Property People Law is a property damage law firm that fights insurance companies for policyholders. If your Georgia home or business took hail, tornado, wind, water, or fire damage and the insurer is stalling, denying, or lowballing the claim, start with a free claim review.
Why this is happening
Georgia homes take damage from every direction. The March 14–15, 2025 severe outbreak produced hail up to 2.75 inches at locations including Georgia, and on May 29, 2025 a tornado crossed I-75 near Locust Grove in Henry County. In January 2025, Atlanta's worst winter storm since 2014 left more than 120,000 customers without power — the kind of hard freeze that bursts pipes. Hurricane Helene hit Augusta, Valdosta, and South Georgia in September 2024, and in October 2026 Hurricane Isaias brought damaging gusts, downed trees, and tornadoes to the state. After a big storm, adjusters rush through neighborhoods. Damage gets missed. Estimates come in low. Files quietly close. And the pressure starts to sign a release before the full repair scope is even visible.
You don't have to accept that. Your policy is a contract, and Georgia law gives policyholders leverage: if an insurer refuses in bad faith to pay a covered loss within 60 days after a proper demand, Georgia law may allow a penalty plus reasonable attorney's fees (O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6). We read the policy line by line, document what the loss is actually worth, and build the case around where the claim handling fell short.
What we handle
If the damage is to your home and your insurer isn't paying what it should, we should talk.
Georgia's tornado season peaks from March through May, and fall tropical systems bring another round of wind damage. After a storm, carriers reclassify wind-driven rain that came through a storm-opened roof as excluded "maintenance," pay for shingles but not the decking underneath, or call fresh hail bruising old wear. We dispute those shortcuts, document the true wind, hail, and tree-fall damage, and review storm claims from metro Atlanta to Savannah to Albany.
Supply lines split, water heaters fail, and slab and under-sink leaks soak floors and cabinets year-round — and when a hard freeze reaches north Georgia, pipes burst in exterior walls, crawl spaces, and unheated rooms. Carriers like to call these losses "gradual" or "poor maintenance." Most policies treat sudden, accidental water damage differently from a slow leak — and the facts usually tell the difference when they're documented before the evidence is repaired away.
Hail bruises shingles and dents siding, gutters, and vents in ways a quick ladder look misses, and a pine or oak through the roof brings structural, interior, and debris-removal costs carriers like to trim. Carriers approve a few patched slopes instead of a replacement, or pay only actual cash value — the depreciated worth — and hold back the rest. We document the full scope, track the depreciation holdback, and push for what it actually costs to make the roof whole.
A house fire or lightning strike leaves damage well beyond the burned rooms — smoke and soot in the ductwork, contents lists that run to hundreds of items, and code-required upgrades during the rebuild. Carriers routinely undervalue the smoke and contents portions. We document structure, contents, and upgrades so the settlement matches the rebuild your policy promised, not what the adjuster wishes it cost.
A denial letter is the carrier's opening position, not a court ruling. Many denials rest on a rushed inspection, a misread exclusion, or a cause-of-loss theory the facts don't support — weaknesses that turn the leverage back to the homeowner. We review the letter against the policy and tell you plainly whether it can be challenged.
When the offer doesn't come close to real repair costs, or the insurer drags its feet without a good reason, you don't have to take it as final. We document the shortfall, hold the carrier to the policy it wrote, and pursue the remedies available to Georgia policyholders — including a bad-faith demand under O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6 where the facts support one — in negotiation, appraisal, or court. Once a carrier sees that exposure laid out, the offer often changes.
Other Georgia claims we handle
Georgia claim guide
Plain-English answers to the questions that decide most Georgia property claims. Every claim turns on its own policy and facts, so use this as a starting point — not legal advice for your situation.
If an insurer refuses in bad faith to pay a covered loss within 60 days after a proper demand, Georgia law may allow a penalty of up to 50% of the insurer's liability for the loss or $5,000, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees. The penalty is not automatic: bad faith has to be shown, and a genuine dispute over coverage or the amount may not qualify. The timing and content of the demand matter, so it is worth getting the demand right before it is sent.
Georgia regulations set standards for how insurers acknowledge, investigate, and decide claims, and the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (O.C.G.A. § 33-6-30 et seq.) prohibits unfair claim practices. That Act is enforced by the Commissioner, not through a private lawsuit. Complaints go to the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which can press your insurer for a response — but it can't act as your lawyer or set what your claim is worth.
Georgia's general time limit for suits on written contracts is six years (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24), but property policies can shorten the time to sue, and Georgia courts enforce clauses as short as one year for many losses. Fire losses get at least two years under Georgia's standard fire policy (O.C.G.A. § 33-32-1). Read your policy's "suit against us" clause and count from the date of loss — not from the date of the denial letter.
Most Georgia homeowners policies include an appraisal clause. Each side picks an appraiser, and an umpire breaks ties. Appraisal decides how much the damage is worth — it does not decide whether the loss is covered, so a coverage denial usually has to be fought another way. Invoking appraisal doesn't automatically pause your policy's deadline to sue, so whether to demand it is a strategic call worth making with the whole file in front of you.
The March 14–15, 2025 severe outbreak produced hail up to 2.75 inches at locations including Georgia, and on June 27, 2025, quarter-size hail fell in Forest Park in Clayton County. Hail claims tend to turn into disputes over roof age, "cosmetic" damage, and repair versus replacement — the issues we cover on our Georgia roof and hail page.
Georgia's tornado season peaks from March through May, with fall tropical remnants adding more. On May 29, 2025, a tornado crossed I-75 near Locust Grove in Henry County; on March 12, 2026, two tornadoes in Laurens County damaged roofs and shingles; and in October 2026, Hurricane Isaias brought a tornado to Screven County and downed trees onto homes across metro Atlanta. Wind and tree-fall claims usually turn on the full scope of repairs, interior water damage, and debris removal.
Georgia freezes don't come often, but they hit hard: the January 2025 winter storm was Atlanta's worst since 2014 and left more than 120,000 customers without power. Homes built for heat often have pipes in exterior walls, attics, and crawl spaces, so a freeze can mean burst lines and soaked ceilings. Insurers sometimes argue the home wasn't kept heated or the leak was gradual, so photos, dates, and prompt notice matter.
The Georgia Underwriting Association is Georgia's insurer of last resort for homes that can't get coverage in the regular market. A policy from it is still a contract with its own terms, exclusions, and deadlines, and claims under it can be underpaid or denied like any other. We review those claims the same way: policy first, then the evidence.
Why homeowners choose us
We don't represent insurance companies. Ever.
That's not a marketing line, it's a structural choice.
Some firms represent insurers one day and policyholders the next. We don't. We handle claims against State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Travelers, Auto-Owners, Farmers, American Family, Liberty Mutual, Georgia Farm Bureau, Progressive, and other carriers that insure Georgia homes — and when we take on a claim, the carrier knows we have no relationships to protect on the other side.
We work on contingency — no fee unless we win. Refers only to attorney's fees; court costs and other expenses may be owed even if there is no recovery. No retainer and no hourly bill; our fee is a percentage of what we recover. We walk you through exactly how fees and case costs work, in writing, before you sign anything, so there are no surprises.
We review Georgia claims by phone and video, so you don't have to travel or take time off to get answers. We serve homeowners and businesses across the state — the Atlanta metro, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Athens, Albany, and every county in between.
Georgia claims
Start with the form or a call. We review what you send — the policy, the estimate, the denial letter, your photos — and follow up within 2 business days to talk through where the claim stands and what can be done.
Your declarations page and full policy if you have it, the adjuster's estimate or denial letter, photos or video of the damage, any contractor estimates, and the dates you reported the loss and heard back. Missing something? Send what you have — we'll tell you what else matters.
Claim reviews happen by phone or video, so homeowners anywhere in Georgia can get answers without traveling. Call (844) 776-7364 or start with the free claim review form.
The Atlanta metro, including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, Henry, and Cherokee counties; Savannah and coastal Georgia; Augusta; Macon; Columbus; Athens; Albany and southwest Georgia; and the towns in between. If your home or business is in Georgia, we can review your claim.
How it works
Most Georgia homeowners are surprised how little they have to do once a lawyer is involved — even with carriers used to policyholders who don't push back.
Free, confidential conversation. Bring your policy, the carrier's denial letter or estimate, and any photos you took before repairs began. If you've filed a complaint with the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, bring that file too — the office can press the carrier for a response, but it generally can't decide what your claim is worth or order a payment the carrier disputes. That's where we come in.
We bring in independent adjusters, roofers, and engineers to document the real scope — the tornado, hail, and wind damage adjusters undercount, the storm-opened-roof water carriers try to reclassify as excluded, and the burst-pipe and appliance losses they want to call gradual.
We send the carrier a documented demand that lays out what the loss is worth and where the claim handling fell short — in Georgia, often the 60-day demand that can set up a bad-faith claim under O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6. Many cases resolve here. If your policy's appraisal clause fits the dispute, we'll tell you.
If they still won't pay fairly, the claim can go to suit in Georgia state court or federal court, with the resources to take it all the way.
Common questions
We handle property damage claims on a contingency-fee basis — no fee unless we win. Refers only to attorney's fees; court costs and other expenses may be owed even if there is no recovery. There is no retainer and no hourly bill; our fee is a percentage of what we recover. We explain exactly how fees and case costs work, in writing, before you sign anything. The first call and the claim review are free, and there is no obligation to hire us afterward.
Often not, but don't wait. A denial letter is the insurer's opening position, not a final decision, and many denials can be challenged when the inspection was rushed, an exclusion was misread, or the cause of loss was wrong. Timing matters in Georgia: the general limit for suits on written contracts is six years, but property policies can shorten the time to sue, and Georgia courts enforce clauses as short as one year for many losses. Check your policy's "suit against us" clause and count from the date of loss.
Georgia regulations set claim-handling standards for acknowledging, investigating, and deciding claims, and exact timelines depend on your policy and on what the insurer has received. Separately, Georgia's bad-faith statute (O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6) turns on a proper written demand: if an insurer refuses in bad faith to pay a covered loss within 60 days after that demand, Georgia law may allow a penalty and attorney's fees. If your claim has stalled for weeks without a clear explanation, it is worth having the file reviewed.
Complaints go to the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire. The office can send your complaint to the insurer, ask for a response, and act against unfair claim practices under the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, which the Commissioner enforces. It generally cannot act as your lawyer, decide the facts of a disputed claim, or set what your claim is worth, and that Act does not give homeowners a private right to sue. Many homeowners file a complaint and have the claim reviewed at the same time.
Most Georgia homeowners policies cover sudden wind and hail damage — tornadoes, straight-line winds, tropical-storm gusts, and hail — to the roof, siding, and windows, and to structures hit by falling trees. Rain that enters through an opening the storm created is typically covered as well. Disputes usually come down to the size of the repair, whether hail damage is "cosmetic," whether the roof is repaired or replaced, and whether the carrier calls the damage pre-existing. Every policy is different, so the exact wording, deductibles, and endorsements matter.
Often, depending on the policy. Many Georgia policies cover sudden water damage from a pipe that bursts, a failed supply line, or an appliance that leaks without warning. Insurers sometimes deny these losses as gradual leaks or poor maintenance, and some policies require reasonable steps to keep the heat on during a freeze, which matters for vacant homes and second homes. Photos, repair records, and prompt notice help, and so does a close read of the exclusions.
Yes. If the insurer breached the policy, you can sue for the benefits it owes, as long as you file within the time your policy and Georgia law allow. Where an insurer refuses in bad faith to pay a covered loss within 60 days after a proper demand, Georgia law may also allow a penalty and reasonable attorney's fees under O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6. Bad faith has to be shown; a genuine dispute over coverage or the amount may not qualify. Many disputes resolve before trial once the insurer sees a documented case.
O.C.G.A. § 33-4-6 is Georgia's penalty for an insurer that refuses in bad faith to pay a covered loss within 60 days after a proper demand. If bad faith is shown, Georgia law may allow a penalty of up to 50% of the insurer's liability for the loss or $5,000, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees. It is not automatic, and the timing and content of the demand matter, so the demand should be prepared carefully.
Yes. Public adjusters are licensed by the state and can document and negotiate a claim, usually for a percentage of the payout. They can't give legal advice or file a lawsuit. If the claim has been denied, involves a coverage dispute or a possible bad-faith demand, or may need appraisal or court, you need a lawyer.
Often, when a covered event like hail, wind, or a falling tree damages the roof. Disputes usually come down to whether the damage is storm-related or wear and tear, whether hail damage is "cosmetic," whether the carrier pays for a repair or a full replacement, and how much depreciation it holds back under an actual cash value payment.
That is one of the most common reasons Georgia claims get denied or cut. The answer depends on evidence: photos from before the storm, weather data for the date of loss, the age and condition of the roof or system, and an independent inspection. A blanket wear-and-tear denial that ignores storm evidence is worth challenging.
Not always, but the earlier we see a claim, the more we can help shape the record — the inspection, the estimate, the proof of loss, and what you say to the adjuster. If the first offer looks low, the claim is stalling, or the insurer wants a recorded statement or a signed release, it is a good time to have the file reviewed.
Yes. We review commercial property claims for business owners and property owners — wind, hail, fire, water, and business interruption losses at offices, retail centers, warehouses, multifamily buildings, churches, and other commercial properties across Georgia.
No. We review Georgia claims by phone and video, so homeowners anywhere in Georgia — from metro Atlanta to Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Athens, and Albany — can get a claim review without traveling.
Ready to talk?
Tell us what happened. We'll review your policy and the carrier's response — and tell you straight whether we think you have a case worth pursuing. Free, confidential, no obligation. We handle home and business property insurance claims. We don't handle car or auto accident claims.
