Louisiana Insurance Lawyer Blog

If your home of business flooded due to Hurricane Isaac, you should be aware that you may be facing important legal deadlines to make your Flood Insurance Claim.

Your official flood insurance claim for damages is made through a Proof of Loss. The Proof of Loss must be fully completed, signed and in the hands of your insurance company within 60 days after the loss occurs.

You are responsible for making sure the Proof of Loss is accurately completed and timely filed. FEMA may offer a Proof of Loss extension in cases of severe flooding in your area. Extensions of time to file will be posted on the FEMA website and announced by the news media. As of October 22, 2012, FEMA has not yet granted an extension of time for filing a Proof of Loss for Hurricane Isaac flood damage.

To prove the insurance company has received the Proof of Loss, you should probably mail it U.S. Certified Mail-Return Receipt Requested. Of course, keep a copy of the Proof of Loss and supporting documents for your records.

If you need help with preparing your flood insurance claim, your supplement claim or with filing a lawsuit against your flood insurer, please call Lavis Law Firm at 866-558-9151 or submit your inquiry online. Please be advised that you may be facing important legal deadlines so don't delay.

Louisiana attorney Tony Lemon has created an irrevocable trust for Saints fans to make donations towards keeping Drew Brees a Saint for the balance of his career and to coax Saints owner Tom Benson to sign Drew Brees. If you are a Saints fan and would like to support the cause, you can do so at www.fansstepup.com

Need to explore health insurance options but don't know where to start? An online tool from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services can help you find the health insurance best suited to your needs. Whether looking into community, public, or private insurance options for yourself, family members, or small business employees, the DHHS Find Insurance Options tool was created to help consumers explore and price insurance options. The By simply entering your state of residence and answering a few questions, the tool quickly generates insurance options specific to your situation and provides easy to use 'Learn More' links for each insurance solution identified. The tool is up to date with current health insurance policies under the Affordable Care Act. All information entered is confidential and will not be saved by the Department of Health & Human Services or shared with any insurance companies.

Need insurance? Already have it? For help with insurance coverage or related issues visit here.

The Louisiana Insurance Commissioner James Donelon could learn something from his Republican counterpart Deeia Beck at the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel. Ms. Beck represents the interest of Texas consumers in insurance matters. Therefore, she has created a nifty online tool allowing Texas policyholders to compare coverages for homeowners, automobile, renters and condo insurance.

The tool helps consumers compare insurance company policies so that consumers will know what is covered and excluded such as plumbing leaks, mold testing and remediation and foundation damage. If the consumers own policy does not favorably compare to another company, the consumer can then consider switching to another insurance company providing the desired insurance coverage.

Hopefully Mr. Donelon will take consumer oriented measures in 2012 to create a similar online tool for Louisiana policyholders. At present, the Louisiana Department of Insurance only has an online tool to determine who is writing coverage but it does not permit comparison of policy coverages between similar competing company policies.

If you having trouble with your insurance company, please feel free to contact Louisiana insurance dispute lawyer.

If a tree falls on your house or building because of Tropical Storm Lee, you should make a claim with your own insurance regardless of whether the tree was growing on your property or another person's property before the storm.

Fortunately, you should not have to pay a hurricane deductible since Tropical Storm Lee is not a hurricane. Make sure to take photographs of the tree before removing it from the home.

Furthermore, you should check for structural damage to your home as well as for any damage to your slab. Often times, a slab home will suffer cracks to the slab even to the opposite corner of the home.

If you have any trouble with your Tropical Storm Lee Insurance Claim or even need help hiring an engineer to detect structural damage, contact your storm lawyer, Charles E Lavis Jr

Tropical Storm Lee is expected to produce extensive rainfall. The National Weather Service National Hurricane Center advised at 1 p.m. today that

TROPICAL STORM LEE IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 15 INCHES OVER SOUTHERN LOUISIANA...SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI...AND SOUTHERN ALABAMA THROUGH SUNDAY...WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES. THESE RAINS ARE EXPECTED TO CAUSE EXTENSIVE FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN URBAN AREAS.

Flooded Businesses and Homeowners should be advised that there are key steps to filing a National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance claim.

1. Contact your agent or insurance company to file a claim;


2. Separate damaged from undamaged property.


3. The insurance company's flood adjuster will need evidence of your structural and/or damaged content to assist in preparing his estimate. Take photograph of all damaged property (including any of the property you plan on throwing away). Take a photograph of the flood line and


4. Make an accurate list of all damaged content including date of purchase, cost and value before flood. If you have any receipts for the contents that were damaged, please save them.


5. Timely file your Proof of Loss form with your insurance company within 60 days of the flood.


6. If you are having trouble with your insurance company or have any questions about your insurance claim, contact your Louisiana Storm Insurance Lawyer.

While some longstanding State Farm policyholders may still have a fixed $500 deductible, most Gretna, LaPlace, New Orleans LaCombe, Slidell, Little Woods, Marrero and Bush Homeowners suffering structural damage due to the Spring Hail Storms and tornadoes will probably face a deductibles based upon a percentage of the structural policy limits instead of a fixed deductible of say $500.

Homeowners, be careful as you might be shortchanged when the homeowners insurance adjuster refuses to pay your loss because "the damage is less than the percentage deductible".

The adjuster may have overlooked hidden structural damage or mold or may have miscalculated the cost of repair. Or the adjuster may even go as far as to try improperly exlcude covered damage under a policy provision.

A Hale Damage Lawyer can assist you hiring professional to prove your claim, including engineers, mold and meteorological experts so that you can fully recover your damages, including your recoverable depreciation, debris removal costs and other damages.
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The Homeowners Insurer must pay the insured homeowners "a figure over which reasonable minds could not differ" within a timer period set by law or be subject to bad faith penalties.

If you have any questions or concerns about your Property Damage Claim call a Property Damage Claims Lawyer.

Louisiana Flood Insurance applicants should know The National Flood Insurance Program usually requires a 30-day waiting period, after applying and paying the premium, before the flood insurance policy becomes effective. However, there are exceptions:

1. There is no waiting period when flood insurance is required by a lender in connection with the making, increasing, extending or renewing of a loan. The policy will be effective at the date of the loan closing, as long as the application has been completed and the premium payment has been made at or before the closing date.
2. There is no waiting period when flood insurance is required by a lender after a mortgage portfolio review shows that the building is in a high-risk area. The policy will be effective upon the completion of the application and receipt of the premium payment by the insurer.
3. There is a one-day waiting period when a new policy or additional amounts of coverage are required by the lender during the 13-month period following certain map revisions. This applies when the map revision changes the structure's designation from a non-high-risk area to a high-risk area.

Speak with your flood insurance agent to see if you qualify for one of the exceptions.

If you have flood insurance and need help with your flood insurance claim, contact a Louisiana flood insurance lawyer.

Today, the US Army Corps of Engineers released a Doomsday Scenario 2" Floodmap that indicates flooding that may take place if the Corps does not open the Morganza Spillway.

The map shows extensive flooding would occur between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. As much as 30 feet of water would be found in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

The US Army Corps of Engineers is expected to open the Morganza Spillway in the near future.

If you home or business is damaged by floodwater, contact a Louisiana Flood Insurance Attorney.

ProjectedLouisianaFloodMapSpring2011.pdf

This map has been completed using the best information available and is believed to be accurate; however, its preparation required many assumptions. Actual conditions during a flood event may vary from those assumed, so the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The limits of flooding shown should only be used as a guideline for emergency planning and response action. Actual areas inundated will depend on specific flooding conditions and may differ from the areas shown on the map. Information on this map is intended to permit state and local agencies to plan emergency evacuation and flood response actions.

Morgan City is faced with possible record flooding. If the Morganza Spillway is opened, Morgan City could face twelve feet of water exceeding the 10.53 record set in 1973. Heavy losses may be expected on the Atchafalaya River side of the levee in Morgan City.

Source:

National Weather Service Hydrolgic Outlook

Twenty Louisiana parishes have now declared a state of emergency to prepare for flooding, including:

• Ascension
• Assumption
• Avoyelles
• Catahoula
• Concordia
• East Baton Rouge
• East Carroll
• Iberia
• Iberville
• LaSalle
• Madison
• Pointe Coupee
• Saint James
• Saint Landry
• Saint. Martin
• Saint Mary
• Tensas
• Terrebonne
• West. Baton Rouge
• West Feliciana

The Mississippi River is expected to Crest as follows:

Baton Rouge (flood stage is 35 feet): projection is 47.5 feet on afternoon of 5/23.We are at flood stage right now in Baton Rouge - the levees here protect the city until 48 feet. The expected crest in Baton Rouge is around the level of the record flood of 1927 (48 feet).

Donaldsonville (flood state is 27 feet): projection is 36 feet on evening of 5/23. This is within about two feet of the top of the levee and ties the record level (1927).

Red River Landing (flood stage is 68 feet): projection is around 65.5 feet on morning of 5/23. This is more than four feet above the highest level on record.

Reserve (flood stage is 22 feet): projection is 25 feet on morning of 5/24. Within one foot of major flood stage and within one foot of the record level (1929 - 26 feet).

Tallulah (flood stage is 43 feet): projection is around 57.5 feet on the morning of 5/20. Rose more than a foot in the last 24 hours and is projected to rise a foot a day for the next six days.

Vidalia (flood stage is 48 feet): projection is around 64 feet on the morning of 5/22. Right now it is at 52 feet - has come up a foot in the last 24 hours, and will continue to go up about a foot a day.

Louisiana Insurance Laws are found primarily in Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 22. The laws are set forth as follows:

Continue reading "Where Are Louisiana Insurance Laws Found?" »

Colorado State University hurricane research team predicts a 72 percent chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. coastline in 2011 (the long-term average probability is 52 percent).

There is a 50 percent probability of a hurricane coming ashore in the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama Gulf coast and Florida panhandle region.

Source:

See The 2011 Colorado State University Report

HD HAIL DAMAGED VEHICLE

Indicates a motor vehicle has sustained cosmetic damages caused by hail and equivalent to seventy-five percent or more. Out-of-state titles reflecting water damage must also be shown on subsequent transactions. The hail damage code must be entered on the computer as "HD" which will brand the title "Hail Damaged". It will become a permanent part of that vehicles' history.

If you need help with your Gretna, Louisiana hail insurance claim, call a Hail Damage Insurance Lawyer.

Source:

FlagCodes and Flag definitions -062010.pdf