Underpaid Claims

Outright denials get the headlines, but underpaid claims are far more common. The insurance company acknowledges the claim, sends a check, and hopes the policyholder will cash it and move on — even when the payment is nowhere near what’s owed. At Maples, Connick & Brendel, we make sure our clients aren’t pressured into accepting less than the full value of their loss.

How Insurance Companies Underpay

Underpayment isn’t always obvious. Common tactics we see include:

• “Estimated” repair costs that don’t match real-world contractor pricing
• Depreciation applied to items that don’t actually depreciate
• Refusing to pay for code-required upgrades during repairs
• Ignoring matching requirements for siding, roofing, or flooring
• Lowballing medical bills as “not reasonable and necessary”
• Refusing to pay for future medical care that’s clearly needed
• Disputing lost wages, lost earning capacity, or business interruption losses

Property and Storm Claims

Underpayment is especially common after hurricanes, tornadoes, and major storms. Insurers send out adjusters with tight scopes, miss damage that isn’t immediately visible, and apply deductibles in ways that aren’t supported by the policy. We work with independent adjusters, contractors, and engineers to document the true cost of repair and reconstruction.

Personal Injury and UM/UIM Underpayment

In injury claims — especially uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claims — insurers routinely value cases far below their real worth. They discount medical bills, ignore future care needs, and apply formulas that don’t reflect what juries actually award. We come prepared with the medical records, expert opinions, and verdict data to support full value.

Talk to an Underpaid Claim Attorney

Before you cash a check from your insurer or sign a release, talk to a lawyer. Call 504-269-3870 for a free review of your settlement offer, or learn more about our Insurance Disputes work.