Filing Insurance Claims After Severe Weather Damage

Anastacio Mindiola

Attorney Anastacio “Trae” Mindiola deals with civil lawsuits from his office in Houston, Texas. Anastacio Mindiola’s clientele often come to him for assistance with claims involving damage from severe weather, such as hurricanes and hailstorms.

Victims of severe weather should take immediate action to present the best possible claim to their insurance companies. Important steps include:

Before you contact your agency, have your policy number ready and find out what other information you need to provide. Continue documentation prior to cleaning up by photographing or taking video of damage done to your property. Providing information in the proper form should help speed your claim.

Make only temporary repairs, such as covering broken windows and fixing compromised roofs and walls. Wait for permanent repairs until your insurance company can inspect your property and issue an estimate you find acceptable. Keep all receipts.

Finally, record details of all contacts with your insurance company, such as the times and dates of calls or visits, the name of your agent, and the fine points of conversations.

State Bar of Texas Makes Changes to Attorney Discipline Procedures

An attorney with nearly two decades of experience, Anastacio “Trae” Mindiola operates his own law practice in Houston, Texas, where he focuses on civil lawsuits related to insurance matters. Active in his field, Anastacio Mindiola is admitted to the Texas State Bar.

The Texas State Bar recently reported on changes to the disciplinary rules governing attorney behavior that are set to take effect on June 1. Two major amendments went through the process of being approved by the Texas Supreme Court, both of which aim to streamline the disciplinary process and resolve complaints more quickly.

The first amendment applies to Rule 8.03 and requires attorneys who have been placed on probation for a felony or any misdemeanor involving financial crimes to report that court action within 30 days to the State Bar’s chief disciplinary counsel. The second amendment makes some administrative changes to the general rules of the disciplinary procedure by streamlining definitions.