Hurricanes can destroy roofs, walls, windows, and entire structures in minutes. We help homeowners and business owners pursue insurance claims and litigation when insurers undervalue, unreasonably delay, or outright deny legitimate property damage claims after a storm. We bring in independent experts to counter low-ball adjuster estimates and fight for the full replacement value of your loss.

Storm surge and flooding cause some of the most catastrophic and widespread losses in Louisiana. We represent clients whose flood damage claims have been wrongfully denied or underpaid by insurance carriers — including disputes involving National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies and private flood insurance. When insurers dispute the source or extent of flooding, we work with engineers and hydrologists to establish causation and value.

When an insurance company unreasonably delays, underpays, or outright denies a valid hurricane claim, they may be acting in bad faith under Louisiana law. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 22:1892 and 22:1973, insurers who arbitrarily deny or delay valid claims can face penalty damages of up to 50% of the claim value, plus attorney fees. We evaluate every case for bad faith potential and pursue these additional remedies aggressively when the insurer’s conduct warrants it.

Hurricane-force winds cause significant damage to roofs, siding, fences, outbuildings, and personal property. Insurers frequently attempt to attribute wind damage to pre-existing conditions, maintenance failures, or excluded causes to reduce their payout. We challenge these attributions with independent engineering assessments and fight for coverage of every dollar of legitimate wind-related loss.

Hurricanes force businesses to close their doors — sometimes for weeks or months. Business interruption coverage is designed to replace lost income and cover ongoing expenses during that period, but insurers routinely dispute the scope and duration of covered losses. We help business owners recover the full value of their lost income, extra expenses, and extended period of restoration claims when insurers fail to honor their policies.

Insurance companies routinely deploy adjusters and engineers whose estimates are designed to protect the insurer’s bottom line — not to accurately reflect your loss. We challenge underpayments and outright denials with independent damage assessments, contractor estimates, and expert testimony to recover the full value of your covered losses.

Moisture intrusion after a hurricane leads to mold growth and structural deterioration that, if untreated, can render a home uninhabitable. We represent clients whose mold remediation and secondary damage claims have been denied or excluded — despite coverage under their policies — and fight to hold insurers accountable for the full scope of storm-related damage.

When a hurricane renders a home or structure a total loss, insurers often dispute the replacement value and push actual cash value (ACV) settlements that are far below what it costs to rebuild. We advocate for fair replacement cost valuations and challenge low-ball ACV offers that fail to reflect the true cost of reconstruction in Louisiana’s post-storm market.

After a hurricane, unlicensed and unscrupulous contractors take advantage of vulnerable property owners — collecting payment for repairs that are never completed or that cause additional damage. When contractor fraud or defective repairs compound your storm losses, we pursue all available legal remedies on your behalf, including claims against contractors, bonding companies, and licensing authorities.

Failures in levees, drainage systems, pump stations, or other public infrastructure can turn a manageable storm into a catastrophe — as Louisiana has witnessed firsthand. We evaluate claims against government entities whose negligence contributed to flood damage or property loss, including the complex procedural requirements that apply to lawsuits against state and local government bodies in Louisiana.

We handle hurricane damage cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket. We only get paid when we recover compensation for you — and if we do not win, you owe us nothing.

Our attorneys have gone up against large insurance carriers and understand how they evaluate, dispute, and deny claims. We know how to build the strongest possible case — including obtaining independent engineering and damage assessments, retaining expert witnesses, and taking cases to trial when insurers refuse to pay what they owe.

We live and work in the communities we serve. Our offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette put us close to the clients who need us most — and give us firsthand knowledge of how Louisiana storms affect our communities and what it actually costs to rebuild here.

We do not let insurance companies dictate the value of your loss. We bring in independent experts to assess damage, challenge adjuster estimates, and fight for every dollar you are owed under your policy. When insurers act in bad faith, we pursue penalty damages and attorney fees under Louisiana law.

We review your situation at no cost and give you an honest assessment of your options — including whether you have a bad faith claim, what your policy actually covers, and what your case may be worth. Call 888-601-0127 to get started.

Photograph and video every area of damage — roof, walls, windows, interior, contents, outbuildings, and surrounding property — before any cleanup or temporary repairs begin. Take wide shots to establish context and close-ups to capture specific damage. This documentation is the foundation of your insurance claim and cannot be recreated once repairs begin or debris is cleared.

You have a duty to mitigate further damage — for example, tarping a destroyed roof to prevent additional water intrusion. However, avoid making permanent repairs until your insurer has inspected the property. Document all emergency repairs with photos and keep every receipt. Your insurer must cover the cost of reasonable emergency repairs made to prevent further damage.

Notify your insurance company of the damage as soon as possible after the storm. Louisiana law and your policy require prompt notice — delay can give your insurer grounds to dispute your claim. Keep a written record of every communication with your insurer, including dates, times, and the names of representatives you speak with.

Do not sign a settlement agreement, release, or proof of loss without first consulting a hurricane damage attorney. Early settlement offers from insurers are almost always lower than the full value of your loss — and once you sign a release, you cannot go back for more even if additional damage is discovered. A lawyer can review any offer and advise you on whether it is fair.

A public adjuster can be a valuable ally in documenting and valuing your damages, but they are not attorneys — they cannot provide legal advice, pursue bad faith claims, or litigate on your behalf. If your insurer is disputing your claim, undervaluing your losses, or acting in bad faith, an experienced hurricane damage attorney provides legal expertise that goes beyond what a public adjuster can offer. An attorney and public adjuster can work together effectively in complex claims.

Louisiana law generally requires you to file a lawsuit within one year of the date of loss for property damage claims under an insurance policy. However, this deadline can vary based on your specific policy terms and the type of claim involved. For claims against government entities — such as infrastructure failure claims — the deadline may be as short as 90 days. Do not wait to contact an attorney. Missing a deadline can permanently bar your right to recover.

Yes. If your insurer wrongfully denies, underpays, or unreasonably delays your hurricane damage claim, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit. Under Louisiana’s bad faith statutes — La. R.S. 22:1892 and 22:1973 — you may also be entitled to penalty damages of up to 50% of the claim value and attorney fees in addition to your covered losses. An attorney can evaluate whether your insurer’s conduct rises to the level of bad faith.

You are not required to accept the first offer from your insurer — or any offer. Insurance companies frequently send adjusters whose primary job is to minimize the payout, not to accurately assess your losses. An experienced hurricane damage attorney can review your policy, obtain independent damage assessments from contractors and engineers, and negotiate for the full amount you are owed. Do not sign anything until you have spoken with a lawyer.

Wind and flood damage are typically covered by separate policies — your homeowner’s policy for wind and a separate flood policy (NFIP or private) for flooding. Insurers sometimes dispute which policy is responsible for specific damage — a tactic known as the “concurrent cause” dispute — to reduce their individual payout. We work with engineers and damage experts to properly attribute damage categories and pursue the right policy for each type of loss.

Possibly — especially if your insurer is disputing the claim, acting in bad faith, or if litigation becomes necessary. A public adjuster can document and value your damages, but they cannot provide legal advice, pursue bad faith claims, or represent you in court. When an insurance company disputes your claim or refuses to pay what you are owed, an attorney provides legal expertise and litigation capability that goes beyond what a public adjuster can offer. The two can work together effectively.

Insurance bad faith occurs when an insurer fails to handle your claim fairly, promptly, and in accordance with the terms of your policy. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 22:1892 and 22:1973, insurers who arbitrarily deny or delay valid claims — or who make a settlement offer that is less than the amount owed — can face penalty damages of up to 50% of the claim value plus attorney fees. Our attorneys evaluate every hurricane damage case for bad faith potential and pursue these additional remedies when the insurer’s conduct warrants it.

Document everything with photos and video before any cleanup begins. For a full step-by-step guide, see what to do after a hurricane damages your property in Louisiana. Make only emergency repairs necessary to prevent further damage — and document and save receipts for those repairs. Report the damage to your insurer promptly and keep a record of all communications. Do not make permanent repairs until your insurer has inspected the property. And do not sign any settlement agreement or release without first speaking with a hurricane damage attorney. For the complete step-by-step breakdown, see our hurricane property damage guide.

Nothing upfront. Mansfield Melancon handles hurricane damage cases on a contingency fee basis — no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no out-of-pocket expenses. We only get paid when we recover compensation for you. If we do not win, you owe us nothing.