The recent winter storms across the Gulf Coast United States are expected to produce a high-volume of insurance litigation. To help our clients navigate the wide-ranging implications, Thompson Coe has assembled a Freeze Coverage Response Team and Resource Center. Our Response Team stands ready to assist clients in navigating the numerous anticipated issues arising from this catastrophe. The Response Team will be compiling a resource hub including state-specific claims handling guides, catastrophe-specific coverage and policy form issues, update on litigation arising from this event, key attorney contacts, and other information. As the post-storm situation continues to develop and as your response needs change, the content of the resource hub will be updated by our Response Team.
State Specific Claims Handling Timelines
Texas’s 2021 landmark freeze led to catastrophic losses due to power and water outages and damage. The Texas Department of Insurance has posted bulletins governing vacancy and emergency licenses and is expected to issue additional bulletins extending insurance claims handling deadlines. While we wait for those to be issued, here is your Texas claims handling deadline checklist, along with other Gulf Coast states timelines from other states which experienced significant power and water outages, including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Texas
Texas’ Prompt Payment of Claims Act (Chapter 542.055 - .057)
- Acknowledge claim, commence investigation, request information within 30 business days after notice of loss
- Notify insured in writing of acceptance or rejection of claim within 15 business days of receive all items to secure final proof of loss
- Notify insured in writing accepted or rejected not later than the 60th day after the insured is notified the additional time was necessary
- If claim accepted, pay claim not later than the 15th day after 5 business days.
- Deadlines are extended for surplus lines policies
Texas Insurance Consumer Statute (Chapter 542A)
- Applies to claims arising from forces of nature
- Governs the content and timing of a notice letter to a carrier for damages and reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees
- Notify insured not later than 30 days after receiving a notice letter of a request to inspect, photograph or evaluate property
Failure to strictly comply with claims handling deadlines will result in imposition of interest and reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees.
Louisiana
Louisiana Claims Handling Checklist (Louisiana Rec. Stat. 1892)
- Initiate loss adjustment within 14 days of receipt of notice of loss
- Make written offer to settle property damage claims within 30 days of receipt of satisfactory proof of loss
- Pay all claims due within 30 days of receipt of satisfactory proof of loss
- Note: if a portion of the loss is in dispute, the insurer must pay undisputed portion within deadlines
Failure to strictly comply with claims handling deadlines will result in automatic penalties of 50% of the amount found due to the insured. Attorney’s fees are recoverable.
Mississippi
Mississippi Claims Handling Checklist (MS Code 83-9-5)
- Furnish forms for filing proof of loss within 15 days
- Pay all undisputed benefits for electronically submitted claims within 25 days of receipt of proof of loss
- Pay all undisputed benefits for paper submitted claims within 35 days of receipt of proof of loss
- Pay remaining undisputed portion of the claim within 20 days of receipt of additional supporting documentation
Failure to comply will result in consequential damages and attorney’s fees.
Alabama
Alabama Claims Handling Checklist (Ala. Admin. Code 482-1-125)
- Acknowledge receipt of claim within 15 days
- Provide necessary claim forms, instructions or reasonable assistance to first-party claimants within 15 calendar days from receipt of claim
- Advise insured of acceptance or denial of the claim within 30 calendar days after receipt of properly executed proof of loss
- Reply to all pertinent written communications from insured within 15 calendar days from receipt of communication
- Pay all claims within 30 days of acceptance of liability
Failure to comply will result in consequential damages.
