As of April 2021, the Louisiana Department of Insurance had received 1,497 complaints concerning the three hurricanes that struck the state in 2020. The LDI has thus far recovered $41 million on behalf of consumers from hurricanes Laura, Zeta, and Delta. In January 2021 the most common grievance regarding these claims was claim delay. But four months later, by May 2021, the most common grievance was payment of significantly less than the claims are worth. It is likely Hurricane Ida will also result in more complaints being filed by Louisiana consumers. If you are having difficulty obtaining a fair, timely settlement from your insurer, you may need to consider filing a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance.
Download: 10 Steps To Take After Hurricane Property Damage
In addition to filing a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance, you could also speak to an attorney at New Orleans Legal, LLC. We have helped those in the state of Louisiana get the insurance settlements they needed and deserved following a hurricane and/or flood. Filing a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance can seem like a drastic step to take. We can help you determine whether this is the right course of action, or we can also take steps to sue your insurance company for bad faith practices if they do not respond, or otherwise delay negotiations. The experienced legal team at New Orleans Legal, LLC, will fight aggressively for your rights, and the insurance settlement you need and deserve.
When Should You File a Complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance?
If you live in the state of Louisiana and have filed an insurance claim for homeowners or flood damage, you are entitled to file a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance under certain circumstances. Perhaps your claim has been delayed time after time, even though your insurance company tells you everything is “fine.” Perhaps you have been offered only a small portion of what your claim is actually worth Or, perhaps your claim has been denied altogether. If you believe your claim has been wrongly denied, delayed, or that the amount offered is only a fraction of what the claim is worth, you can turn to the Louisiana Department of Insurance for assistance.
How Do You File a Complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance?
If you believe your insurance claim has been wrongly delayed or denied or deliberately underpaid, you can request an investigation into the matter by filing a complaint with the LDI. To begin the complaint process, you need to visit the website of the Louisiana Department of Insurance. You will go to the “How Do I…?” Section of the website and select “File a Complaint.” You will identify yourself as a consumer.
There will be a video you can watch, as well as a step-by-step guide that will walk you through the filing process. While it is recommended that you file your complaint online to streamline the process, you may also request a copy of the complaint form by calling 1-800-259-5300. Once the form has been thoroughly filled out, you can mail it to P.O. Box 94214, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9214. The complaint form will ask for your name, address, and phone number, along with the name of your insurance company, your policy number, the name of the agent handling your claim, and a detailed description of the issue or issues you are having with your claim.
You will need to describe what has happened from start to finish, who was involved in the decisions or lack of decision, why you believe your insurance company’s actions or inaction are wrong, and what steps you took to resolve the issue. You will also be asked to detail what you think a fair solution to the issue would be and should include copies of all relevant documentation. This can include your policy, the filed claim, photos of the damage, and correspondence between you and your insurer.
How Will Your Complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance Progress?
You should receive a letter from the LDI within a week from the time they receive your complaint. This letter acknowledges receipt of your complaint and assigns you a compliance examiner and file number. The compliance examiner will send a copy of your complaint to your insurer, asking the company to explain their delay, denial, or underpayment of your claim. When your insurer responds to LDI, the examiner will review all the information to ensure there are no broken laws or regulations on the part of your insurer. The examiner will also examine your documentation to ensure you are entitled to the settlement you believe is fair. When the examiner reaches a determination, you will receive a letter that recommends the steps you should take.
Schedule a Free Consultation with New Orleans Legal
If you are considering filing a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Insurance, New Orleans Legal, LLC, can take a look at all your information, determining whether filing the complaint will have the best result. Insurance denial attorney Peter J. Diiorio, at New Orleans Legal, LLC, works hard to help every client get the settlement amount they are entitled to receive. Our goal at New Orleans Legal is to make things right for our clients, their families, and their futures. We have seen the toll insurance denials, delays, and underpayments take on our clients and we want to get you through the process as easily and efficiently as possible. Contact New Orleans Legal, LLC, today.
