Drake Law PLLC
Insurance Company Denied or Underpaid Your Claim?
Colorado Policyholder Lawyer Fighting to Recover What You’re Owed
Representing Colorado homeowners, commercial property owners, HOAs, and contractors in disputes with insurance companies.
✓ Licensed in Colorado & Minnesota
✓ Super Lawyers Rising Star 2018
✓ No Recovery, No Fee
✓ Practicing Since 2004
✓ Policyholder Advocate
20+ Years
Insurance Litigation
Insurance Litigation
Former Insurance
Defense Experience
Defense Experience
Millions Recovered
for Policyholders
for Policyholders
Statewide
Representation
Representation
What We Handle
Select Your Situation
Tell us what's happening — we'll show you exactly how we
approach your type of claim.
approach your type of claim.
Property Damage
Claim Denied
Appraisal
Contractors
01
Property Damage Disputes
Hail, wind, fire, or water — if your insurer is minimizing the damage or lowballing the repair estimate, you have legal options. We calculate your true loss using independent estimates and fight for the full amount your policy provides.
Get Help With My Claim →Why This Idea Is Relevant
Insurance adjusters work for the insurer — not for you. Their estimates routinely miss covered damage.
We use independent estimates and contractors to calculate the true cost of your loss.
Policyholders represented by attorneys recover significantly more than those who negotiate alone.
Colorado law allows policyholders to recover two times covered benefits and attorney fees when insurers act unreasonably.
02
Claim Denial Disputes
A denial letter is not the end of the road. Insurance companies deny claims for a variety of reasons — some legitimate, many not. We review your policy, the denial letter, and the facts of your loss to determine whether your insurer got it right, and if they didn't, we pursue every available remedy to reverse it.
Challenge My Denial →Why This Idea Is Relevant
Insurance companies are not required to explain every basis for denial in their first letter — there may be coverage they never mentioned.
Many denials are based on policy exclusions that do not actually apply to the facts of your claim.
Colorado law requires insurers to conduct a reasonable investigation before denying a claim. Shortcuts can give rise to bad faith liability.
If your claim was wrongfully denied, you may be entitled to the full policy benefit, attorney fees, and additional damages under Colorado's bad faith statute.
03
Insurance Appraisal Proceedings
When you and your insurance company cannot agree on the amount of your loss, most property policies include an appraisal clause that allows the dispute to be resolved outside of court. The process sounds simple — but choosing the right appraiser and understanding the rules matters enormously. We guide policyholders and contractors through every step.
Get Appraisal Help →Why This Idea Is Relevant
The appraisal process is binding — the outcome determines what your insurer pays, so who represents your side is critical.
Insurance companies routinely appoint appraisers with carrier-side backgrounds. You need an experienced advocate on your side.
Appraisal does not waive your right to pursue bad faith claims if the insurer acted unreasonably before appraisal was demanded.
Colorado courts have ruled on the scope of appraisal — knowing what is and is not subject to appraisal can significantly affect your outcome.
04
Contractor Insurance Disputes
When an insurance carrier refuses to approve the scope or price of your estimate, the contractor and the property owner both lose. Drake Law works directly with contractors and their clients to close the gap between what the carrier will pay and what the job actually costs — through negotiation, appraisal, or litigation when necessary.
Contractor Partnership Info →Why This Idea Is Relevant
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize scope. Contractors who know their legal options recover more for their clients.
Scope and pricing disputes can be escalated through appraisal without going to court — a faster path to resolution.
Contractors who document losses thoroughly from day one put their clients in a significantly stronger legal position.
Drake Law serves as a resource for contractors before a dispute becomes a crisis — not just after.
The Attorney
"Insurance companies have lawyers working against you from day one. You deserve an experienced insurance claim attorney in your corner."
Christopher M. Drake has spent over two decades litigating insurance disputes and previously represented insurers in complex coverage litigation. That experience gives Drake Law a unique insight into how insurance companies evaluate, delay, and deny claims. Today he represents Colorado policyholders and contractors seeking full payment under their insurance policies.
Licensed in Colorado & MinnesotaSuper Lawyers Rising Star 2018Admitted CO, MN & NE Federal CourtsPracticing Since 2004First-Party Insurance SpecialistChristopher M. Drake, Esq.
Schedule a Consultation →Coverage Areas
Every Type of Insurance Dispute
Drake Insurance Law handles the full spectrum of first-party insurance claims in Colorado.
01
Underpaid Claims
Your insurer settled for less than your loss is worth. We recalculate the true value and fight for the difference.
02
Denial Disputes
A wrongful denial is often just the starting point. We reverse decisions through careful policy analysis and legal pressure.
03
Bad Faith Claims
When insurers act unreasonably or delay without cause, they may owe you far more than the face value of the claim.
04
Appraisal Process
Expert representation in the insurance appraisal process — faster than litigation, for disputes over amount of loss.
05
Hail & Roof Damage
Colorado's most common claim type. We know what insurers look for to deny hail, and how to document the real damage.
06
Fire Damage
Smoke, contents, ALE, and demolition cleanup — comprehensive fire-loss representation through resolution.
07
Water Damage
Sudden vs gradual, flood vs water — knowing the difference and applying it to your policy is our specialty.
08
Ordinance & Law
Building-code upgrades required by the repair are often covered — insurers leave millions in policy value unclaimed.
09
Commercial Claims
Business-property, business-interruption, and extra-expense claims for HOAs and small commercial owners.
For ContractorsYou Did the Work.
Download Contractor Guide →
You Did the Work.
Get Paid for It.
When insurers dispute your estimates or shortpay your invoices, you need legal backup — not just a public adjuster.
Legal support when insurers dispute your estimates or invoices
Navigate assignment-of-benefits and contractor lien rights in Colorado
Understand your role and rights in the appraisal process
Resources on documenting storm and hail damage for claims
Partner with an attorney who speaks the adjuster's language
Contractor Resources
Insurance Claim Advocacy for Colorado Contractors
Partner with us to move supplement, depreciation, and scope disputes forward — without dragging you into a claim you can't control.
Partner With Us →Where Insurance Claims Go Wrong
The Insurance Claim Timeline
1
Loss & Claim Filed
A covered loss occurs. You file a claim and an adjuster is assigned by the insurer.
2
Insurer's Inspection
The insurer's adjuster inspects and produces an estimate — often undervaluing your loss.
3
Settlement Offer
You receive an offer that may seem reasonable but leaves significant money on the table.
4
Legal Action
Drake Insurance Law reviews your policy and claim to build the strongest possible case.
5
Appraisal or Litigation
We pursue appraisal or litigation to enforce your coverage rights and recover your full loss.
6
Full Recovery
We don't stop until you receive what your policy entitles you to — a full, fair resolution.
Knowledge Base
Free Resources for Policyholders
Guide
What To Do After Your Insurance Claim Is Denied In Colorado
Step-by-step guidance for policyholders who received a denial letter from their insurance company.
Explainer
How the Insurance Appraisal Process Works
A clear breakdown of when to invoke appraisal, how to choose your appraiser, and what to expect.
Checklist
Documenting Hail Damage: Contractor's Field Guide
Everything contractors need to document storm damage effectively for insurance claim purposes.
Drake Law Results
Client Testimonials
Get Started Today
Insurance Companies have lawyers.
You should too.
Your free consultation is the first step. We review your claim, evaluate your policy, and tell you exactly what your options are — at no cost, no obligation.