Insurance Attorneys With Over
50 Years Of Combined Experience

Can an insurance company ignore a homeowner’s claims?

On Behalf of | Oct 6, 2024 | Property Damage Insurance Claims |

Hurricanes, violent winds and even extreme thunderstorms can cause substantial property damage. Texas homeowners typically have property insurance policies that can pay to repair storm damage. However, when some homeowners file claims, they do not get the response they want. In fact, they may not receive any response at all. Insurance professionals sometimes go to great lengths to avoid covering losses reported by policyholders. In some cases, they may ignore claims and pretend they did not receive a request for payment from a policyholder.

How can policyholders avoid a scenario in which they end up in claims limbo due to an insurance company ignoring them?

Send written notice with delivery confirmation

The United States Postal Service (USPS) provides many different options for delivering letters. The simplest and cheapest is to simply send a letter with a basic stamp attached. Almost all letters sent that way reach their intended destination.

However, the sender cannot prove that they followed the right steps and submitted the necessary paperwork. Sending initial notice of a covered loss via registered or certified mail with a delivery receipt attached is a sure way to sidestep attempts at manipulation by insurance providers.

When policyholders can prove that the company received their notice, they can also prove that the company may have violated the law by ignoring their initial communications about an upcoming claim. Typically, insurance companies only have 15 days from the receipt of the initial notice to confirm the communication with the policyholder and provide them with any necessary forms.

Insurance companies might pretend that they did not receive notices as a means of delaying the claims process or deterring people from pursuing the compensation they deserve. When policyholders can prove that an insurance company received their notice through the mail, they can then demand accountability.

Delaying claims processing unnecessarily is one type of actionable bad faith insurance practice. Policyholders who can show conclusively that an insurance company did not abide by Texas state law may be able to take legal action. The courts can help policyholders enforce their rights.

Homeowners dealing with frustrating and protracted insurance claims may need help communicating with an insurance company and holding them accountable. Learning about the basics of Texas insurance law can help people identify practices that may violate their rights as policyholders. Seeking personalized legal guidance is a good way to get started.