What to Do If Your Fire Insurance Claim Is Delayed or Ignored
A fire can destroy years of memories, displace families, and leave homeowners with nothing but questions. The emotional and financial toll is overwhelming, especially when the home you worked so hard for goes up in smoke. Sadly, fires are far more common than many realize. Between 2016 and 2020, more than 350,000 home structure fires occurred each year, according to national data. Those incidents caused billions in damage, thousands of injuries, and untold emotional hardship. The number of houses also lost to wildfires has doubled over the past 12 years. And when your fire insurance claim is delayed, the road to recovery becomes even more difficult.
In Oklahoma, the risk is even more serious. The National Fire Incident Reporting System reported that, in 2023, Oklahoma had a significantly higher number of deaths per 1,000 residential structure fires than the national average. March 2025 brought devastating wildfires to the state, destroying nearly 300 homes. Despite that level of devastation, some insurance companies still delay payments to homeowners who rely on those policies to start over.
When this happens, families need more than apologies or vague reassurances. They need answers and action. At Aizenman Law Group, our Tulsa fire insurance claim lawyers step in to hold insurers accountable. If your fire claim has been delayed or ignored, we’re ready to help you fight back.
How Fire Insurance Claim Delays Impact Homeowners
When a home is lost in a fire, every minute of delay from the insurance company feels like another blow. You’re dealing with the physical loss of your home, the emotional trauma of the event, and now the uncertainty of not knowing when or if your insurer will help.
Here’s how these delays can directly affect your recovery:
Higher Out-of-Pocket Costs
If your policy limits are based on outdated values, delays can lead to bigger personal expenses. Building materials, labor, and housing costs often rise. A delay may force you to cover the gap out of pocket, a burden many families can’t afford.
Limited Financing Options
Without a settlement in hand, homeowners often struggle to secure loans to rebuild, repair, or relocate. Lenders typically want to see proof of insurance payouts before approving financing. Without it, progress comes to a halt.
Emotional Distress
The uncertainty of where you’ll live or how you’ll rebuild adds constant pressure. That anxiety only grows when your insurance company stops responding or drags out the process. Many policyholders report stress-related health issues, depression, and sleep disruptions during the delay period.
Risk of Property Loss
Even if your house was damaged beyond use, you’re likely still responsible for the mortgage. If the insurance payout doesn’t arrive in time, you may fall behind on payments which can lead to foreclosure or additional property damage if repairs are stalled.
Delay Tactics Used by Insurance Companies
Claim delays aren’t always straightforward. Insurance companies have learned to stall payouts without openly saying no. These tactics are designed to frustrate, exhaust, and pressure you into accepting less than you deserve.
Watch for these common signs:
Changing Adjusters Frequently
Every time your claim is reassigned, the new adjuster has to get up to speed. That means re-reviewing your documents, visiting the property, and starting parts of the investigation over. Some insurers intentionally switch adjusters multiple times to drag out the process.
Asking for Duplicate or Irrelevant Documents
You may be asked to resend the same paperwork again and again, or to submit entirely unnecessary documents. These repetitive requests often serve no purpose beyond slowing you down and giving the appearance of ongoing review.
Disputing the Value of Your Loss
Some insurers challenge your estimates or push back on costs they’ve previously accepted. Once you respond with proof, they claim they need more time to evaluate. This tactic adds weeks or months to the process without advancing your claim.
Approving but Not Paying
In some cases, the insurer approves your claim but delays payment. You may get an email saying your check is coming, only to wait weeks with no update. These stall tactics prevent you from moving forward even when you technically “won.”
Relying on Slow Communication Methods
Sending critical documents by regular mail, especially to a house that burned down, is another way to delay communication. Insurers may blame you for not responding, even though the documents never reached you in the first place.
What Oklahoma Law Says About Claim Timelines
Insurance companies in Oklahoma are not allowed to delay claims without a valid reason. The law clearly outlines what timelines they must follow.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Under 36 Ok. Stat. § 36-1250.6, insurers must acknowledge receipt of your claim within 30 days unless payment has already been issued.
- Within those 30 days, they must also send all necessary forms and instructions to help you submit a complete claim.
- Under 36 Ok. Stat. § 36-1250.7, your insurer must notify you of approval or denial within 60 days of receiving your proof-of-loss documentation.
- If a weather-related disaster has occurred, the Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner may extend this timeframe by an additional 20 days.
- If the insurer cannot complete the investigation in 60 days, they must give you written notice explaining the delay.
- No investigation may exceed 120 days unless there’s clear evidence justifying a longer timeline, such as suspected fraud or arson.
If your insurer has failed to follow any of these rules, you may have a valid complaint or legal claim. You can also report violations directly to the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
Why You Should Work with a Fire Insurance Claim Lawyer
When you’re up against an insurance company that won’t budge, working with an attorney makes a difference. An experienced fire damage attorney in Tulsa knows how to cut through stall tactics and demand action.
Here’s how a lawyer can help:
- Review your policy and determine what compensation you are owed
- Communicate with the insurance company to ensure deadlines are met
- Push back on lowball offers and unnecessary paperwork
- Help you gather documentation, photos, and estimates
- File a lawsuit if the insurer continues to act in bad faith
Statistically, homeowners represented by attorneys receive higher settlements and faster resolutions. Insurers know that when an attorney gets involved, they are less likely to get away with delay tactics.
When an Insurance Delay Becomes Bad Faith
Not all delays are created equal. If your insurer is dragging things out without a legitimate reason, you may be dealing with bad faith.
Bad faith occurs when an insurance company fails to treat your claim fairly, honestly, or promptly. Under Oklahoma law, this can be grounds for a lawsuit.
If proven, a bad faith claim could entitle you to:
- Compensation beyond your property loss
- Damages for emotional stress caused by the delay
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
- Punitive damages if the insurer acted with intent or malice
To build a strong case, your attorney will document all delays, misleading communication, and patterns of obstruction. The more evidence you have, such as emails, call logs, or repeated requests for the same documents, the stronger your case becomes.
Take Back Control of Your Fire Claim
You paid for your insurance policy with the expectation that it would protect your family in a crisis. If your insurance company is delaying or ignoring your fire damage claim, they’re not just stalling paperwork, they’re stalling your recovery.
At Aizenman Law Group, we don’t let that happen. Our attorneys include former insurance lawyers who know exactly how these companies operate — and the tactics they use to delay or deny legitimate claims. We’ve seen the tricks from the inside, and now we use that knowledge to fight for Oklahoma homeowners. Whether you’re still waiting for a response or were promised a payout that never came, we’re ready to help you take action.
Call Aizenman law Group at 918-215-8856 any time day or night for a no-cost consultation. Let us fight the delay so you can focus on rebuilding.
