Oklahoma City Bad Faith Roofing Attorney

Insurance companies produce glossy ads with reassuring promises and compassionate tones, but they are in the business to make profits. The insurance company’s goals conflict with those of policyholders who file claims for necessary but costly repairs, such as roof repairs after storm damage in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, it’s common for insurance companies to dispute claims for roof replacements, opting instead to cover only temporary repairs or denying the claim completely.

If your insurance company fails to live up to the terms of your contract, it’s a bad-faith insurance practice. Depending on the terms of your agreement, you may not only have a valid claim for a full roof replacement, but could recover additional compensation for bad-faith insurance action.

To protect your rights and pursue full compensation, contact Dan Davis Law to speak with an experienced Oklahoma City bad-faith roofing lawyer who will review your case and discuss your options.

What Are the Common Causes of Roof Damage Claims in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma’s weather is unpredictable. Besides normal wear and tear, a roof can sustain sudden, serious damage from severe storms, strong winds, tornadoes, and hailstorms. Even a fairly new roof with little or no wear and tear can suffer damage from extreme weather conditions. Storms and hail can cause damage such as the following:

• Missing roof granules from hail damage may expose the asphalt
• Dented metal roofs or cracked shingles from hail
• Creased or curled shingles occur from lifting and bending caused by strong winds
• Exposed roofing nails
• Tree limb damage
• Punctures from tornado debris
• Gaps in the decking caused by powerful winds
• Hairline cracks
• Breaks in the adhesive seal
• “Bruised” shingles, or ones that are softened by severe storm damage or hail, eventually causing cracks and leaks

Roof damage can lead to leaks, mold development, and even structural collapse. Unfortunately, there isn’t always a guarantee that your claim for necessary roof repairs will be honored according to the terms of your insurance contract.

Why Do Insurance Companies Deny Oklahoma City Roofing Claims?

Strong winds, tornadoes, and hailstorms often cause widespread damage to many roofs within an affected area. Insurance companies face significant losses after large adverse weather events. The insurance company hires adjusters to investigate roofing claims. The insurance adjuster’s goal is to protect company profits whenever possible. For this reason, the insurance company may use one of the following common reasons for a claim denial:

• The damage was pre-existing and wasn’t caused by the adverse weather event
• The homeowner did not disclose the roof damage when they purchased the insurance policy
• The damage was caused by normal wear and tear
• The roof was improperly installed
• Inadequate maintenance, such as the lack of gutters, caused the damage
• There is insufficient documentation, such as a lack of reasonable estimates or inadequate evidence of damage
• The damage wasn’t reported immediately after it occurred or within the time limit specified by the policy

Unfortunately, even when a loss is a legitimate claim, an insurance company may still unfairly deny it or insist on minor repairs instead of a full roof replacement. If an insurance company fails to live up to its contractual obligations, it is legally considered bad-faith insurance practice, leaving the insurance company open to a lawsuit.

What Can I Do to Strengthen My Claim for Roof Repair or Replacement in Oklahoma City?

Immediately after severe weather, fallen limbs, or another adverse event causes roof damage, taking action to protect against common reasons for insurance company roof denials can be beneficial. If your roof becomes damaged, do the following:

• First, take photos of the damage from several angles, being sure to include all damaged sections of the roof
• Then, take steps to prevent further damage, such as placing tarps or other temporary repair measures
• Obtain at least two estimates from different roofing companies and carefully document their findings
• Examine the details of your policy so you have a full understanding of the terms of your coverage before filing a claim
• Pay meticulous attention to filing details to ensure that all dates, descriptions, and other relevant information are correct
• Keep records, dates, and copies of all communication between yourself and the insurance company
• Present evidence of the roof’s previous condition, such as copies of recent maintenance invoices or reports

Sometimes, the insurance company denies even the most diligently filed claim or undervalues the claim, preventing you from getting the repair or replacement your roof requires. It may take an experienced bad-faith roofing attorney in Oklahoma City to examine the details of your insurance contract to determine if the insurance company’s denial is valid or if they are using bad-faith insurance tactics to wrongfully deny the claim.

Common Insurance Company Tactics to Avoid Paying Claims

Insurance companies do not always live up to the terms expressed in their contracts. They understand that many property owners will give up on their claim after receiving a denial, dispute, or endless delays, potentially saving the company’s bottom line. Common insurance company tactics for denials include the following:

• Stating that the damage pre-existed the policy
• Denying the claim on the grounds that the damage was from normal wear and tear over time, and not from a weather event
• Claiming that the weather event reported in your region was not powerful enough to have caused the damage
• Stating that the damage is excluded from your coverage
• Claiming that your coverage was not in place at the time the damage occurred
• Claiming that the estimates for repair or replacement costs are inflated
• Stating that you violated the terms of the contract by failing to report the damage within an unreasonably narrow timeframe, or that you failed to adequately address the damage with temporary repair measures, causing further damage to occur
• Offering a lowball settlement that does not adequately cover the cost of the necessary repairs or replacement

Sometimes insurance companies cause unnecessary delays by asking for redundant paperwork, failing to return emails, or hiring new insurance adjusters for a repeat investigation.

What Can I Get From an Oklahoma City Bad-Faith Insurance Claim?

If you believe that your insurance company has violated the terms of your insurance contract by wrongfully denying or undervaluing your claim, it doesn’t mean you have to give up on the claim process and absorb the significant financial loss. Instead, you can consult a lawyer with experience in bad-faith insurance lawsuits in Oklahoma City courts. 

An Oklahoma City bad-faith roofing attorney will investigate all aspects of your case, scrutinize the terms of your insurance contract, and pursue full compensation for your property damage costs for roof repair or replacement. In addition, if the insurance company used bad-faith practices and didn’t meet the terms of your policy, the court could require them to pay you additional compensation as a penalty and deterrent for further contract violations.

How Can an Oklahoma City Bad Faith Roofing Lawyer Help My Case?

It takes a well-executed strategy to demand financial accountability from a powerful insurance company in Oklahoma City bad-faith roofing cases. Call a bad-faith roofing attorney in Oklahoma City from Dan Davis Law at (405) 930-4210 to schedule a consultation and protect your rights while pursuing full compensation for your roof repairs or replacement.