Plain-English Insurance Answers for Texas Homeowners and Drivers
Texas has its own insurance laws, deadlines, and consumer rights. Most of the information online is either a government PDF or a law firm trying to sign you up. This site is neither.
David Offutt is a 20-year licensed Texas insurance agent, economist, and the author of the textbooks Texas insurance agents study before they get their licenses. This site exists to give Texas consumers a neutral, plain-English place to understand their coverage, their rights, and their options — without being sold to or pushed toward a lawsuit.
If you have questions about your policy, your claim, or what Texas law actually requires, you are in the right place.
What You Will Find Here
This site covers the questions Texas homeowners and drivers ask most — and the ones they do not know to ask until something goes wrong. Every article is written by David Offutt and grounded in Texas law and real policy language.
Hail and Storm Damage
Texas leads the nation in hail events. Learn how your deductible works, what ACV and RCV mean for your roof, and how to read your claims payout. Start with the 2% hail deductible.
Claims Process and Timelines
Texas law sets strict deadlines for how fast insurers must respond and pay. Find out what the 15-15-5 rule means and what happens when your insurer misses it. Read the claims timeline guide.
Policy Education
Coverage A, Coverage C, ACV, RCV, endorsements, exclusions. Plain-English breakdowns of what your policy actually says — so you are not surprised when you file a claim.
About David Offutt
David A. Offutt is a licensed Texas insurance agent (TX License #1465807) with more than 20 years of experience. He holds an MS in Economics from the University of North Texas and is the published author of Understanding Insurance in Simple English (available on Amazon).
He is also the founder of Texas Real Estate Academy and the owner of 123AceTheTest, which provides exam prep for Texas insurance and real estate licensing candidates.
He wrote this site because Texas consumers deserve a neutral, factual resource — written by someone who understands both the law and how policies actually work in practice.
Need Help Now?
This site is for education. If you need to take action, here are your two paths:
Need an agent? David Offutt is a licensed Texas insurance agent based in Fort Worth. Visit 817insurance.com to reach him directly.
Need an expert witness? David also provides insurance expert witness services for attorneys handling Texas coverage and bad faith cases. Learn more about expert witness services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this site for?
Texas homeowners and drivers who want to understand their insurance coverage before a problem happens — or who are in the middle of a claim and need to know their rights. This site is also useful for anyone who received a claim denial, a low settlement offer, or a confusing letter from their insurer.
Is this a law firm or an insurance agency?
Neither. This is an educational site written by a licensed Texas insurance agent. Nothing on this site is legal advice. If you need legal guidance, consult a licensed Texas attorney. If you need an agent, visit 817insurance.com.
What insurance topics does this site cover?
Primarily Texas homeowners insurance, including hail and storm claims, deductibles, ACV vs. replacement cost, the claims process, and consumer rights under Texas law. Additional topics include auto insurance, policy basics, and when to involve an attorney or expert witness.
Where does the information come from?
All content is written by David Offutt, a 20-year licensed Texas insurance agent. Articles cite the Texas Department of Insurance, the Texas Insurance Code, and published policy forms where applicable. Nothing is made up and nothing is legal advice.
How do I contact David Offutt?
Visit 817insurance.com to reach David as a licensed agent. For expert witness inquiries, use the contact form at 817insurance.com/expert-witness.
Questions about your coverage or your claim?
David Offutt is a licensed insurance agent in Fort Worth and the author of a plain-English guide to buying insurance in Texas. If you have questions about your homeowners policy, your claim, or what your insurer is required to do — reach out.