Arguello, Hope & Associates Blog

Tornadoes Lay Waste to Dallas / Fort Worth Area

Posted on: April 4th, 2012 by Arguello, Hope, & Assoc., PLLC No Comments

Arguello Hope & Associates - Storm Damage Attorneys

Devastating Tornado and wind damage in Dallas Fort Worth area.

A series of 6 to 12 destructive tornadoes rated as EF2 (wind speeds over 110 mph) descended upon the Dallas / Fort Worth Texas metro area (AP, 2012). Hundreds of homes and business sustained damage; and sadly some citizens of the area were injured, lost their lives or those they loved. As news of the severe weather became available, the common thread throughout the reports was that The National Weather Service reported at least two separate “large and extremely dangerous” tornadoes south of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Click here to see month-by-month statistics on occurrence of tornadoes in Texas from 1952 to 2012 from The National Weather Service.

According to ABC News on April 3, 2012, “Eight Texas counties face severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The counties include Dallas, Kaufman, Rockwall, Delta, Hopkins, Hunt, Bosque and McLennan counties.”

Local volunteers, law enforcement and relief workers are working around the clock to search for survivors and recover lost personal belongings. In a stunning story, a grandmother clung to her 18-month old grandson’s leg for dear life as he was nearly swept away in the wind. Stories of the triumph of the human spirit and peoples’ kindness courage bring much-needed positivity to this bleak event.

Property damage as a result of the April 3 tornadoes will certainly cost local business and individuals their income now and into the foreseeable future. The Law Firm of Arguello, Hope & Associates have years of experience in dealing with the devastating effects of storm claims.

Insurance companies will be flooded with calls, who do you want speaking on your behalf? Arguello, Hope & Associates will be your voice to the claims adjusters. Our practice is focused on handling your insurance claim. Our attorneys represent home and business owners who have sustained damage to their property. The dangerous winds were accompanied by large hail the size of hockey pucks. The pelting injured pedestrians and animals, broke windows, and damaged vehicles in Brazoria and Galveston counties.

When tornado or wind damage occurs, it can open the door to complicated ambiguities with insurance coverage during the adjustment process. In the aftermath of a disaster, many priorities come to mind:

· Protecting your property.
· Getting your business or home back to normal.
· Securing adequate financial recovery.

We are currently representing families and businesses who suffered losses in the recent Alabama and Missouri tornadoes as well. Contact us today and let the insurance claim attorneys at Arguello, Hope & Associates help you resolve your insurance claim problems. Also, please tell your neighbors and friends about their need for proper legal representation in this confusing and scary time. We work to get people the compensation they deserve from the insurance companies.

Call Us Today at 1-800-25-STORM or send us your information in form in the upper right column for a free case evaluation.

Arguello, Hope, & Associates PLLC Relocating to Houston TX

Posted on: March 7th, 2012 by Arguello, Hope, & Assoc., PLLC No Comments

We’re Moving!

We are pleased to announce that we are merging our Galveston and Houston offices and moving into one office located near Clear Lake, Texas.

Please note that our new physical and mailing address will be:

1110 Nasa Parkway, Suite 620
Houston, Texas 77058
[ Get Directions ]

Our new location is located directly off of Nasa Parkway and is easy to access from Hwy 45 using the Nasa Bypass.

Our main telephone number has also changed. Our fax number remains the same.

Office: 281-532-5-LAW (5529)
Fax: 281-402-3534

We will be closed March 7-11, 2012, and we will begin operating at regular business hours on March 12, 2012.

We are confident that the new office will enable us to serve you better and we look forward to welcoming you at the new premises in the future. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us immediately.

What The New Year Brings

Posted on: February 2nd, 2012 by Arguello, Hope, & Assoc., PLLC No Comments

Change is in the air!

Arguello, Hope & Associates is committed to helping our clients get what they deserve for their storm damage property claims. In order to continue the level of professionalism and service our past clients have enjoyed, we needed to upgrade our operations for our current and future clients. Our main office will be moving at the beginning of March. Please be on the lookout for another update on the exact location, there will be a follow up as details emerge.

Change is Good

Our Firm helped a lot of people this past year, and we are excited about how we’ve changed their lives for the better. We are so looking forward to all the new relationships we hope to make this upcoming year!

If you know anyone who may benefit from our help with any of the areas listed below, please don’t hesitate to mention Arguello, Hope & Associates.

Insurance Claims

Property Damage Claims

Storm Damage Insurance Claims

Tornado Damage

Fire Damage

Flood Damage

Insurance Company Tactics

Posted on: November 1st, 2011 by Arguello, Hope, & Assoc., PLLC No Comments

Insurers Cheat Policyholders While Increasing Profits

You would like to think that, after all the money that has been paid in the form of insurance premiums, you could count on your insurance company to cover your property damage losses, should disaster strike. As more and more people are finding out, big insurance companies are paying less than ever for settlements while they report record profits.

Property Damage Attorneys at Arguello, Hope & Associates

People Are Complaining

Insurance companies are repeatedly being challenged for paying less than the policy promises. Thousands of complaints have been filed with state insurance departments and civil court cases citing insurers paying 30-60 percent of the cost of replacing or rebuilding a damaged home. This often happens even after carriers promise homeowners they are fully covered.

Court records show that property insurers have denied or greatly reduced the recovery amounts in policyholder’s claims in several states. Insurance companies often develop their own reimbursement amounts through the use of proprietary software programs.

By paying out less in settlement claims, insurance companies have enjoyed record profits over the last decade. Telling, is the fact that this period includes the Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in the history of the U.S.

Focus on Profit, Not People

Robert Hunter, current insurance director at the Consumer Federation of America, and formerly the Texas insurance commissioner, states that “Money managers have taken over this whole industry, their eyes are not on people who are hurt, but on the bottom line for the next quarter.”

California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi imposed over $18 million in fines against insurance carriers from 2002-2006 for their mistreatment of clients. Garamendi states that “…the industry’s drive for profit has overwhelmed its obligation to policyholders.”

Insurance Claim Attorneys at Arguello, Hope & Associates

Low-Ball Offers Force People To Fight

The way insurance companies are working now is by offering a low settlement amount – a low-ball offer. If the client accepts, the insurance company wins. If the client refuses, the insurance company challenges you to fight them. Often times, they will use tactics such as intimidation or stalling in an attempt to sway people to just give up their fight.

When it’s you against the insurance company, you need an attorney to protect your rights. Arguello, Hope & Associates can help you get the compensation you deserve for your property damage. We will fight big insurance companies to help you rebuild your property. Contact us today for a FREE Consultation.

Source: Bloomberg News

Property Damage, Fire Damage Insurance Claim Help

Posted on: September 9th, 2011 by Arguello, Hope, & Assoc., PLLC No Comments

Homeowners & Businesses Suffer as Texas Wildfires Rage

Thousands of homes have been destroyed in the ongoing Texas wildfires, leaving scores of residents and business owners faced with total losses. The Bastrop County fire alone accounts for over 1,300 lost homes. Massive prolonged drought across the state, coupled with an already record-setting number of individual fires, have left many Texans homeless. As residents and business owners are reeling, it is certain that insurance adjusters are on their way.

Your Property Damage Insurance Claim – Insurance Help For Fire Damage

Insurance companies make money by collecting premiums, and not by paying insurance claims. When disaster strikes, an insurance company will send an adjuster to assess the damages. Please realize that this adjuster works for the insurance company, and will pay you as little as possible for your claim. Without an insurance claim attorney on your side, familiar with all the pitfalls of a property damage claim, how can you be sure you are getting all that you deserve? For this reason, DO NOT sign any settlement agreements or other documents presented by the insurance adjuster without first seeking the counsel of an insurance claim attorney.