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A tornado with lightning and dark clouds.In March, New Orleans and much of the southwestern United States suffered devastating tornadoes that tore through communities and did millions of dollars in damage. Private property owners have seen their lives turned upside down due to these storms, and many don’t know where to turn for help.

Tornado damage and other storm damage can take everything in the blink of an eye, and it can be a daunting task when it comes to working with the insurance companies, but help is available. Learn what to do if you suffered damage from the New Orleans storms and you’re having trouble with your insurance claims.

Dealing With Tornado Damage Insurance Claims

A tree crushing a truck after falling during a tornado.The United States experiences more tornado damage than anywhere in the world, with an average of 1,200 tornadoes touching down every year. These tornadoes cause more than $10 billion in damage annually and over 1,500 deaths and injuries.

The recent EF-3 tornado that hit New Orleans had peak winds of up to 160 miles per hour and tore a 320-yard-wide swath through local communities.

Here’s the good news: Unlike many other types of storm damage like hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, tornadoes are often covered under your basic homeowners insurance policy. Of course, insurance companies are still always looking for reasons to deny coverage because they don’t make money by paying claims.

If you have been denied, even if they give a very technical and legitimate-sounding reason for it, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion or call for help. The right tornado damage attorney can look at your claim and your policy and fight to get you the help you need.

Compensation You Can Collect

You may be entitled to receive compensation for a wide range of damages from the recent New Orleans storms. Your policy should cover you for everything including: water damage, damage to properties from the collapse of structures, and automobile damage if a tree fell on your car. You can be covered for leaking roofs, broken pipes, and many other factors.

What Not To Do

Homeowners meeting with their insurance agent to discuss their claim.One thing you should never do is try to handle the problem without representation. Never sign anything the insurance company sends you before speaking to an attorney. Insurance companies will almost always send a very low offer at first. Their hope is that you will simply sign it and they can move on to their next client. If you refuse, they might try any number of tactics to convince you. They may even get mean and threaten you with no settlement at all.

Understand that after you report the damage, you don’t even have to talk to them. You have every right to refer them to your tornado damage insurance claims attorney. This can often change things very quickly.

Our Team Is Here For You

Don’t let the insurance company push you into accepting an offer below exactly what you deserve. Our Disaster Insurance Claims team at Long & Long, Attorneys at Law, can take over the stress of negotiating your settlement so you can focus on rebuilding your life. We’ll field all calls from the insurance company and collect evidence from your case to give you the best shot at maximum compensation. We also work on contingency, which means you don’t owe us anything for an initial consultation, and we won’t charge a fee at all unless you get your settlement.

We have recovered over $500 million in insurance settlements for those along the Gulf Coast and beyond. We’re ready to step up and fight for you. If you need help navigating your disaster insurance claim, get in touch with us, and get your free policy review today.