Southwest Louisiana Insurance Dispute Lawyers
If you paid your insurance premiums for years only to be denied or short-changed when you filed a claim, the attorneys of Newman, Hoffoss & Devall, LLPcan step in to hold the insurance company to its contractual obligation.
Our Lake Charles law firm has been successful in settling insurance coverage disputes or suing insurers for rejecting legitimate claims. Our skilled lawyers have prevailed in hurricane damage and other insurance claims on behalf of clients throughout Southwest Louisiana.
Claim Rejected by Your Insurance Company?
Contact us today for a free case evaluation. We will review your policy and aggressively represent you in negotiations or bad faith litigation.
Insurance Coverage Problems
Newman, Hoffoss & Devall, LLP has handled a range of insurance disputes:
- Wind damage (hurricane insurance): The insurance companies try to deny these claims by attributing water damage, which is not covered. We have hired experts to prove that Hurricane Rita's high winds caused massive damage well before floodwaters finished the job.
- Fire loss: The insurance companies dig in their heels and claim arson almost every time. They will next accuse the insured of not cooperating. We can help to ensure that the proper process is followed and the insurance company is held accountable for the monies owed.
- Other homeowner's policy claims: A homeowner's policy covers other types of damages and losses in addition to fires and hurricanes. If your property is damaged or stolen it is important that you hire an attorney to review your policy for coverage. A policy may also cover personal injuries that you sustain on another's property.
- Auto insurance and Uninsured/underinsured motorist Coverage: Louisiana Law is very specific when addressing the duties that an insurance company has to the people it insures. If your insurance company fails to promptly investigate your claim and pay you the uninsured motorist monies you are owed, then they will be liable for penalties and attorney fees. Our attorneys have extensive experience in litigating this type of bad faith claims and will ensure that you are protected.
- Health insurance or disability insurance claims
We examine the policy and its exclusions, and counter the insurer's interpretation. We can usually negotiate a better settlement than the first offer, if not the policy limits.
Claude Devall, a partner of the firm, was appointed as Class counsel in a national class action lawsuit against an insurance company to enforce the payment of benefits owed under supplemental insurance policies. He has secured more than $17 million on behalf of cancer victims for underpayment of their claims.
Bad Faith Insurance Litigation
If the insurance company denies your claim without investigation or on a minor technicality, unreasonably delays payment, or intentionally offers a low settlement that does not reflect coverage obligations, it can be sued for bad faith.
Filing the lawsuit often spurs the insurer to settle the claim, because if it is found guilty of bad faith by a judge or jury, the insurance company must pay the full claim, plus penalties, attorney fees and damages.
A Representative Case
We took a major insurance carrier to trial over a vehicle property damage claim. Instead of paying the additional
$1,800 to fully settle the claim, the insurer was forced to pay our client
$24,000 for penalties, our fees, and damages for being deprived of the use of the car.
If you are having trouble with an insurance claim, call us at 337-439-5788 to arrange a free consultation with an experienced attorney of our firm.
