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Louisiana Commercial Property Insurance Claims Attorneys

Help for commercial policyholders in the Gulf Coast and New Orleans

As the owner of a company or business, you rely on your insurance to protect nearly everything you have. Insurance coverage can protect your property, inventory, employees, and all the things you’ve worked so hard to achieve. When disaster strikes and you turn to your insurance company for help, you expect to get it. However, when they delay or deny a valid claim, you may need legal help.

A Louisiana insurance dispute lawyer from Warhurst Law fights for commercial property owners. Firm founder Gene Warhurst brings knowledge and strategies from his previous experience as an insurance adjuster to the table – helping you avoid the common tactics and pitfalls insurance companies employ.

Areas of Focus

What types of commercial insurance claims does your firm handle?

The attorneys at Warhurst Law represent a variety of clients in Louisiana when they need assistance with their commercial claims. Let our team represent you in insurance matters involving:

Brick and mortar stores
Business property
Farms (family and industrial)
Gas stations and convenience stores
Investment property

Long-term hotels and motels
Multi-family dwellings
Nursing homes
Storage facilities
Warehouses

If your claim is denied or delayed, contact us as soon as possible and we can help you with an appeal.

Our Case Results

$2.4 Million Settlement in Commercial Tornado Claim

Warhurst Law secured $2.2 million in additional recovery for a lumber mill damaged in a tornado.

Our attorneys get results

Warhurst Law has a strong record of success in securing the compensation New Orleans and Louisiana policyholders deserve when their business property suffers losses. Some of these settlements include:

$26 million settlement for an apartment complex previously offered $3 million
$11 million settlement for an apartment complex’s property damage, settled pre-suit
$5.4 million in additional compensation for an apartment complex for wind damage in a storm
$2.37 million in additional funds for a tornado claim
$2.2 million settlement for an A/C business which was originally offered $200,000
$1.3 million settlement for a radio station originally offered $19,000

We can help you, too.

What should my Louisiana commercial insurance policy cover?

Before purchasing any type of commercial or business insurance, ensure you review the policy with experienced attorneys. It’s important your policy is tailored to your specific needs and cover as many losses as possible. The main policies available to businesses include:

Auto insurance, which provides comprehensive coverage if your business has company cars and trucks.
Business interruption insurance, which helps cover lost income if your business comes to a halt due to damages.
Flood insurance, which is typically a separate policy. The National Flood Insurance Program is a federal program that assists with this. If you work in a city like New Orleans, you must consider flood insurance.
Liability insurance, which covers you if someone is hurt on your property, or if actions on your end causes some sort of loss.
Property insurance, which protects against disasters like hurricanes, fires, vandalism, theft, and other losses and damages to your building and surrounding property.

Depending on the nature of your business, you may need additional coverage, like cybercrime insurance, equipment breakdown insurance, or workers’ compensation insurance. Our Louisiana attorneys can provide the guidance you need to make informed decisions.

As you can see, commercial insurance can be complicated, necessitating many policies to protect your interests. In the event of a loss, it can take some work to figure out which policy should go into effect.

What types of damages does Louisiana commercial insurance cover?

After events like hurricanes, fires, or theft, your insurance should cover damages and losses to your business property, including:

Foundation
Interior
Roof
Siding and exterior walls
Signs and outdoor lighting
Windows and doors

Depending on your insurance policy, this coverage may be more or less. Ensure you read your policy thoroughly to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Why did my insurance company deny my commercial insurance claim?

Your insurance company cannot deny a claim without conducting a reasonable investigation, as well as providing a rational explanation for the denial. Doing otherwise may be acting in bad faith, in which case you may be able to take legal action against them.

Insurance companies are notorious for denying valid commercial claims. There are a variety of reasons they may give you, including claiming that the:

Cost of damage and repair is below the deductible amount
Damage isn’t within the scope of your insurance policy
Damage was caused by improper maintenance
Damages are less than what you are claiming
Property damage is just normal wear and tear
Property was old and in disrepair
Property wasn’t up to local building codes

No insurance claim in Louisiana can be denied without a reasonable investigation of your claim and a detailed explanation of the denial. If this happens to you, contact the attorneys at Warhurst Law – we will investigate and determine whether or not your insurance company is acting in bad faith. Then, we get to work negotiating or litigating your settlement.

My business suffered damage in a storm. What should I do first?

However your business property experienced damage – weather, vandalism, burst pipes – the most important thing you can do is document, document, document. Before you begin cleaning up or tossing anything away, ensure you take photos and/or video of the damage as it stands. Taking the following steps can build the foundation for a strong insurance claim.

Document the date and time of the event that caused the damage
Take photos and videos of all the damage, with multiple views and angles if possible
List all the property and inventory lost, damaged, or destroyed, along with their estimated current market value
Get repair estimates and opinions from multiple contractors
When the insurance adjuster comes to assess the damage, have a contractor present
Finally, never sign anything or verbally accept a settlement without consulting an attorney as you might forfeit your right to appeal or litigate

If your New Orleans commercial claim was denied or delayed, don’t give up. Insurance companies want to keep their money, of course, so one of their tactics is to simply tire you out. However, our attorneys don’t get tired and we’ll pick up the fight for you.

Helping Louisiana business owners with commercial insurance disputes

After a loss that affects your business, the sooner you get results from your insurance company, the better. Your income and your employees’ incomes depend on it. If your insurance company is pushing back when you need them most, the insurance dispute attorneys at Warhurst Law can advocate for you. We understand the ins and outs of commercial insurance policies and we’re ready to help. To make an appointment for a consultation, call 251-694-1932 or complete our contact form. We represent clients on the Gulf Coast, New Orleans, and throughout the Southeast.

* Warhurst Law cannot and does not guarantee an outcome to any case.