Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law help homeowners in Tulsa when they face damage to their home or property. If you live in Tulsa, you’re pretty used to tornadoes and storms, but one weather event that you might not expect is an earthquake. Yet, these are incredibly damaging and becoming more and more common. This means that your homeowners insurance might try to deny or undervalue the damage from them, and our team can help you through that process. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Would You Need a Lawyer?
Tulsa may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about earthquakes, but the region has seen increased events in recent years. If you’ve experienced an earthquake, you know how sudden and destructive they can be. While your insurance policy should cover repairs, insurance companies often attempt to reduce payouts or deny claims altogether. That’s a big reason why you’d need a lawyer, and our legal team can:
- Review your policy and claim to determine why your payout was reduced or denied.
- Gather evidence to prove the full extent of the earthquake damage.
- Negotiate with your insurance company for a better settlement.
- Advise you on legal options, including filing a lawsuit if necessary.
If your home has been damaged by an earthquake, you shouldn’t have to settle for less than what you’re owed when you go to your insurance company. If your homeowners insurance company is undervaluing or denying your earthquake damage claim, our team is ready to fight for you.
What’s the Claims Process When There’s Earthquake Damage?
While you can prepare for an earthquake in Tulsa by securing your home and making sure you have supplies, the damage can still be severe. Your safety and your family’s well-being should always come first, but after an earthquake, filing a homeowners insurance claim is often necessary to get financial help for repairs. Every insurance company handles claims differently, but most follow these steps:
- Filing the claim – Document and report the earthquake damage as soon as possible. You can usually file online, by phone, or through your company’s app. Be sure to include details, photos, and any supporting documents.
- Investigating the damage – Your insurance company will send an adjuster to inspect your home, assess the damage, and determine how much your claim is worth.
- Evaluating your claim – Your insurance company will review the adjuster’s report, your policy, and other factors to decide how much they’re willing to pay.
- Making a decision – Your claim will either be approved, resulting in a payout, or denied. If approved, you’ll receive a settlement check or direct deposit.
Again, this process is going to be in place no matter what insurance company you use. It’s all about reporting the damage from the earthquake, then letting your company go through their evaluation process for your claim. It’s here that you have to be ready for how they might deny or undervalue it.
How Will My Homeowners Insurance Undervalue or Deny My Claim?
Even with earthquake coverage, your homeowners insurance company may try to limit payouts or deny your claim altogether. Here’s how they often justify undervaluing or rejecting earthquake damage claims:
- Poor maintenance – Usually, your insurance company’s first step will be to argue that the damage is due to aging or poor maintenance rather than the earthquake.
- Pre-existing damage – Another way your company may deny or undervalue your claim is by saying that the damage was already there before the quake, and will ask for strong proof that the earthquake caused it.
- Citing poor construction or prior repairs – If they believe past structural work was faulty, they may deny coverage by blaming previous workmanship instead of the quake.
- Approving your claim with certain conditions – Even if they approve your claim, your insurance company might try to place conditions on you, like forcing you to use low-cost contractors who don’t fully repair the damage or pressuring you into accepting a low settlement to avoid lengthy delays.
Obviously, this situation is incredibly frustrating. You pay for coverage, and you expect your insurance company to come through when you need them. don’t have to accept an unfair settlement. If your earthquake damage claim has been denied or undervalued, our legal team is ready to fight for the payout you need to repair your home and move forward.
What Can You Do If Your Earthquake Damage Claim Is Denied or Undervalued?
Having your earthquake damage claim undervalued–or outright denied-is incredibly frustrating. Homeowners insurance is meant to provide financial relief in situations like this, but your insurance company often prioritizes their bottom line first. If you want to fight their decision, you’ll need to take the following steps:
- Gather more evidence – The more proof you have, the stronger your case. Get additional repair estimates, take more photos, and consider hiring an independent adjuster or contractor to verify the damage.
- Write a formal appeal – You’ll need to submit an appeal explaining why the insurance company’s decision is incorrect, backed by documentation. Our legal team can help with this step.
- Negotiate for a higher settlement – We can communicate directly with adjusters or higher-ups at the insurance company to push for a fair payout. Strong evidence and our experience is key to getting you a better payout.
In Oklahoma, homeowners typically have two years from the date of the earthquake to file a claim. However, filing as soon as possible improves your chances of getting a fair settlement.
What’s Included In Your Insurance Payout For Earthquake Damage?
As scary as an earthquake is, it’s the physical damage to your home that is going to make up the bulk of your “damages” when you file your claim. No matter what company you have a policy with, they’re going to provide the following when you make a claim:
- Home repair or rebuilding costs – This covers structural repairs, materials, and labor to restore your home after earthquake damage.
- Replacing personal belongings – If the earthquake destroys furniture, electronics, or clothing, your insurance may cover replacement costs.
- Temporary living expenses – If your home is too damaged to live in after the earthquake, your policy may pay for hotel stays, rent, meals, and other necessities while repairs are being made.
- Code compliance updates – If repairs require upgrades to meet modern building codes, your policy may help cover the extra costs.
Remember, just because these things are available to you in your policy doesn’t mean you’ll get the full amount from your insurance company. If that happens, you can reach out to our team for guidance and support.
Contact Ylla Gosney for a Denied or Undervalued Earthquake Damage Claim in Tulsa
If your insurance company isn’t covering the full cost of repairing or rebuilding your home after an earthquake in Tulsa, Ylla Gosney, Attorneys at Law, is ready to help. You’ve paid for coverage, and you deserve protection. Our team will guide you through the process and fight for the financial support you’re owed. Contact us today for a free consultation–we’ll review your case and work to get you the payout you need to rebuild and move forward.
