Insurance Claim HQ was built on a simple mission to protect people when they are most vulnerable. Founded by Galen M. Hair and based in Metairie, Louisiana, the firm has recovered hundreds of millions for thousands of clients nationwide. Its reputation was not built on billboards or slogans but on real advocacy in moments of crisis, from hurricanes to house fires. Clients come to the firm after being delayed, denied, or ignored by insurers, and they find not just litigation support but a team determined to restore their dignity and stability.
That commitment extends beyond the courtroom. Through videos, guides, and community outreach, Galen regularly shares hard-earned lessons about navigating property insurance claims. One of his recurring messages is that many policyholders lose ground not because of the storm itself, but because of the mistakes they make when filing a claim.
Don’t Guess When You Don’t Know
The first and perhaps most common mistake comes from a well-meaning impulse. After a disaster, insurers ask rapid-fire questions about what happened, where the damage began, and how water or wind entered the property. In that stressful moment, many policyholders guess. They want to be helpful, so they describe what they think happened, even when they are not sure.
Galen explains why this is dangerous. Insurance companies will take those words as fact and use them later to deny or limit coverage. Rarely do adjusters write down that the homeowner was uncertain or only speculating. That record becomes evidence, and it often works against the person making the claim.
This is why Galen urges policyholders to pause. If you don’t know, don’t guess. It is far better to wait for professional inspection than to risk making statements that cannot be corrected later. In Galen’s words: “If you don’t know it, don’t say it.” Those few moments of silence can make the difference between a fair settlement and months of dispute.
Honesty Is Non-Negotiable
The second mistake is more deliberate, though it often stems from frustration. Faced with delays, lowball offers, or skepticism from insurers, some policyholders inflate the value of their losses. A survey cited by the Insurance Information Institute found that over 70 percent of insureds would consider padding a claim if they thought they could get away with it.
For Galen, this is a catastrophic misstep. He stresses that even a small lie can void an entire claim. If someone reports a television as 65 inches when it was 45 inches, the insurer may refuse to pay not just for the television but for every other damaged item in the home. That includes furniture, appliances, windows, clothing, and even structural repairs.
The risk is not worth the temptation. Galen frames it simply: Lying can be the difference in losing everything. Integrity matters both ethically and financially. By following the rules and staying honest, even when it seems like the process is stacked against them, policyholders keep their claims active and maintain their right to challenge wrongful denials in court.
Cheap Bids, Costly Consequences
The third mistake comes from treating property damage like car repairs. Many homeowners believe that gathering the lowest contractor bids shows diligence. They collect estimates from whoever will write them up quickly and send them along to the insurer. It feels practical. In reality, it hands control to the insurance company.
Insurers seize on those numbers as the ceiling for what they will pay. If the contractors are unqualified or plan to cut corners, the policyholder is left with shoddy work and no recourse. Worse still, those lowball bids limit the ability to argue for fair value later.
Galen advises turning instead to reputable professionals who understand how to price restoration accurately and defend those costs if challenged. A licensed contractor familiar with insurance work not only repairs the home but also safeguards the claim itself. “Hire an insurance claim professional who actually knows how to price these jobs,” he says. “They will make sure your home is the way you’d want it to be.”
This approach ensures that your recovery reflects real costs, not numbers designed to save insurers money. By choosing quality, policyholders avoid locking themselves into settlements that cannot rebuild what was lost.
Insurance Claim HQ continues to grow its national footprint, but its approach has stayed rooted in people-first values. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and recognition for Galen as a Super Lawyer Rising Star and Top Lawyer by New Orleans Magazine, the firm balances legal strength with personal care.
Insurance claims are stressful, but the errors in judgment made in haste can last far longer than whatever storm you’ve just weathered. Policyholders who slow down, stay honest, and rely on trusted professionals give themselves the best chance of a fair outcome. Galen and his team at Insurance Claim HQ continue to remind clients that they are not powerless in the face of disaster. With the right approach, claims can turn from points of contention into pathways of recovery.
About Galen M. Hair
Galen M. Hair, Managing Partner at Insurance Claim HQ, is a nationally recognized property insurance attorney known for aggressively representing policyholders across the U.S. With thousands of families helped and a reputation for high-stakes litigation wins, he has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star and one of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Learn how to protect your property from disaster at www.insuranceclaimhq.com.
About Insurance Claim HQ
Insurance Claim HQ is a premier property casualty insurance law firm powered by Hair Shunnarah Trial Attorneys and headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana. With hundreds of millions recovered for thousands of clients, the firm brings years of legal experience and unmatched insight into how insurers operate. Discover how they fight for policyholders at www.insuranceclaimhq.com.