When someone vandalizes your business property, you will need to deal with repair costs and possible downtime. What happened wasn’t an accident; it was an illegal act. It’s frustrating, but this is why you made sure you had a solid insurance policy.
Filing a claim feels like the logical next step, but many business owners find the process harder than they expected. Insurers have multiple ways to reduce or deny a valid claim. Our Houston Heights vandalism insurance claim lawyers can help you get what you are owed.
Our team at Barcus Arenas, PLLC, has nearly two decades of combined legal experience representing property owners who are fighting for fair treatment from their insurance companies. Call today and find out how our Houston Heights insurance claims lawyers can help.
What Counts as Vandalism?
Vandalism generally refers to intentional damage to property caused by another person. Common examples more people are familiar with include broken windows, graffiti, and slashed tires. The deliberate destruction of business property falls under this definition.
Insurance policies do not always use the word vandalism in the same way. Some policies may call it malicious mischief or include it under a wider category of covered risks. The language in your policy will determine what is covered and what is not.
Reading through the policy yourself can be confusing. Our Houston Heights vandalism insurance claim attorneys can review your policy and explain what coverage you have and where your insurer may be in error.
For a free legal consultation with a vandalism insurance claim lawyer serving Houston Heights, call (800) 941-1041
How Our Lawyers Can Help With Your Vandalism Claim
Many policyholders settle for less than they’re owed simply because they didn’t know what their policy actually covered. Our team will make sure you’re not leaving money on the table. Here are some of the ways we can help:
- We review your policy in full to identify every category of coverage that applies to your situation, including coverages you may not have known to claim.
- We gather independent repair estimates so the insurer can’t rely solely on their own adjuster’s figures.
- Our team can document the full scope of your losses, including property damage, additional living expenses if your home was uninhabitable, and lost business income if your operations were disrupted.
- We challenge depreciation calculations when the insurer’s valuation doesn’t reflect what it actually costs to repair or replace your property.
- Our attorneys communicate directly with the insurer on your behalf, which changes how they handle the claim.
- We take the dispute to arbitration or file a lawsuit if the insurer refuses to pay a fair amount.
Our vandalism property insurance lawyers in Houston Heights will pursue bad faith claims under the Texas Insurance Code when the insurer delays, denies, or underpays your claim without a reasonable basis. In some cases, that can mean up to three times your actual damages.
Houston Heights Vandalism Insurance Claim Lawyer Near Me
(800) 941-1041
What to Do After Your Property is Vandalized
It is understandable if you are feeling angry and frustrated if your property has been vandalized, but now is the time for deliberate actions. Important steps that can help with your claim are:
- Call the police first. You need an official report on file before you contact your insurance company. The report number and documentation from law enforcement will support your claim.
- Take photos and video of all the damage before anything is cleaned up or repaired. Get wide shots and close-ups. Document the date and time. If there are witnesses, get their contact information.
- Contact your insurance company to report the incident. Do not guess the causes or make statements that might limit your claim later. Stick to the facts about what happened.
- Reach out to our vandalism insurance claim lawyers in Houston Heights. We can help you file your Houston Heights property insurance vandalism claim and avoid common mistakes.
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How Long Do You Have to File a Vandalism Insurance Claim?
Your insurance policy requires you to report vandalism within a specific timeframe. If you miss this deadline, your insurer may deny your claim. After your initial report, you also have a limited time to take legal action if needed.
In Texas, you usually have four years to sue an insurer for breach of contract. However, many Texas insurance policies shorten this period to two years from the date of the loss or denial.
For claims related to insurance bad faith, you must act within two years of when the unfair act happened. If you wait too long, you might lose your chance to seek recovery.
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Get Help from Our Houston Heights Vandalism Insurance Claim Attorneys
When your property is vandalized, the damage can range from a minor nuisance to a major issue that sets your business back weeks. Either way, you should be able to count on your insurer to be there for you. Instead, it can seem like they are working against you.
Insurance companies may argue about how the damage occurred, question your paperwork, or point to policy exclusions that don’t seem fair. Texas law allows you to challenge these actions, and our Houston Heights vandalism insurance claim attorneys can help.
Barcus Arenas, PLLC, represents business and commercial property owners and works to get them the benefits they are entitled to after a disaster. We get results that matter. Call today for your free consultation and tell us about your issues surrounding rental property vandalism insurance in Houston Heights.
Call or text (800) 941-1041 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
