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A 2015 insurance industry study found that Texas was the number one state in the U.S. for severe weather incidents. According to the study, Texas is the only state in the country with exposure to nine types of natural disasters, including severe weather such as flooding, hail, and tornadoes that can cause significant damage to homes, vehicles, and other property.  The study reported that Tex FIND MORE LEGAL ARTICLES  Type any word(s) SEARCH  as experienced 951 incidents involving high winds, 783 hail storms, and 228 tornadoes in 2015. Heavy rainstorms, tornadoes, hailstorms, and flooding so far in 2016 have already set Texas on a path for another record year of severe weather incidents.   Thanks to several record hailstorms across the state of Texas in the spring of 2016, the state had already surpassed the nine-year average for hailstorm damage in the U.S. by April of this year. Insurance industry analysts say that as a result of these hailstorms, Texas experienced about $1.9 billion in damages to cars, homes, and other property.  Texans have also experienced significant property damage as a result of flooding. Although some flooding has been caused by the 13 hurricanes that have affected Texas over the last 10 years, flood damage can also occur as a result of heavy rains. In June 2016, a natural disaster was declared in 31 counties in Texas as a result of heavy rains in the state during the late spring. Meteorologists say that Texas received six times the average monthly rainfall in May 2016.  Earlier this year, the Texas Department of Insurance warned homeowners that they may not be covered for damage caused by certain types of extreme weather under their current insurance policies. For example, the agency said that while most homeowners are covered against damage caused by sudden, accidental water damage, many policies do no cover water damage caused by flooding, freezing pipes, seepage, or mold.  Homeowners may also need to purchase additional coverage against property damage caused by wind or hail incidents. Most homeowner’s policies do not cover damage from windstorms or hail in Harris County, Galveston Bay, and the 14 coastal communities in Texas. Homeowners in these areas may need to purchase additional insurance coverage in order to protect their home and property from hair or wind damage.  Record weather incidents in Texas during 2015 and 2016 have led to conflicts between home and property owners and the insurance companies. Some insurers have fought against claims made by Texas residents whose vehicles, homes, or rental properties were damages by hail, flooding, or other severe weather.  Home and property owners who have had their claim wrongfully denied by an insurance company should not entrust their case to a lawyer with little or no experience with complex insurance litigation. The insurance companies have plenty of money and time to spend fighting against your claim. To properly pursue a claim against in insurer, an attorney must not only work hard but be able to spend what it takes to force insurance companies to honor valid insurance claims.  If you have been the victim of a bad faith denial of your claim by an insurance company, you have legal rights. The first step in taking legal action is to speak with an attorney who can help you to understand your legal options and guide you through the process of filing a lawsuit.  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Heygood Michael Heygood is an attorney who devotes his legal career to one simple premise: in the United States today, companies and individuals alike should take responsibility and be held accountable for their own actions and, when they refuse to do so, they should be made to do so in a court of law. Michael primarily focuses his current practice on complex litigation throughout the United States involving insurance companies, large corporations and pharmaceutical companies. He has tried lawsuits throughout the United States and is proud to lead some of the most complex litigation in the country.  Copyright Heygood Orr & Pearson - Google+ More information about Heygood Orr & Pearson  Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.