Representing Homeowners With Denied Insurance Claims
In Oklahoma, 80%-90% of all homeowners insurance claims involve roof damage from tornadoes, hail and violent storms. However, fire, flooding and other disasters can also require an insurance company to fulfill its duties and provide financial relief.
Unfortunately, too many homeowners find themselves trapped in a stalemate with their insurance companies over denied claims, delayed claims and other types of “bad faith.” Our attorneys handle homeowners insurance disputes over:
- Wind and hail losses
- Losses after a fire
- Water-related damage
- Losses after an earthquake or tornado
- Collapse or structural damage
- Other property damage losses due to natural disasters
If you find yourself in a difficult scenario involving any such loss, turn to Mansell & Engel. Since 1994, we have dedicated our practice exclusively to representing people like you in Oklahoma and surrounding states.
When Insurance Adjusters And Contractors Don’t Agree
Typically, the insurance company will send one of its own adjusters to view your home. He or she will make an estimate of the damage and how much money you deserve for repairs.
The problem is that the actual contractor who is performing the work may not agree with the insurance adjuster’s estimate. The adjuster may say that only a small section of your roof needs repairing, for example, but the contractor may insist that it’s impossible to only fix one section — the entire roof needs to be replaced.
If reputable construction contractors believe that the cost to properly repair your house greatly exceeds what your insurance company is willing to pay, what are your options? Must you pay for the repairs out-of-pocket? Should you agree to substandard repair work in order to reduce the expense?
The first and most important thing you should do is learn about your legal rights. At Mansell & Engel, we will clearly explain your options under the law. Then, we will create a customized strategy for pursuing the benefits you paid for.
Denied Roof Damage Claims
Oklahomans are well aware of the numerous severe weather events, including tornadoes, that have damaged many roofs in our state in recent years. If your property was harmed in the November 4th and 5th, 2022, tornado outbreak in southeastern Oklahoma, or any other recent serious weather event, you may still be struggling to get your roof repaired by your insurance company. Our insurance claims attorneys have helped numerous clients to overcome difficulties after wind and hail have damaged roofs.
Among various inadequate responses of insurers, we have learned of many incidents such as the following:
- Insurance claims adjusters denied their claims immediately after storms damaged them.
- Roofs valued at more than $100,000 were more often devalued than less expensive roofs.
- Owners of homes worth $400,000 or more tended to experience more denials than others.
- Even when property owners had wind and/or hail policies in place, insurers sometimes insisted that the damage in question was not caused by wind or hail.
In some cases, insurers have contended that other natural causes contributed to the roof damage – and used that excuse to avoid paying on tornado-related roof damage claims.
‘Ground Settling’ And ‘Deterioration’ Are Common Excuses
All too often, with homeowners’ claims after tornadoes and other types of severe weather, the insurance company adjuster or engineer will claim that the damage to your home is due to some other cause not covered by your policy. They may allege that the damage was caused by:
- Improper workmanship when the house was built
- Natural settling or shifting of the ground below the house
- Long-term deterioration of roofing materials
The company’s decision-makers know that it is required to pay for storm damage, for instance, so they hope to lay the blame on something else. Our insurance claims attorneys fight back, They have helped many Oklahomans overcome initial denials.
Contact Our Insurance Claims Lawyers Today
At Mansell & Engel, our highly experienced attorneys will collaborate with structural engineers and other experts to set the record straight. Most insurance carriers know our firm by name. We have a well-earned reputation for being able to successfully litigate cases and obtain substantial settlements on behalf of our clients.
Schedule a free consultation about your case today. Simply call our Oklahoma City office at 405-212-5921 or email our lawyers. We also offer free consultations to other attorneys who seek co-counsel on these types of cases.