Louisiana Hurricane Insurance Claim Lawyer | Houma
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Hurricane Insurance Lawyer Louisiana
Experienced Louisiana Hurricane Insurance Attorney
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Injured? Joe Knows.
No Fee Unless We Win
Insurance company lowballing your storm claim or dragging their feet? We fight them. You focus on rebuilding. No fee unless we recover.
- Trusted since 1977 — 45+ years fighting for South Louisiana families
- A real person answers 24/7 — no voicemail, no robots, no out-of-state call center
- No junior associates on your case. Joe works with every client directly
- No fee unless we win. Free consultation. Multi-million-dollar recoveries.
45+Years Serving South Louisiana
1989Firm Founded in Houma
MillionsRecovered for LA Families
24/7Live Answering — No Robots
Your home is damaged, your business is shut down, and the insurance company is lowballing you or denying the claim entirely. You need a Houma hurricane claim lawyer who has been fighting Louisiana insurers for decades — from Hurricane Andrew to Ida to today.
The Storm Was Bad Enough. Your Insurance Company Shouldn’t Make It Worse.
You paid your premiums for years. You did what a responsible homeowner or business owner does. Then Ida, Delta, Zeta, Laura, or the next named storm hit — and your insurance carrier delayed. Underpaid. Denied. Blamed the damage on “flood.” Offered you a fraction of what it costs to actually rebuild. Sent an adjuster who spent 20 minutes on your property and disappeared.
That’s not just frustrating. Under Louisiana law, it’s illegal. Louisiana Revised Statutes 22:1892 and 22:1973 require insurers to pay covered claims within specific deadlines — and if they don’t act in good faith, you can recover penalties, attorney’s fees, and damages on top of the policy amount. That’s the leverage. That’s what makes them pay.
I’m Joe Kopfler. I’ve practiced law in Houma since 1977. I’ve handled hurricane insurance disputes for Terrebonne Parish homeowners and business owners for four decades — from Andrew, to Lili, to Katrina, to Gustav, to Ike, to Isaac, to Laura, to Delta, to Zeta, to Ida, and every storm in between. I know these carriers. I know their playbook. I know how to make them pay what they owe you.
Injured? Call Now — 985-851-3311 — a real person answers 24/7. No voicemail. No robot.
Get A Free Consult
Areas We Serve
Kopfler & Hermann represents storm-damaged homeowners and businesses across South Louisiana, including:
Types of Hurricane Claims We Handle
Why the Insurance Company Is Fighting You
Because they can — unless someone forces them to stop. The typical carrier playbook after a major storm looks like this:
- Delay. They stall the inspection. They lose the file. They pass you between adjusters. They wait until you’re desperate enough to take pennies.
- Deny. They call it flood damage (not covered under the homeowners’ policy). They call it wear and tear. They call it a pre-existing condition. They call it wind-driven rain excluded by an endorsement most people never knew existed.
- Underpay. They send an out-of-state adjuster who low-balls the scope, the pricing, or the depreciation. They pay you 30 to 60 cents on the dollar and hope you sign the release.
- Divide. They pay a small “undisputed” amount hoping you’ll go away.
Every one of those tactics has a Louisiana-law counter. That’s the fight. That’s what we do.
You don’t pay unless we win. Call 985-851-3311 now for a free case review.
Why Choose Kopfler & Hermann
- 45+ years of Louisiana hurricane insurance litigation. Joe Kopfler has fought carriers in this state through every major storm since he was admitted to the Bar in 1977.
- A real person answers your call 24/7. After a storm, you don’t have time to wait for a callback.
- No fee unless we win. No consultation cost, no expenses out of your pocket.
- Local knowledge. We know Louisiana carriers, Louisiana defense firms, and Louisiana judges — especially in the 32nd JDC and federal court in the Eastern District.
- We handle everything. You don’t deal with the carrier, the adjuster, or their lawyers. We do.
- Multi-million-dollar recoveries for South Louisiana property owners (see results below).
What Should You Do After a Hurricane?
- Document everything. Photos and video of every damaged room, structure, and item — inside and outside — before you clean up anything.
- Report the claim in writing to your insurance carrier as soon as possible. Get the claim number and adjuster’s name.
- Do temporary repairs to prevent further damage (tarps on the roof, boarded windows) — but save the receipts.
- Do not throw away damaged property until the adjuster has documented it. Photos of everything before disposal.
- Keep every receipt for temporary housing, food, and living expenses if you’re displaced (Additional Living Expense claims).
- Do not sign a release, waiver, or “proof of loss” the adjuster hands you until you understand exactly what you’re agreeing to.
- Call 985-851-3311 the moment the carrier delays, denies, or underpays. 24/7 live answer.
Call 985-851-3311 right now. A real person answers 24/7. Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
How a Louisiana Hurricane Insurance Lawyer Can Help
- Read every page of your policy — declarations, endorsements, exclusions, and riders — and tell you exactly what’s covered.
- Hire independent estimators, engineers, and contractors to document the true scope of damage.
- Send the carrier the statutory notices required to trigger penalties under LA R.S. 22:1892 and 22:1973.
- Handle every phone call, letter, and email so the stalling stops.
- File suit in the 32nd JDC or federal court when the carrier refuses to pay fairly.
- Recover the policy amount you’re owed, plus statutory penalties, attorney’s fees, and bad-faith damages when the law allows.
How Long Do You Have to File a Hurricane Insurance Claim in Louisiana?
Most Louisiana property insurance policies require you to file suit within two years of the loss (or the date of denial) under Louisiana’s statutory prescription for property insurance disputes. Some policies impose shorter suit-limitation clauses. Some carriers waive them by their conduct. Some legislative extensions have applied after major declared disasters.
The bottom line: don’t assume you have time. Every day you wait, evidence disappears — damaged property gets repaired, adjusters change carriers, witnesses forget, receipts get lost. Call 985-851-3311 for a free case review and we’ll tell you exactly where your deadline stands.
How Much Does a Hurricane Insurance Lawyer Cost?
Nothing up front. We work on contingency — you don’t pay unless we win. That means no consultation fee, no hourly billing, no expenses out of your pocket. If we don’t recover money for you, you don’t owe us a dime. When we do recover, Louisiana’s bad-faith statutes often mean the carrier — not you — pays part or all of the attorney’s fees on top of your policy amount.
Injured? Call Now — 985-851-3311 — a real person answers 24/7. No voicemail. No robot.
Get A Free Consult
Hurricane & Property Insurance Case Results
Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. See full disclaimer below.
- $1,800,000 — Terrebonne Homeowner Bad-Faith Claim. Multi-million-dollar recovery against a homeowners’ carrier that delayed and denied after a major storm.
- $1,200,000 — Commercial Property Wind Loss. Business interruption and structural damage claim resolved against a national commercial carrier.
- $675,000 — Lafourche Roof & Interior Claim. Wind-vs-flood dispute resolved after suit filed in the 32nd JDC.
- $425,000 — Houma Duplex Loss. Underpayment claim brought under LA R.S. 22:1892 with statutory penalties.
- $310,000 — Small Business Contents Claim. Bayou Cane commercial contents and business income loss.
- $220,000 — Homeowner Wind-Driven Rain Dispute. Denied claim reopened and settled after suit was filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
My claim was denied because they said it was flood damage. Do I have a case?
Very possibly. Wind-vs-flood disputes are one of the most common hurricane insurance battles in Louisiana. The carrier has the burden of proving the damage was flood (excluded) rather than wind (covered). We hire independent engineers to document the true cause and force the carrier’s hand. Don’t accept a denial letter as the final word.
The adjuster paid me something. Can I still sue for more?
Yes — unless you signed a full release. Partial payments do not settle the entire claim. If the adjuster underpaid, you can still pursue the difference plus penalties under Louisiana bad-faith statutes. Bring us the paperwork and we’ll tell you what’s still on the table.
It’s been over a year since the storm. Am I too late?
Maybe, maybe not. Louisiana’s prescription period for property insurance disputes is generally two years, but specific policy limitations and carrier conduct can shorten or extend it. After major declared disasters, the Louisiana legislature has sometimes granted extensions. Call us today and we’ll tell you exactly where you stand. Don’t wait another day.
What is “bad faith” and why does it matter?
Louisiana Revised Statutes 22:1892 and 22:1973 make it illegal for an insurance carrier to arbitrarily delay, deny, or underpay a covered claim. When they do, we can recover statutory penalties, attorney’s fees, and additional damages on top of the policy amount. That’s the leverage that makes them pay you fairly instead of dragging it out.
Do I need a public adjuster or a lawyer?
It depends on where you are in the process. A public adjuster can help document your loss early on. A lawyer becomes necessary the moment the carrier denies, delays, or underpays — because only a lawyer can file suit, take depositions, and invoke Louisiana’s bad-faith statutes. We work with public adjusters when it makes sense, and we take over when the fight starts.
LET JOE FIGHT FOR YOU
If you or a loved one has been hurt, don’t wait. Call Kopfler & Hermann today for a free consultation. A real person answers 24/7 — not a voicemail, not a robot. Joe Kopfler has practiced law in Terrebonne Parish since 1977 and has spent more than four decades fighting insurance companies and getting real money for South Louisiana families. You pay nothing unless we win. Your case matters — let’s get it done.
Get A Free Consult Free Case Review
Office Location
Kopfler & Hermann, Attorneys at Law
306 Grinage Street, Suite 400
Houma, LA 70360
Phone: (985) 851-3311 | 985-851-3311
24/7 Live Answering | Serving Terrebonne, Lafourche & St. Mary Parish
The verdicts and settlements referenced are representative of cases handled by Kopfler & Hermann and are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of any other claim. Every case is different and past results do not guarantee future outcomes. No fee unless we recover on your behalf; client may be responsible for case costs and expenses. Joseph G. Kopfler is licensed to practice law in Louisiana.
