Creak! Crackle! Pop! Does insurance cover fallen tree branches?
Creak! Crackle! Pop! Does insurance cover fallen tree branches?

Are you hearing unexpected cracking sounds from outside? Texas tree branches have been crashing under the weight of ice. If one falls on your house or car, use these tips: Take photos of the damage before you move the tree, make repairs, or take other…
It’s severe weather season in Texas — do you know where your homeowners insurance policy is?
It’s severe weather season in Texas — do you know where your homeowners insurance policy is?

If you tend to stuff your insurance policy away in a drawer or a file and not look at it for a year or more, it could cost you big. DALLAS — Wed., March 24 is an important date if you are eligible for a…
Insurance claims skyrocket as pipes burst from winter storm
Insurance claims skyrocket as pipes burst from winter storm

Even as power has flickered back on, the deep freeze San Antonio was cast into last week continues to cause problems in the form of burst pipes, collapsed roofs, and water damage. As costs begin to tally, many are utilizing thier homeowners insurance at predicted…
Now That The Winter Storm Has Passed, It’s Time To Start Filing Insurance Claims
Now That The Winter Storm Has Passed, It’s Time To Start Filing Insurance Claims

Disaster struck. So what happens next? First, stop the bleeding. That’s the advice Amy Bach gives — she’s a lawyer and president of United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advises consumers on insurance issues nationwide. That means: find a reputable repairman, patch bursting pipes, and get…
Insurance claims pile up after Texas’ devastating winter storm
Insurance claims pile up after Texas’ devastating winter storm

Insurers expect hundreds of thousands of claims from burst pipes and water damage after the winter storm that paralyzed Texas and other parts of the country. Claims are piling up in what could become the costliest weather event in Texas history. One analyst estimates there’ll…
Step away from the blowtorch…
Step away from the blowtorch…

The extreme cold, snow, and ice that swept across the U.S. in February 2021 is proof positive that closing the door on 2020 wasn’t a cure-all. If your home or business suffered damage due to freezing or bursting pipes or the weight of snow and ice on the…
Filing an Insurance Claim for Texas Storm Damage? Payouts Hinge on Policy Details
Filing an Insurance Claim for Texas Storm Damage? Payouts Hinge on Policy Details

When the snow and ice melt, many Texans will file insurance claims for the damage. Some will be annoyed that they get nothing for a freezer-full of spoiled meat, while others will be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to get money to fix…
Right on the Money: Stats show your home is probably under-insured
Right on the Money: Stats show your home is probably under-insured

If you weren’t directly hit by the October tornadoes, they are a reminder to update your insurance coverage. Most homeowners are under-insured — and don’t know it DALLAS — In recent days we have seen the maps with arrows crisscrossing the Dallas area, showing where…
Be Prepared to Push Insurance Companies for Fair Treatment After Hurricane Harvey, UP Advises
Be Prepared to Push Insurance Companies for Fair Treatment After Hurricane Harvey, UP Advises

United Policyholders Offers Texans Free Home Inventory App, Provides Guidance to Residents for Before and After the Storm As Gulf Coast communities brace for Hurricane Harvey, the national insurance consumer non-profit United Policyholders UP) has a special message for Texans: “Be prepared to push for…
Texas Senate Bill 10 Would Adversely Affect All Insureds
Texas Senate Bill 10 Would Adversely Affect All Insureds

All Texas businesses should be concerned about the potential passage of Senate Bill 10 (SB 10). While several lawmakers tout SB 10 as tailored legislation to curb “hailstorm lawsuit abuse,” SB 10 is much broader and impacts all policyholders. Indeed, SB 10 fails to reference…
Aid may be available to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by April floods
Aid may be available to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by April floods

Texans whose vehicles were damaged or destroyed by this April’s flooding may be eligible to receive federal assistance to repair or replace the vehicle. “Those who may be eligible include not just residents of the designated counties, but also those who were working in or…
Angie’s List offers free service for Houston flood victims to connect with contractors
Angie’s List offers free service for Houston flood victims to connect with contractors

HOUSTON – Victims of flooding who need to make home repairs can benefit from a free service now being offered by Angie’s List, a review and rating website geared toward consumers. Angie’s List is offering KPRC viewers, who’ve experienced flood damage, free access to the…
After Texas Floods, A New Test for FEMA’s Beleaguered National Flood Insurance Program
After Texas Floods, A New Test for FEMA’s Beleaguered National Flood Insurance Program

Less than 48 hours after torrential rains flooded parts of Houston in late May, AJ Culembourg found herself ripping up floor boards inside the rental property she and her husband remodeled 18 months ago. Flood waters had reached as high as 18 inches inside the…
Texas property owners – don’t be fooled by an anti-lawyer spin campaign on SB 1628
Texas property owners – don’t be fooled by an anti-lawyer spin campaign on SB 1628

If you own a business or home in the state of Texas, take a few minutes to make your voice heard in opposition to SB 1628 (Taylor).  This bill guts the law that protects a property owner’s rights to a fair insurance settlement where an insurer…
Dallas-area insurers see spike in calls about quake policies
Dallas-area insurers see spike in calls about quake policies

Earthquake insurance isn’t exactly a familiar product to Texas homeowners, unlike their counterparts in quake-prone California. But after a series of earthquakes were recorded in a swarm last week near State Highways 114 and 183 in Irving, insurance companies have started receiving calls from consumers…
Most Americans uninformed about long-term care insurance
Most Americans uninformed about long-term care insurance
Superstorm spotlights home insurance
Superstorm spotlights home insurance

People whose homes were damaged by superstorm Sandy will soon find out whether or not they have enough and the right kind of insurance to rebuild. In other recent disasters, one-half to two-thirds of homeowners discovered after the fact that they were underinsured, often by…
Can mortgage lenders hold your insurance money hostage?
Can mortgage lenders hold your insurance money hostage?

If your home has been seriously damaged or destroyed, your insurance company will release a check made out to both you and your mortgage lender to pay for the necessary repairs. “Lenders have a substantial investment in the property, sometimes more than the homeowner, especially…