Denied, Delayed, or Underpaid? We Fight for the Full Value.
After a qualifying event or loss, you reasonably expect your insurance claim to be promptly paid. You paid your premiums on time for this exact reason: peace of mind.
So, what happens when you do everything right, but the insurance company fails to follow through? Instead of a check, you get silence, a lowball offer, or a flat-out denial. This causes an unanticipated headache when you are already trying to recover from a disaster.
At Berniard Law Firm, we stop the games. We have over a decade of experience handling denied, delayed, and underpaid claims for clients across Louisiana. We know the tactics insurance companies use to save money, and we know how to force them to honor their policies.
The Denied Insurance Claim
“No” Is Not the Final Answer. A policy of insurance is a fiduciary indemnification contract. This means the insurance company has a legal duty to treat your claim with the same care and trust as if it were their own money. They cannot simply deny you without a “good faith” reasonable basis.
We Fight Back Against Wrongful Denials: If your claim was denied, it doesn’t mean you aren’t covered. It often means the adjuster is hoping you will give up. Our attorneys review your policy to see if the denial was arbitrary or capricious. If it was, you may be entitled to Bad Faith damages on top of your claim payout.
The Delayed Insurance Claim
Delaying Payment is a Tactic, Not an Accident. Insurance laws prescribe set timelines for the payment of claims. When an insurer misses these deadlines, they are often trying to “wait you out.” By holding onto your money longer, they earn interest on it while you struggle to pay for repairs.
Common Delay Tactics Include:
- Asking for unnecessary or repetitive documentation.
- Failing to provide explanations for the delay.
- Claiming they are “still investigating” when the facts are clear.
- Switching adjusters repeatedly to restart the clock.
The Berniard Law Firm has filed hundreds of lawsuits against insurers who use these stall tactics. We don’t let them drag their feet.
The Underpaid Insurance Claim
Don’t Let Them “Skim” Your Payout. Underpaying claims has become a massive profit center for insurance companies. By shaving a small amount off thousands of claims, they save millions—at your expense.
How They Lowball You:
- Unreasonable Depreciation: Applying excessive depreciation to items that still have a useful life.
- Faulty Price Lists: Using outdated construction prices that don’t reflect the current high cost of labor and materials in New Orleans.
- Missing Overhead & Profit: Refusing to pay the necessary general contractor fees.
The inconvenience this causes is not the “good neighbor” treatment you paid for. We bring in our own experts to prove the real cost of your loss.
Our Track Record: Fighting Since Hurricane Katrina
The Berniard Law Firm filed hundreds of lawsuits against insurance companies after Hurricane Katrina, where denying and delaying claims was the standard operating procedure.
We recovered millions of dollars for our clients in the wake of that storm, and we bring that same battle-tested experience to your case today. Whether it is a hurricane, fire, or business interruption claim, we have the expertise to protect your rights.
Speak With a Berniard Law Firm Attorney Today
The waters of insurance law are murky and complex. You need a captain who knows how to navigate them.
Call us at (504) 521-6000 to speak with a lawyer about your claim.
You can also complete our contact form, and we will contact you within 4 hours.
- Free Consultations: We review your policy and claim for free.
- No Fee Unless We Win: We handle cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we secure a settlement or court award for you.