Houston and Corpus Christi First-Party Insurance Claim Lawyer
When your own insurance company unfairly denies or underpays a valid claim for property damage, we step in to fight for what you are owed. We represent policyholders in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley.
Fighting Bad Faith Insurance Companies
You pay your insurance premiums faithfully, expecting your provider to be there for you when disaster strikes. Unfortunately, insurance companies are for-profit businesses that often put their bottom line ahead of their policyholders’ needs. When an insurer unreasonably denies, delays, or underpays a valid claim, it may be acting in “bad faith.”
Injury Attorney Chris Sanchez holds insurance companies accountable to the promises they made in their policies. Whether your home was damaged by a hurricane in Houston or hail in the RGV, we fight to make the insurance company pay what you are rightfully owed.
Common Bad Faith Tactics:
- ✓ Denying a claim without a valid reason.
- ✓ Unreasonably delaying the investigation or payment.
- ✓ Making a “lowball” offer that doesn’t cover all damages.
- ✓ Misrepresenting the terms of your insurance policy.
- ✓ Failing to conduct a thorough and fair investigation.
Types of Property Damage Claims We Handle
We represent both residential and commercial property owners in a wide range of first-party insurance disputes, including:
Hurricane & Wind Damage
Fighting for fair payment for roof, structural, and water damage after a major storm.
Hail Damage
Holding insurers accountable for the full cost of replacing hail-damaged roofs, windows, and siding.
Fire Damage
Ensuring your settlement covers not just fire damage, but also smoke and water damage.
Flood & Water Damage
Navigating complex flood policies and claims for burst pipes or other water-related disasters.
Foundation Damage
Representing property owners in claims involving cracks and structural foundation issues.
Commercial Property Claims
Assisting business owners with complex claims involving property damage and business interruption.
Our Texas Law Offices
From our offices in McAllen, San Antonio, and Houston, we provide local, dedicated representation with the resources of a statewide firm, ready to fight for policyholders across Texas.
Contact a Texas Insurance Claim Lawyer Today
Don’t let your insurance company get away with acting in bad faith. Let us review your policy and your claim for free to determine your rights. Contact us now for a 100% confidential consultation.
First-Party Insurance Claims in Texas
First-party insurance claims arise when YOUR own insurance company is the one refusing to pay — for example, after a hurricane damages your home, an uninsured driver hits your car, or your underinsured motorist policy is the only available coverage. Unlike third-party claims (where someone else’s insurer is on the hook), first-party claims trigger Texas Insurance Code Chapter 541 and Chapter 542, which give policyholders specific rights against insurer bad faith.
Common first-party disputes include hurricane and storm damage claims (especially along the Texas Gulf Coast from Brownsville to Houston), uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claims, hail damage, fire loss, and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and MedPay benefits. Texas insurers are legally required to investigate, accept or reject claims within 15 days, and pay accepted claims within 5 business days. Violations expose insurers to 18% interest penalties, attorney fees, and treble damages for knowing violations.
Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act (Chapter 542) and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) work together to protect policyholders. Chris Sanchez handles bad faith insurance cases throughout Texas, including post-hurricane disputes in Houston, Corpus Christi, and the Coastal Bend. Free consultation at (956) 686-4357.
What Counts as a First-Party Texas Insurance Claim
Most personal injury cases are third-party — you sue someone else’s insurance. First-party claims are different and often more profitable when handled correctly:
- Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) — when the at-fault driver has no coverage or limits below your damages. Stacked on top of your own auto liability policy.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — Texas auto PIP pays $2,500–$10,000 of medical and lost wages no-fault, regardless of who caused the crash.
- Homeowner’s claims — Hurricane Harvey, Beryl, hailstorms across Hidalgo and Harris County, water damage, theft, fire.
- Health insurance ERISA appeals and denials.
- Business interruption claims — pandemic-era, freeze-event (2021 Texas freeze), and named-storm losses.
- Disability income claims — both group (employer) and individual long-term disability.
The 60-Day Clock: Texas Insurance Code §542.058
Texas insurers have 60 days from the date you submit a complete proof of loss to accept, deny, or pay. Miss the deadline and the carrier owes 18% statutory interest on top of the claim, plus reasonable attorney’s fees. This is the single most powerful tool in Texas first-party law and most homeowners do not know it exists. We document the clock in writing from day one.
What to Do in the First 72 Hours After a Loss
- Notify your insurer in writing — phone calls don’t start the clock. Email or certified mail with the date, location, and basic description of the loss.
- Photograph and video everything — before any cleanup, before any contractor, before any tarping. Your ability to prove pre-loss condition is the entire ballgame on hurricane and hail claims.
- Keep every receipt — temporary lodging, food, generator fuel, plywood, contractor estimates. Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage reimburses these.
- Don’t accept the first adjuster estimate — Texas insurers in 2024–2026 are routinely settling Beryl and freeze claims at 40–60% of true repair cost. Hire your own public adjuster or attorney before signing the proof of loss.
- Don’t give a recorded statement — your policy requires cooperation but not a recorded interview before you’ve reviewed the policy.
Settlement Ranges for Texas First-Party Claims
Past results do not predict future outcomes. From our case work and public Texas data: a properly documented hurricane or hail homeowner’s claim that the insurer initially “low-balled” typically resolves at 2 to 5 times the original offer after we open a Chapter 542 dispute. UM/UIM claims with serious injury frequently match the at-fault driver’s policy and stack — recoveries of $250,000 to $1 million are common with stacked household policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bad faith in Texas first-party insurance law?
It includes misrepresenting policy provisions, failing to attempt a fair settlement once liability is reasonably clear, refusing to pay without a reasonable basis, and unreasonable delay. Damages can include the full claim, mental anguish, and exemplary (punitive) damages.
Can my insurance cancel my policy for filing a claim?
Texas Insurance Code §551.104 prohibits non-renewal solely because you filed a covered claim. Hail and weather claims have specific protections.
Do I need an attorney for a hurricane claim?
If the carrier offered less than 80% of your contractor’s repair estimate, yes. The 60-day clock and Chapter 541 leverage usually pay our fee out of the gap.
Does PIP affect my third-party claim?
No — PIP is no-fault and does not reduce or offset your claim against the at-fault driver. Always claim PIP first.
What if my insurer denied a Beryl or freeze claim?
Demand the denial in writing with the policy provisions cited. Most denials we see in 2026 are on grounds that don’t survive scrutiny — wear-and-tear, “pre-existing damage,” and policy-cap arguments.
Where We Handle Texas First-Party Claims
We litigate first-party claims statewide, with concentrated case work in Houston, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley. Related: car accidents and catastrophic injury. Free 24/7 bilingual consultation. No fee unless we win.