How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Bad Faith Roofing Lawsuit?
Oklahoma’s Great Plains location between the moist, warm air of the Gulf and the frigid Rocky Mountains makes it prone to some of the worst hailstorms in the country. It is also in the portion of the nation unaffectionately known as Tornado Alley. The extreme weather events in Oklahoma often cause serious damage to homes, particularly roofs.
Oklahoma residents depend on the safety net of their insurance policies for roof repair or replacement after storm damage, but what happens when an insurance company fails to fulfill the terms of a contract? What is a bad-faith roofing insurance lawsuit, and how long does it take?
An Oklahoma City bad-faith roofing lawyer can help you understand your rights when your insurer denies or delays your legitimate claim.
Understanding Roofing Insurance Tactics in Oklahoma
Weather events involving wind and hail are the most common causes of homeowner insurance claims in Oklahoma. Insurance company ads may sound compassionate and reassuring, but the companies exist to make profits. Unfortunately, an insurer’s objective conflicts with the homeowner’s goal of obtaining the roof repair or replacement they need. This often results in typical insurance company tactics, such as the following:
- Claiming that the damage was caused by normal wear and tear
- Finding that the damage is only cosmetic dents and “bruises” when these significantly compromise the integrity of roofing shingles
- Deducting a 50% “depreciation” rate on 30-year shingles that are less than ten years old
- Demanding redundant paperwork and repeated inspections as a delay tactic, allowing the insurance company to keep earning interest on the settlement amount while it remains in their account instead of yours
Unrelenting delays, repeated paperwork, inspections, and demands for further estimates also increase the chances that a homeowner will give up their claim.
When Do Common Stalling and Undervaluing Tactics Become Bad-Faith Insurance Practices in Oklahoma?
When an insurance company’s profit-protecting methods go beyond the typical hurdles homeowners face and the company fails to live up to the terms of its contract, it constitutes bad faith.
Fortunately, a homeowner in Oklahoma doesn’t have to accept wrongful denials or endless delays from their insurance company for a roof repair covered under the language of their contract. A bad-faith roofing attorney can hold insurance companies accountable through a lawsuit against the at-fault party. However, it’s important to act promptly, as Oklahoma law imposes time limits for filing bad-faith claims.
How Long Do Bad Faith Roofing Insurance Lawsuits in Oklahoma Take?
A bad-faith insurance lawsuit not only delivers the roof-repair settlement your family needs to have a secure roof for your home, but also demands accountability from the insurance company by requiring them to pay an additional punitive sum for bad-faith practices such as misrepresenting the terms of the contract, unfair denials, and unnecessary delays.
The time required for the completion of a bad-faith roofing claim process depends on the clarity of the contract violation, the length of the investigation, and whether the bad-faith lawsuit ends in a settlement or requires court litigation.
Most bad-faith roofing lawsuits against insurers in Oklahoma settle within one year, but more complex cases could take two years or longer, especially if they require a trial. An experienced bad-faith roofing lawyer in Oklahoma City can help expedite the process by thoroughly documenting your claim and presenting compelling evidence of the insurer’s bad-faith practices.
Contact an Oklahoma City Bad Faith Roofing Attorney
A bad-faith roofing lawyer can help you better understand what to expect for the probable timeline of your lawsuit based on the unique circumstances of your case. Contact Dan Davis Law today at (405) 930-4210 to discuss how our bad faith roofing attorneys in Oklahoma City can help you hold your insurance company accountable and secure the roof repair coverage you deserve.