Most Oklahoma homeowners carry homeowners insurance and for good reason. The weather in Oklahoma can be extremely temperamental. It is not unusual for the state to see tornados, violent storms, hail and flash flooding. Certain parts of Oklahoma may even see ice storms in the winter. If your home is damaged due to weather, you may file a claim with your homeowners insurance only to have your claim underpaid or denied entirely. The following are some steps you can take in such situations.
Step 1: Review your initial claim
If you want to dispute a denied claim, it is important to look over your initial claim to determine if there is any other evidence of damage or loss you can provide to your insurer. This may include photos, videos and receipts for repairs. After this, you can contact your insurer’s claims department and ask if your initial claim can be reviewed a second time based on the new evidence you provided or if an adjuster can reexamine the damages to your home.
Step 2: Obtain an independent appraisal
If your insurer continues to deny your claim after reviewing it or refuses to have another adjuster examine your losses, it can help to obtain an independent appraisal on your own. An independent appraisal can provide you with a boost in your dispute. If you do obtain an independent appraisal notify your insurer’s claims department about the independent estimate for evaluation.
Step 3: File a legal complaint
If, after presenting your insurer with an independent appraisal, you are still unable to reach a satisfactory settlement you may want to consider filing a legal complaint with your state insurance department. The state will investigate your claim and advise you on what to do next.
Learn more about denied or underpaid insurance claims
Having a homeowners insurance claim denied or underpaid can be very distressing. It is important to understand your rights in such situations. This post is for educational purposes only and does not contain legal advice. Our firm’s webpage on homeowners insurance may be a useful resource for those who want further information on claim denials.