Navigating Wind Damage Claims in Louisiana

Strong winds can cause extreme damage to homes and businesses in Louisiana. Whether your roof has been stripped of shingles or fallen debris has smashed windows, having a skilled legal advocate for Louisiana wind damage claims can make all the difference when your insurer pushes back on a valid claim.

The Morgan Law Group, trusted Louisiana wind damage claims attorneys, stand ready to guide you through every phase of the insurance claims process, ensuring your property receives the repair and payout it deserves.

Documenting Wind Damage 

Time is of the essence after a severe storm caused damage to your property. 

• Photograph every affected area to establish the full scope of loss. 
• Gather pre-loss evidence (e.g., prior photos of intact structures) and retain all receipts for emergency repairs, such as tarping a damaged roof. 

These documents form the backbone of your proof of loss for wind damage and can be critical in negotiating a fair wind damage claim payout.

Filing a Wind Damage Claim in Louisiana

Initiating your wind damage claim without delay is essential to protect your right to coverage and streamline the recovery process. Following each step carefully ensures your insurer has all the information needed to evaluate and approve your losses.

• Prompt Notice: Contact your insurer or agent as soon as possible to start the wind damage insurance claims process in Louisiana. A delayed notice can be used to challenge your claim’s timeliness.

• Online Portals & Adjuster Visits: Many carriers provide digital portals for uploading photos, estimates, and reports. Once filed, the insurer must inspect your property, often within 30 days of receiving your proof of loss.

• Detailed Estimates: Secure written repair bids from licensed contractors to substantiate repair costs and reinforce your argument during settlement talks.

By promptly notifying your carrier, providing clear documentation through digital portals or adjuster meetings, and obtaining detailed repair estimates, you position yourself for a fair resolution and faster restoration of your property.

Common Types of Wind Damage 

Strong gusts during hurricanes and tropical storms can inflict a variety of harms:

• Shingles and gutters torn away, leaving roofs exposed
• Siding ripped loose or punctured by airborne debris
• Broken windows and compromised doors, or shutters
• Damage to outbuildings, fences, pools, sheds, and landscaping
• Tree falls that not only harm structures but also cause secondary fire risks from downed power lines

Identifying the full range of wind-related losses allows you to document every impact thoroughly and prioritize urgent repairs, setting the stage for a stronger wind damage claim.

Louisiana Insurance Coverage for Wind Damage

Most standard insurance policies typically include protection for wind damage up to the policy’s coverage limits. Yet, policy terms can vary significantly across parishes, especially those along the Gulf Coast, where carriers often require a separate endorsement.

These specialized endorsements, commonly referred to as “windstorm and hail” or “hurricane coverage,” are designed to activate only after high-velocity winds penetrate your home’s exterior. 

To ensure you have the proper safeguards in place, take these steps:

• Confirm whether your policy contains any wind-damage exclusions or limitations. Insurers must disclose endorsements and percentage deductibles clearly on this page.
• Many insurance policies impose a percentage deductible for windstorm losses, often calculated as 2-5% of your property’s insured value.
• Understand whether your policy uses “named storm” language. Losses from high winds not tied to a named storm may not qualify.

Knowing whether your policy includes a windstorm or named-storm endorsement and understanding any percentage deductible empowers you to file with confidence and avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

When Insurance Companies Deny or Underpay Claims

Although overwhelming claim volumes after a major storm can delay inspections, insurers may also engage in bad-faith conduct by:

• Prolonging inspections or stalling payment authorizations without a valid rationale, contrary to the requirement.
• Issuing damage estimates significantly below the actual cost of repairs, forcing homeowners to challenge undervalued settlements to secure fair compensation.
• Providing inaccurate or misleading information about policy terms or exclusions is a bad-faith practice.

When an insurer wrongfully denies or underpays a wind damage claim, Louisiana law empowers policyholders to pursue legal remedies. Filing a lawsuit can trigger statutory penalties, including recovery of attorney fees and treble damages in cases of proven bad faith.

Insurance Company Response and Payment Deadlines

Under Louisiana’s insurance claims timeline, insurers must:

• Acknowledge receipt of your claim promptly within 14 days of receiving the notice of loss.
• Offer a settlement within 30 days of satisfactory proof of loss.
• Pay the agreed amount within 30 days after issuing an offer.

In cases where settlement fails, policyholders have 2 years to file a lawsuit against the insurance company. 

Working with Wind Damage Attorneys in Louisiana

Dealing with a complex claim can be overwhelming, especially while managing repairs. 

Retaining legal help for wind damage claims in Louisiana ensures you have:

• A dedicated representative to handle all insurer correspondence, including handling communications, written correspondence, and documentation submissions.
• An attorney reviews your declarations page and endorsements, makes sure you meet notice provisions promptly, and advises on how to calculate deductible amounts accurately.
• With experience negotiating insurance payouts, your wind damage attorney prepares a detailed demand package, with contractor estimates, expert reports, and photographic evidence, to support a higher settlement.
• If settlement negotiations stall or the insurer raises baseless coverage defenses, your wind damage claim attorney can file suit in state court, compelling appraisal or discovery to uncover hidden policy terms and claim-handling irregularities. This legal leverage often prompts insurers to resolve claims more fairly.

When your home or business suffers wind damage, swift, informed action is vital. The Morgan Law Group, among the respected wind damage attorneys in Louisiana, combines local knowledge with proven strategies to secure the compensation you need to rebuild. 

If your insurer has delayed, denied, or undervalued your claim, let’s help you move forward with the confidence that your recovery is in capable hands. Call us at (866) 305-1690 or complete our contact form to schedule your free consultation.