How Do You Know If You Have a Bad Faith Roofing Claim?
Frequent severe weather events, including hailstorms and damaging winds, make Oklahoma one of the nation’s top states for roofing repair insurance claims. Unfortunately, insurance companies are in the business to make profits, and often protect those profits at the policyholder’s expense.
Although some insurance company tactics may seem unfair or even unethical, not all rise to the level of bad faith insurance practices. So, how does a homeowner know if an insurance company’s actions warrant a bad-faith roofing claim for additional compensation?
An Oklahoma City bad faith roofing lawyer can help you determine whether your insurer’s conduct crosses the line into bad faith.
What Is a Bad Faith Roofing Claim in Oklahoma City, OK?
Insurance companies have a legal obligation to carry out the terms of their contracts, including homeowner insurance contracts for roofing repairs and replacements. A bad faith roofing attorney demands financial accountability under the terms of the contract and may make a claim for additional compensation for bad-faith practices.
Most Oklahoma homeowners carry HO-3 or HO-5 policies with contractual agreements stating that the insurance company will pay for direct physical loss caused by weather events such as wind or hail. This may seem straightforward, but in some repair claims for hail or wind-damaged roofs in Oklahoma, insurance companies fail to live up to the terms of their contracts. If an insurance company fails to fulfil its obligations under the contract, the homeowner may file a bad-faith insurance lawsuit.
A successful bad-faith insurance claim results in the insurance company fulfilling its obligation to pay for roof repairs and providing additional compensation to the policyholder. This serves as a deterrent to the insurance company from engaging in further violations of its contracts.
Signs of Bad-Faith Insurance Actions in Oklahoma Roofing Claims
Insurance companies are held to contract law. EBSCO describes contract law as: “the creation and enforcement of agreements between parties, ensuring that promises made are legally binding and enforceable in a court of law.” Common bad-faith insurance actions that violate contracts in Oklahoma roofing claims include the following:
- Intentionally misrepresenting the terms of a homeowner’s insurance contract
- Unreasonable claim denials without justification
- Failure to investigate a claim or inadequate investigation
- Lowball settlement offers for significantly less than the value of the claim
- Using cosmetic-damage exclusions to deny claims by stating that roof damage is merely cosmetic when bruised shingles or those with granule loss from storm damage compromise the roof’s integrity
- Undervaluing claims and paying only a fraction of the total cost of the roof repair
- Unreasonable delays and a lack of communication to pressure a policyholder into accepting the first lowball settlement offer
Unreasonable delays, requests for redundant paperwork, and repeated investigations are common signs of an insurance company’s use of bad-faith practices. In the worst cases of bad-faith insurance practices, insurers threaten, coerce, or harass a claimant into accepting a low settlement for their roofing claim. If you’re experiencing any of these tactics, consulting with an Oklahoma City bad faith roofing lawyer can help you understand your legal options.
Do I Have a Bad-Faith Roofing Claim Against My Insurance Company?
If you suspect your insurance company’s actions in your Oklahoma roofing claim violate the terms of your contract, it’s beneficial to carefully document all interactions you’ve had with the insurance company and keep copies of all written communications, as well as the dates and pertinent information exchanged during phone calls.
A bad faith insurance attorney in Oklahoma City will evaluate the merits of your case by scrutinizing the language of your contract and asking the following:
- Were you entitled to benefits under the language of your contract with the insurance company?
- Did the insurance company’s investigation represent the interests of both sides fairly?
- Did the insurance company have valid or reasonable reasons for actions such as delays, undervaluation, or denials?
If the insurance company’s conduct caused compensable harm to you, such as additional expenses, distress, and frustration, you have the right to seek compensation through a bad-faith roofing claim.
Contact an Oklahoma City Bad Faith Roofing Attorney at Dan Davis Law
If you believe your insurer mishandled your roofing claim, you don’t have to face the process alone. An experienced bad faith roofing lawyer can help you understand your rights, evaluate your insurer’s conduct, and fight for the full compensation you’re owed.
Contact our office today at (405) 930-4210 to discuss your case and learn how our Oklahoma City bad faith roofing attorneys in Oklahoma City can help protect your financial interests.