WE USED TO DEFEND INSURANCE COMPANIES.Now we hold them to their promises.
Most homeowners only see the letters and the phone calls. We've seen what happens behind them: how a claim is evaluated, who makes the call, and what changes an insurer's mind. That's the experience we bring to your side of the table.
HOW A CLAIM REALLY gets decided.
Every disputed claim moves through the same stages. Knowing what happens at each one tells us where your claim can be won.
- 01THE ADJUSTER'S INSPECTIONOften a single visit, sometimes by an independent adjuster handling dozens of claims after a storm. What gets photographed, and what doesn't, shapes everything after.
- 02THE EXPERT REPORTIn a disputed claim, an engineer's opinion on what caused the damage often decides coverage. These reports can be tested, and sometimes they don't hold up.
- 03THE CLAIM FILEAdjuster notes, estimates and letters build a written record. In litigation, that file shows whether the insurer investigated fairly and met its deadlines.
- 04THE RISK EVALUATIONOnce a lawyer is involved, the question changes from "what do we owe?" to "what happens if we're wrong?" Statutory interest, fees and a credible trial threat move that number.
SEVEN MISTAKES insurers count on.
None of these means a homeowner did anything wrong. They're simply the openings we saw used most often to limit what a claim was worth.
- 1Giving a recorded statement unpreparedGuesses about dates and causes become "admissions" later.
- 2Accepting the first estimate as finalMissing line items and low pricing are common, and rarely corrected unless someone pushes.
- 3Letting the engineer's report go unansweredAn unchallenged expert opinion tends to become the truth of the claim.
- 4Not documenting the home before repairsOnce the evidence is gone, it's the insurer's photos against your memory.
- 5Missing a deadlinePolicy suit limits, presuit notice and depreciation deadlines end strong claims every year. Check yours.
- 6Sending a vague demandFor weather claims, the amount in your 61-day notice can limit the fees you recover later.
- 7Signing a release too soonA check is usually fine to cash. A document labeled "release" usually isn't fine to sign without advice.
I'm a homeowner and a husband. I've seen how insurance companies evaluate claims from the inside, and I want the families I work with to have that knowledge on their side.Ethan Thomas, Attorney
HOW WE PUT IT to work.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Why would a defense lawyer switch sides?
Because I want to help people. I'm a homeowner and a husband, and I know what it means for a family when their home or their health is on the line. Seeing how claims are handled from the inside showed me how much families benefit from having someone in their corner who understands that process.
Is there a conflict if you represented my insurance company before?
We check for conflicts before taking every case, as the Texas ethics rules require. If one exists, we'll tell you right away.
Do you use confidential information from former clients?
Never. What we bring is experience: how claims work, what the law requires and how disputes are resolved. Not any former client's private information.
Does insurer-side experience guarantee a better result?
No lawyer can guarantee a result. Every claim depends on its own facts and policy. What we can promise is a clear, honest assessment of yours.