We are Galveston's Premier Attorneys for Storm Damage & Insurance Recovery
When devastating storms assault Galveston Island—from catastrophic hurricanes like Ike that caused $30 billion in damage to the more recent destruction wrought by Hurricane Harvey’s unprecedented rainfall—property owners face an uphill battle with insurance companies determined to minimize payouts and avoid fair compensation. Tylka Law Firm has proudly represented generations of Galveston residents and businesses in their fight against insurance bad faith practices, helping homeowners along Seawall Boulevard, commercial establishments in The Strand Historic District, and property owners throughout the island recover the full compensation they deserve after storm damage. Our experienced storm damage attorneys understand the unique vulnerabilities of Galveston’s coastal properties and the specialized insurance policies required to protect them—knowledge that proves invaluable when challenging insurance companies that routinely deny, delay, and underpay legitimate claims.
Hurricane Ike’s direct hit on Galveston in 2008 taught our community painful lessons about insurance company tactics, as countless policyholders discovered their claims being improperly categorized as flood damage rather than wind damage to avoid coverage, or faced arbitrary delays designed to force desperate property owners into accepting pennies on the dollar. Even our own Galveston office suffered substantial damage, which we had to navigate through our insurance company. Years later, many of these same deceptive practices resurfaced after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Texas coast, with insurance companies exploiting technicalities and complex policy language to deny coverage for extensive property damage.
Tylka Law Firm’s dedicated insurance recovery attorneys have seen these tactics evolve through decades of Gulf Coast storms and have developed sophisticated legal strategies to overcome them—recovering millions in additional compensation that our clients would never have received without experienced legal representation.
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Key Areas We Can Help You With:
- Windstorm Claims: Seeking compensation for a new roof, damage to your home’s siding, and more.
- Flood Claims: Seeking compensation for frame damage, mold, and even appliance replacement.
- Insurance Navigation: Insurance companies intentionally make claim processing difficult and slow. Tylka Law Firm attorneys can help speed that up.
- Wrongful Death Cases: If a loved one was killed in a storm, we’re here to provide compassionate, expert legal support.
Frequently Asked Questions About Galveston Storm Damage Recovery:
While not every storm claim requires a lawyer, there are circumstances where having an attorney on your side can make all the difference. A skilled attorney can help you navigate the complex legal and insurance processes, negotiate with at-fault parties, and represent you in court if necessary.
Q: How long do I have to file an insurance claim in Texas after storm damage?
- Most Texas insurance policies require prompt notification, typically within 30-60 days of the damage
- Hurricane claims often have specific reporting deadlines outlined in your policy
- Written proof of loss documentation must generally be submitted within 91 days
- Different deadlines may apply to supplemental claims for additional damage discovered later
- Texas law allows you to file a lawsuit against your insurance company for up to two years from the date your claim was denied or underpaid
- Consulting with Tylka Law Firm immediately after storm damage ensures all critical deadlines are met
Q: What should I do before the storm hits Galveston?
Based on the US Coast Guard’s guidelines, we recommend the following for Galveston:
- Store enough water, food, medications and other supplies (for babies, children and pets if applicable) for a minimum of one week.
- Prepare back-up power such as generators and back-up batteries.
- Top off gasoline in your vehicle.
- Take photos of the interior and exterior of your home before the storm hits in order to have a log of material possessions.
- Pack a “bug-out” bag for you and your family in case an evacuation is declared.
- Pack up any important documents and identification in a water-tight container. Consider adding these to your bug-out bag.
Q: What should I do if my insurance company denies my storm damage claim?
- Do not accept the denial as final—approximately 50% of denied claims are improperly rejected
- Request a detailed written explanation of the specific policy provisions supporting the denial
- Document all communication with your insurance company including dates, names, and content
- Gather independent evidence of your damage through expert assessments and photographs
- Contact Tylka Law Firm for a free case evaluation to determine if the denial constitutes bad faith
- Our attorneys can appeal denied claims with additional documentation and legal pressure
Q: How does hiring an attorney improve my storm damage settlement?
- Studies show represented claimants receive settlements 3-5 times larger than unrepresented property owners
- Attorneys prevent insurance companies from exploiting technical policy language to minimize coverage
- Expert testimony arranged by our firm establishes accurate damage valuations beyond insurance adjusters’ assessments
- Legal representation signals to insurers that undervalued offers will not be accepted
- Tylka Law Firm’s contingency fee structure means we only get paid if we increase your compensation
Q: After a major hurricane, my insurer claims damage is due to flood, not wind. What can I do?
- This common tactic shifts responsibility to flood insurance or federal programs that offer less compensation
- We can secure independent meteorological data and engineering analysis to establish wind as the primary cause
- Many policies cover water damage if wind creates the entry point (such as roof damage)
- Insurance companies often misclassify damage to avoid higher wind claim payouts
- Tylka Law Firm has successfully challenged these classifications for numerous Galveston property owners
Q: What compensation can I recover beyond basic repairs after storm damage?
- Additional living expenses including hotel stays, rentals, and extra food costs
- Business interruption losses for commercial properties
- Code compliance upgrades required for rebuilding older structures
- Landscaping and exterior feature restoration
- Personal property replacement at actual value rather than depreciated value
- Debris removal and cleanup costs
- Mold remediation and hidden structural damage discovered during repairs
Why Hire Tylka Law Firm for my Storm Insurance Recovery Case?
The benefits of hiring Tylka Law Firm for your Galveston storm damage claim extend far beyond simply having someone to handle paperwork. Our attorneys conduct independent damage assessments with qualified experts to document the true extent of losses—from structural damage to historic homes near Broadway Avenue to business interruption losses for establishments near Moody Gardens. We identify coverage under multiple policy provisions that insurance adjusters conveniently overlook, accurately quantify losses including depreciation, code upgrades, temporary housing, and personal property replacement. Most importantly, we level the playing field against insurance companies with unlimited legal resources, preventing them from exploiting your vulnerable post-disaster position to force unfair settlements that leave you financially devastated long after the storm has passed.
The aftermath of destructive weather events like Hurricane Harvey demonstrates how critical proper legal representation becomes when facing insurance company resistance. While many Galveston property owners struggled for years to receive even basic compensation, our clients benefited from prompt, comprehensive settlements that allowed them to rebuild quickly and completely. Tylka Law Firm’s institutional knowledge of previous Gulf Coast disasters—from Hurricane Ike to Hurricane Harvey and beyond—provides unmatched insight into effective claim strategies and common insurance company evasion tactics. This historical perspective, combined with our intimate understanding of Galveston’s unique architectural heritage and property values from the East End Historical District to the western reaches of the island, ensures we accurately value claims and aggressively pursue the full compensation our clients are entitled to receive.
Don’t compound the devastation of storm damage by attempting to navigate complex insurance claims without experienced legal representation. Tylka Law Firm offers free, no-obligation consultations to evaluate your Galveston storm damage claim and explain your legal options without upfront costs. We work exclusively on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for your property damage—a commitment that reflects our confidence in overcoming insurance company resistance. Contact Tylka Law Firm today at (877) 228-9552 to schedule your consultation and discover why Galveston residents from Bolivar Peninsula to Jamaica Beach have trusted our storm damage attorneys to secure fair compensation after every major hurricane and tropical storm to strike our vulnerable coastal community.
