At Hamilton Rucker, PC, we understand the frustration and financial burden that construction defects can place on Texas property owners. That’s why our attorneys are dedicated to helping you recover the compensation you deserve from negligent general contractors, architects, and other professionals involved in shoddy construction work. If you’re dealing with construction defects, we can help you get your life back on track.
At Hamilton Rucker, we don’t take cases that we don’t think we can win. Before taking on your case, we investigate the facts of your building and develop the strongest argument possible. We pursue compensation on your behalf so that you can focus on your day-to-day responsibilities.
Dealing with unexpected repair costs and inflated bills? Let Hamilton Rucker help you get the compensation you deserve.
Insurance Recovery
Texas Bad Faith Insurance Lawyers
At Hamilton Rucker, our number one priority is getting our clients the compensation they deserve. We help property owners and administrators in Texas recover compensation when their insurance company has wrongfully denied or delayed claims. We specialize in insurance coverage disputes, and we have a team of experienced lawyers who are ready to help you. If you’re dealing with a delayed or denied property damage claim, we can help you get the compensation you need.
At Hamilton Rucker, we have a unique process for resolving insurance bad faith cases, which allows our clients to recover quickly and completely. However, if litigation is necessary, we are well prepared and knowledgeable about all types of insurance policies, which enables us to take on large insurance companies and their teams of lawyers.
If you have suffered financial loss because your insurance company failed to pay your claim, our attorneys can help.
We work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Call Now for a no-cost or obligation discussion of your rights.
Call 713-589-2960 Or Connect Online at HamiltonRucker.com
We understand how frustrating it can be when your insurance company denies, delays, or disputes your valid property damage claim. We also know the financial hardship that this can cause for policyholders.
Our firm specializes in bad faith insurance cases, and we have a wealth of experience fighting insurance companies who act in their own interests rather than those of their policyholders. Some of the most common examples of bad faith insurance practices include:
- Intentionally underpaying on a valid claim
- Intentionally failing to investigate a claim properly
- Wrongfully denying a valid claim
- Failing to include all damaged property in an insurance payment
- Ignoring expert recommendations
Insurance companies often prey on those who have recently been struck by some form of disaster, whether it be extreme weather, a natural disaster, or an accident. This is because these policy holders are vulnerable and desperate for help. To avoid being taken advantage of by your insurance company, it’s important to be aware of their common tactics and to know your rights as a policy holder.
Bad faith disputes often arise after a catastrophe, such as:
Hurricanes
Hurricanes are a serious threat to property owners in the Gulf Coast region. When a hurricane hits, insurance companies are required to pay for all physical damage to the property, including roof and shingle damage, roofs blown off entirely, wind damage to windows and seals, brick wall issues, and any associated water damage.
Flooding
Flooding from natural disasters is typically covered under the National Flood Insurance Program. Because of this, private insurance companies often try to blame as much damage as possible on flooding so that they don’t have to pay. If your insurer is trying to avoid paying for damage that’s covered under their policy, an insurance bad faith lawyer can help you make them pay.
Fires
Fires can cause a lot of damage, and often insurance companies try to weasel their way out of paying for it. They’ll try to claim that smoke damage didn’t happen, or that it’s not as bad as it seems. But HVAC experts know that smoke damage can contaminate an entire building through the HVAC system. And if the ducts are contaminated, they need to be removed and replaced. But insurance companies often refuse to pay for these necessary repairs. They also commonly refuse to replace drywall and other building materials that have been wetted by fire sprinklers or the fire department’s actions. So if you’ve been affected by a fire, make sure you fight for the compensation you deserve.
Insurance companies are often quick to say that a wet or damp building just needs to be dried out, without considering the long-term consequences of moisture damage. This can cause serious problems down the line, and property owners may end up footing the bill.
Wind
Wind policies are important for anyone who lives in an area with a high risk of hurricanes or severe storms. A typical wind policy covers damage caused directly by the wind, such as a roof that has been torn off or shingles that have been ripped off. The policy should also cover damage caused by wind-driven rain, which can enter the building through cracks or holes. When wind damage occurs, insurance companies may try to claim that it was caused by an existing construction defect in the building. However, even if construction is defective, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a covered cause of loss under your policy.
Hail
Hail can cause some serious problems in just a few seconds. It can damage roofs, which over time leads to water leaks and a shorter lifespan for the roof. Hail can also affect HVAC units, making them less functional and driving up air conditioning costs. And finally, insurance companies are required to cover any damage that hail causes – from small problems to more complex issues.
Tornados
Tornados are one of the most dangerous and destructive natural disasters. They can damage homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. After a tornado, insurance companies often dispute the amount of wind damage that occurred and whether or not damaged material needs to be removed and replaced.
Tornado damage can be extensive, and repairing it can be costly. Insurance companies tend to “overlook” broken window seals—one of the most common coverable tornado losses – because the only way to fix a broken seal is to remove and replace the window unit. When a window is removed, it almost always reveals moisture due to rain that accompanied the tornado – another physical loss the insurer must cover and often doesn’t unless they are forced to do so.
If you’ve been hit by a tornado, it’s important to document the damage carefully and work with your insurance company to get the repairs you need.
Negligence
No one’s perfect, and accidents happen. That’s why insurance companies have to pay for any physical losses that were caused by genuine accidents. It doesn’t matter how the damage occurred, as long as it happened by accident, your policy has got you covered.
Many insurance companies will do everything in their power to avoid paying up on a policy, even if it means stringing the policyholder along until they have no other choice but to accept a low-ball payment.
This is particularly true for business entities, who are supposed to be compensated for business interruption losses. However, insurance companies often intentionally delay this payment in order to pressure the policy holder into accepting less money than they are actually owed.
The lawyers at Hamilton Rucker, PC have extensive experience taking on bad faith insurers and helping property owners recover the damages and payment they’re entitled to under their policy.
If you think you may have a bad faith insurance claim, don’t hesitate to contact us today at 713-589-2960.
Some of the largest and most well-known insurance companies in Texas have been involved in bad faith litigation, including:
- Union Standard
- AIG
- Lexington Insurance
- Travelers
- Chubb
- Tokio Marine
- Philadelphia
- Liberty Mutual
- Hartford
Bad faith insurers often use a variety of strategies to save or make money at the expense of their policy holders. For example, insurance companies may rely on “independent” adjusters and experts to evaluate claims, but more often than not, these hardly-independent adjusters interpret losses in the insurance company’s favor.
Another common strategy of bad faith insurance companies is intentionally stalling payment. Each time an insurance company requests more information from a policyholder to make a claim, this can add more stress and frustration to an already difficult situation.
Some insurance companies will try to take advantage of a policy provision that allows them to ask for more information. They might ask for information that has already been provided, or they might drag out the claims process by continually asking for more information. If you think your insurance company is deliberately delaying payment or using another tactic to prevent you from receiving what you’re owed, you may have a viable bad faith claim.
Contact Hamilton Rucker, PC for a free case evaluation to learn your options. If we take your case, you pay nothing unless we win.
Do You Believe You Have an Insurance Bad Faith Claim?
Our Texas Lawyers Will Evaluate and Let You Know Your Legal Options.
What Sets Hamilton Rucker, PC Lawyers Apart?
Being prepared is key when going into battle against insurance companies and their team of lawyers. Our firm takes an aggressive approach from the get-go and prepares our clients as if we are going to face off against them in court. This proactive method not only puts our clients in a good place for litigation, but it also has been known to enable a quicker resolution with a full recovery.
At Hamilton Rucker, PC our lawyers have the experience and knowledge necessary to take on insurance companies. We’re well versed in policy language and terms, and we know the strategies that bad faith insurers use. We’ve handled all types of policies and losses, and we’re confident in our ability to get you the maximum financial damages available. Our methodical preparation and experience with bad faith litigation allows us to resolve insurance disputes efficiently. And because we work on a contingency basis, you don’t have to worry about upfront costs.
Call Hamilton Rucker, PC Now – There are strict time limits on insurance claims, bad faith or otherwise.
