Insurance Law Attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Insurance matters are complex and can cause an individual a great deal of confusion. To fully understand your rights under the terms of your insurance, trust your insurance law matters to me, attorney Joseph M. Norwood. I take the time to sit down with my clients and fully explain their options when dealing with an insurance coverage dispute or other insurance law issue. Contact me today to schedule your free initial consultation.

You may have been treated unfairly by your insurance company. I see cases like this on a regular basis and have extensive experience not only handling, but solving complex insurance coverage, indemnity, and bad faith issues. You are usually in a weak bargaining position against large insurance companies and may fine yourself in contracts with unfair or unclear provisions. You may be insured by a company inadequately capitalized to make required payments. If an insurance company has unreasonably denied a claim, you probably have legal recourse against the company. However, you may not get any recovery without the assistance of a knowledgeable and experienced attorney.

Complex Billion-Dollar Companies Looking Out For Themselves

Insurance companies know you have very little choice regarding what a particular insurance police covers, or does not cover. They know you have even less choice or no choice at all, about how much you pay in premiums. The insurance companies also know that you are probably not an “expert” on insurance of insurance coverage. The companies have vast resources, their own lawyers, and experienced claims adjusters who are trained to convince you to accept less, and very often much less, than what your claim may actually be worth. These companies have internal policies and guidelines they will not discuss with you, such as:

• Adjustment of claims
• Reducing claim values
• How do deal with you if you are persistent
• How to coerce you into accepting less
• Why you shouldn’t hire a lawyer

In many cases, claims adjusters may simply deny your claim or attempt to convince you that your claim is not covered, despite what your policy says. After all, insurance companies are simply corporations, whose primary motivation is increasing profits, not helping you. In fact, the insurance company is usually working against you, because paying your claim reduces profits.

Oklahoma Laws Related to Insurance

Fortunately, Oklahoma law provides you protection from oppressive and coercive tactics used by insurance companies. First, Oklahoma law allows you to bring a cause of action against an insurance company for breach of contract (the insurance policy). For example, if your policy provides for a certain type of coverage, and the insurance company refuses to allow your claim to be covered, you may sue the company for breach of contract.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, Oklahoma law recognizes that the insurance company owes you a duty above and beyond simple contract rights. This duty is referred to as the duty of good faith. It is a duty that applies to all insurance companies. Because the insurance company is bigger, more powerful, has more money and resources than you, and is motivated by profit, Oklahoma law requires the company to deal with you fairly and in good faith when handling your claim. In other words, just because the insurance company has the ability to take advantage of you, and probably would, Oklahoma law does not allow it to. If the company does take advantage of you, then the insurance company has acted in bad faith, and you may sue the company for breaching the very important fiduciary duty it owes you.

Whether you have been involved in a car accident, sustained an injury in a motor vehicle accident, or your home or property has been damaged, some part of an auto insurance or homeowner’s insurance policy may provide coverage for the monetary costs that you incur. However, your insurance company may engage in a coverage dispute, attempting to avoid providing coverage that is detailed in your policy. I confidently advise clients of the best avenue through which to pursue a resolution in this type of situation. I am not intimidated by the insurance companies and vigorously advocate for my clients’ rights throughout the entirety of the case.

Insurance policies are, by nature, wordy and often difficult to understand. If you have an issue with your policy or are involved in a coverage dispute with your insurance provider, get in touch with me. I can carefully examine your policy with you to determine if the insurance company is within their rights when denying a claim.

Contact an Insurance Law Lawyer in Tulsa

Let me, attorney Joseph M. Norwood, work with you to help clarify your insurance policy and handle any disputes that may arise with your insurance company. My practice is focused on representing clients across the Tulsa metropolitan area and throughout northeast Oklahoma.