What to Know about Insurance Claims and Ice Storm Damage
Following Winter Storm Uri, many Houston-area homes have been damaged by burst pipes, and even by issues like sewer backup resulting from long power outages at treatment facilities.
If your property has been damaged—although legal issues may be low on your list of priorities right now—there are some important things to keep in mind for insurance claims:
Steps to Take after Ice Storm Damage
When ice damages your home, it is important to report it to your insurance company. It is also important to preserve certain information and evidence, and mitigate the risk of additional damage. Here are some tips for how to do so:
- Report your claim as soon as possible.
- Read your homeowner’s insurance policy carefully. It likely contains conditions about giving prompt notice of damage, and how and to whom you must give notice. Insurance companies will use any failure to comply with those conditions to deny your claim. If you have already missed deadlines, you should still make an effort to comply—“substantial” (but not precise) compliance is often enough to protect your rights.
- Document all damage. Take pictures of the damage and surrounding areas, fixtures, and keep copies of any repair quotes or receipts.
- Save and bag all damaged materials.
- Do not give into pressure from your insurance company to accept a quick settlement before fully evaluating your damage.
- If your insurance company denies your claim, don’t just take their word for it. After crises like this one, insurers often start to issue bad faith, blanket denials of coverage—it happened after Hurricane Harvey, too. Your property damage may be covered even if your insurer says otherwise.
Finally, if you feel that your insurer has denied your claim in bad faith or is undervaluing your property damage, or if you simply want assistance navigating this process, please reach out to us. Whether you’re dealing with damage to your home, pool, business, or any other property, we’ll be happy to help.
Other Resources
Below are some additional resources that can help guide you through the immediate aftermath of a pipe burst and with filing insurance claims:
- How to Minimize Frozen Pipe Damage (NBC)
- More Tips on Pipe Burst Claims (Houston Chronicle)
- General Claims-Filing Tips (Office of Public Insurance Counsel)
- Texas-Specific Claims-Filing Information (Texas Department of Insurance)
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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. None of the information on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
If you own a vehicle with keyless entry or a "push-to-start" ignition, you need to know about the relay attack.
Intersections and high center of gravity vehicles are associated with dangerous rollover crashes.
Can Parents be Held Liable for Their Child’s Negligence on an E-Bike?
When robot s rule the road, who's responsible for safety?
The crash at the intersection of Lake Woodlands and Grogans Mill knocked the wheels right off the Ford F-150.
On February 18, 2026, an accident involving a motorcycle and two other vehicles occurred on Aldine Westfield Road near Wood River Drive, Fox26 Houston reports. An off-duty officer was operating the motorcycle and was found unresponsive at the scene. Despite the efforts of EMS and firefighters, they were unable to save the deputy. The investigation into the crash is being handled by the Precinct 4 accident investigation team, and all lanes on Aldine Westfield Road were shut down due to the incident. The driver of the vehicle stayed on the scene and was not impaired at the time of the accident. It is not yet clear if the crash was related to the arrest of a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy at the scene, who was charged with DWI.
February 12th, 2026, Houston: An 18-wheeler rollover on Southwest Freeway near Chimney Rock Road blocked multiple outbound lanes, leading to major delays for commuters, KHOU reports. The truck rolled onto its passenger side, crushing a pickup truck and dragging it approximately 100 yards. Fortunately, the pickup truck’s driver escaped unscathed, and there were no reported injuries. Fire officials also noted that the semi-truck did not lose its load during the incident. If you have been injured in a serious truck or 18-wheeler accident in Texas, please call Wham & Rogers for a free consultation at 832-592-1108 .
On February 5, 2026, a dramatic rescue unfolded on Highway 290 near Mason Road in Cypress, Texas, when a woman found herself trapped in her vehicle after a major two-vehicle crash. The crash caused significant delays, with two westbound main lanes on Highway 290 remaining closed. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported that when emergency services arrived at the scene, they discovered the woman wedged underneath a truck . This type of accident is called a Side Underride Crash , and car manufacturers face pressure to install additional safeguards. Thanks to the efforts of first responders, the woman was safely removed from her vehicle and taken to the hospital for further care. If you have been injured in a serious car accident in Houston, please call Wham & Rogers for a free consultation at 832-592-1108.
A new video released after a fatal crash in the Texas Panhandle shows a truck on US 87 crashing into four young women from the Houston area. The women had to reduce their speed due to a flat tire, and had turned the hazard lights on. Despite their precautions, an 18-wheeler transporting produce for the San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B collided with the Nissan Altima, tragically killing the driver and three passengers. Long hours, insufficient training and lax monitoring make commercial vehicle and big rig accidents all too common on Texas roadways.
On the afternoon of June 28th, a truck driver allegedly fell asleep while driving an 18-wheeler on I-20 east of Dallas , causing him to crash into four cars and three 18-wheelers. This accident resulted in five deaths and an unknown number of injuries. This crash caused I-20 to be closed for several hours on Saturday while the victims were treated and the vehicles were removed from the scene. The driver was arrested the next day after admitting to falling asleep while driving, and is facing five counts of manslaughter along with a count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. 18-wheeler accidents have become a near daily occurrence, putting many drivers at risk. It is important to obtain counsel immediately if you have been in a collision with an 18-wheeler to ensure evidence is preserved and the accident is investigated thoroughly. If you have been injured in a serious 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle accident in Texas, call Wham & Rogers at 832-592-1108 for a free consultation.
