The Hodge Law Firm
Call 409-241-7246 For A Free Consultation
  • Home
  • About
    • Shaun Wesley Hodge
    • Mike N. Cokins
    • Kelly C. Hairfield
    • John Rohlf Jewell
    • William L. Pratt
    • Michael E. Cooper
    • Matthew Stephen Russo
    • David M. Buergler
    • Mikal David Williams
    • Michael Fridman
    • Our Staff
      • Becky A. Bethscheider
      • Kristy Phillips
      • Gabriel N Bethscheider
      • Emily A Forasiepi
      • Lucy Dawson
      • Wendy Coleman
  • Practice Areas
    • Property Damage Insurance Claims
      • Hurricane Damage
      • Wind And Hail Damage
      • Denied, Delayed and Underpaid Insurance Claims
      • Fire Damage
      • Water Damage
      • Tornado Damage
      • Vandalism Claims
      • Residential Bad Faith Insurance
      • Commercial Bad Faith Insurance
      • Bad Faith Insurance FAQ
        • Property Damage Claims: What To Know
        • Common Difficulties With Insurance Claims
  • In The News
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • Shaun Wesley Hodge
    • Mike N. Cokins
    • Kelly C. Hairfield
    • John Rohlf Jewell
    • William L. Pratt
    • Michael E. Cooper
    • Matthew Stephen Russo
    • David M. Buergler
    • Mikal David Williams
    • Michael Fridman
    • Our Staff
      • Becky A. Bethscheider
      • Kristy Phillips
      • Gabriel N Bethscheider
      • Emily A Forasiepi
      • Lucy Dawson
      • Wendy Coleman
  • Practice Areas
    • Property Damage Insurance Claims
      • Hurricane Damage
      • Wind And Hail Damage
      • Denied, Delayed and Underpaid Insurance Claims
      • Fire Damage
      • Water Damage
      • Tornado Damage
      • Vandalism Claims
      • Residential Bad Faith Insurance
      • Commercial Bad Faith Insurance
      • Bad Faith Insurance FAQ
        • Property Damage Claims: What To Know
        • Common Difficulties With Insurance Claims
  • In The News
  • Blog
  • Contact
409-241-7246
  • Home
  • About
    • Shaun Wesley Hodge
    • Mike N. Cokins
    • Kelly C. Hairfield
    • John Rohlf Jewell
    • William L. Pratt
    • Michael E. Cooper
    • Matthew Stephen Russo
    • David M. Buergler
    • Mikal David Williams
    • Michael Fridman
    • Our Staff
      • Becky A. Bethscheider
      • Kristy Phillips
      • Gabriel N Bethscheider
      • Emily A Forasiepi
      • Lucy Dawson
      • Wendy Coleman
  • Practice Areas
    • Property Damage Insurance Claims
      • Hurricane Damage
      • Wind And Hail Damage
      • Denied, Delayed and Underpaid Insurance Claims
      • Fire Damage
      • Water Damage
      • Tornado Damage
      • Vandalism Claims
      • Residential Bad Faith Insurance
      • Commercial Bad Faith Insurance
      • Bad Faith Insurance FAQ
        • Property Damage Claims: What To Know
        • Common Difficulties With Insurance Claims
  • In The News
  • Blog
  • Contact

We Hold Insurance Companies Accountable

  1. Home
  2.  → 
  3. Property Damage Insurance Claims
  4.  → 
  5. Proving a bad-faith insurance claim in Texas

Proving a bad-faith insurance claim in Texas

On Behalf of The Hodge Law Firm, PLLC | Mar 16, 2020 | Property Damage Insurance Claims |

Whether you own a home, a business or both, you want to protect your investment. Because a fire, storm and other events can destroy your property, you have a comprehensive insurance policy. This policy is a legally binding contract that requires your insurer to pay for covered damages in exchange for your monthly premiums. Regrettably, insurance companies do not always live up to their end of the bargain. 

If your insurer delays payment, improperly investigates or unreasonably denies your claim, you may have a bad-faith insurance claim. With this cause of action, you force your insurer to do what is right. In the Lone Star State, though, you have the burden of proving your insurer acted in bad faith. Typically, there are two ways to do so: 

A common law bad-faith claim  

Your insurance provider may have denied your damage claim, even though it is reasonably clear the insurer should have approved it. This is a traditional common law bad-faith theory that requires establishing two elements: 

  • Despite your having a valid claim, your insurer issued a denial. 
  • Your insurer’s denial rationale was unreasonable. 

A deceptive-acts or unfair-practices claim  

While you certainly may be able to proceed with a common-law bad-faith claim, you also have some statutory options. In Texas, the Unfair Methods of Competition and Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices Act and the Unfair Claim Settlement Practices Act protect consumers from certain types of insurance bad faith. If your insurer does any of the following, it may be liable for damages under Texas law: 

  • Denying a claim after an unthorough investigation 
  • Neglecting to process claims reasonably quickly 
  • Misrepresenting material facts about insurance coverage 
  • Failing to act in good faith 

As a property owner, you have an interest in protecting your real estate. While having a comprehensive insurance package is part of the equation, you also need your insurer to process and approve your claim. If your insurer acts in bad faith, however, you likely must act quickly to assert your legal rights. 

Recent Posts

  • Wind and hail damage is a growing concern in Texas
  • How to handle hurricane damage claims
  • TX business owners: Three steps for wind and hail damage insurance claims
  • The strange reason drivers don’t see motorcycles 
  • Ensuring fair compensation for Texas businesses after disasters

Archives

  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020

Categories

  • B2B Commercial Law
  • B2B Commercial Litigation
  • Bad Faith Insurance
  • Firm News
  • Hurricane Damage
  • Maritime Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Property Damage Insurance Claims
  • Water Damage
  • Wind and Hail Damage

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

FindLaw Network

You are protected under the law. Find out your rights at a complimentary consultation.

1301 Market Street
Galveston, TX 77550

Phone: 409-241-7246
Fax: 409-763-2300

Headquartered In Galveston

Request A Free Consult

  • Follow
Review Us

© 2025 The Hodge Law Firm, PLLC • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw

*  Lead attorney Shaun Hodge of the Hodge Law Firm is a member.