The aftermath of a house fire is devastating. Whether or not the property is deemed a total loss, homeowners find themselves dealing not only with economic loss, but also the emotional toll that comes with a traumatic event. A fire damage insurance attorney may be able to help.
While people tend to feel vulnerable in the wake of a fire, they take comfort in the fact that they have a good homeowner’s insurance policy. What they don’t realize is that their insurance company is likely to fight them through the claims process every step of the way.
It is essential for you to work with a fire damage claims lawyer who understands your situation and stands ready to advocate for you. From the moment you file your claim, Your Insurance Attorney is prepared to act in your best interests, relying on their proven skills with fire and smoke damage claims.
House fires can happen anywhere and at any time. Even the most vigilant household may fall victim thanks to unforeseen events.
Among the most common causes of residential fires is unattended pots and pans that overheat. This typically occurs when the cook becomes distracted while something is on the stove.
Portable heaters and faulty furnaces can also may cause a fire, while smoking cigarettes, especially in bedrooms, is another dangerous risk. Some fires begin with an electrical appliance that has a frayed cord or an overloaded power source. Children playing with matches or leaving candles unattended, are other common causes of home fires.
From the presence of flammable liquids to faulty wiring, the causes of conflagrations are many. Fortunately, there are ways to protect your family.
One of the best things that you can do to protect your loved ones and your property from destructive flames is to be prepared. This means placing smoke alarms throughout your house and testing them regularly. Also, make certain that you always have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
Since many fires begin in the kitchen, it pays to be extra vigilant in this room. Keep the oven and range clean to avoid burning, stuck-on food, and when you’re cooking, make certain that you stay in the kitchen to monitor each dish.
Schedule routine maintenance checks on your heating source, and keep your air filters clean. If you must use a space heater indoors, keep it well away from anything that might be flammable.
Also, be mindful of the condition of your clothes dryer. Clean the lint trap each time a new load goes in, and check behind the unit for lint or small clothing items. Make certain that you check the cords on all appliances on a routine basis to guard against fraying and other damage.
It can be difficult to quantify and identify all of the damage that results from a blaze. In addition to items that are burned by flames, your property may sustain damage from smoke and soot. Even the water that is sprayed by firefighters causes substantial damage.
Firefighters may find it necessary to break windows or chop a hole in the roof while bringing the flames under control. Holes may be cut in your walls to ensure that fire isn’t lurking there.
All of that soot, smoke and dirty water contaminate the air in your home and everything in it. It is wise to touch as little as possible and to not spend much time indoors as these activities could make you sick.
Some of the damage that results from a residential fire isn’t immediately obvious or it may develop over time. For instance, there may be hidden damage that leads to diminished air quality or mold problems. This is why it is critical to have the property fully inspected by restoration experts who can foresee the long-term consequences of an inadequate clean up.
Most basic homeowner’s insurance policies cover fire damage. However, these policies are rarely as straightforward as they should be. Clauses may limit the extent of the coverage or the insurance company may give themselves an “out” by excluding damage that results from a fire that was caused by specific circumstances.
Even when you believe that you have robust fire damage protection, your insurance company is likely to prolong and complicate the claims process. They may not offer you a sufficient settlement to cover the damages or they may argue that your home isn’t a total loss when it’s obvious that the cost to repair the property is well beyond the structure’s value.
In some cases, insurance companies completely deny the claim, citing clauses that absolve them of any responsibility.
Attorneys who handle fire claims see these sorts of tactics from insurance companies on a daily basis. Fortunately, their legal knowledge and sense of justice leads them to look for ways to protect the interests of their clients.
A fire damage claims lawyer uses astute legal interpretation skills to review precisely what your homeowner’s insurance policy does and does not cover. Moreover, Your Insurance Attorney conducts a thorough investigation of the fire, what caused it and the damage that your property sustained. Relying on the informed opinions of experts in the field of residential fires, it is possible to pinpoint the fire’s cause and the true extent of the damage.
Your insurance company has a vested interest in paying out as little of your claim as possible. They will have experts, including lawyers, working for them to argue against the scope and validity of your claims for fire and smoke damage.
Accordingly, it is only sensible that you work with Your Insurance Attorney, whose only obligation as fire claims lawyers is to you and your family.
Your Insurance Attorney doesn’t get paid until you do. Whether you are preparing to file a claim, have received a lowball settlement or been denied, contact us to protect your rights.
