed and insured, and be sure to ask for references. It’s also wise to shop around and get a few estimates.

Pitfalls to Avoid with Roof Insurance Claims

In order to ensure that your claim is successfully paid, it is important to avoid a couple of common pitfalls:

Improper Maintenance

If the damage to your roof was caused by improper maintenance, or could have been prevented with proper maintenance, your insurance company will reject your claim. It’s therefore important to perform routine maintenance such as the following:

• Regular roof inspections by a trained roofing professional
• Keeping your roof clear of debris
• Keeping gutters clean
• Removing any dead trees on your property that could possibly fall on your roof

Conducting Repairs Prior to Contacting Your Insurance Provider

Ever heard the saying that it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission? This does not apply to insurance companies.

If you conduct repairs that for some reason are not covered by your insurance company, you will be stuck with the bill. Moreover, your insurer will likely send an adjuster to evaluate damages prior to approving your claim, which isn’t possible if you’ve already made repairs.

The only exception to this is temporary repairs to prevent further damage. For example, if damage to your roof results in substantial leaks that could damage your home as well, you should put a tarp over your roof to prevent water damage.

Concerns about Your Roof Damage Claim?

You pay your insurance policy under the assumption that your insurance company will act in good faith, paying out for damages that are covered under your policy. If you feel that your insurer is not honoring your policy or is unnecessarily delaying your claim, this could be considered bad faith insurance.

An experienced Texas insurance claims lawyer can help evaluate your case to determine if your insurer has acted in bad faith. Do not delay or you could end up losing out – contact our office now.

About the Author:

Since she started practicing law in Texas in 2004, Sharon Fulgham has been named a Rising Star by SuperLawyers and a Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine multiple times. Additionally, she has worked with some of the best attorneys in the state, and served as a partner at the biggest law firm in Fort Worth. Sharon has successfully handled cases at both the state and federal level, and always provides her clients with legal services that are personalized to fit their needs. Outside of work, the most important things in Sharon’s life are her faith, her family (husband Brandon and three children), and serving her community.

The post Your Guide to Filing a Roof Insurance Claim in Texas appeared first on Fulgham Hampton Personal Injury Attorneys.