When there is a fire in your home, you can be left facing extensive losses, a significant repair bill, and the emotional trauma of a life-changing event. On top of the loss, you will have to handle your fire insurance claim.
Your fire insurance claim is essential to the recovery process. You will need as much help as you can get to recover from the fire. Your claim should help you pay for the repairs to your home, replace lost and damaged possessions, and cover the extra costs of shelter and transportation while those repairs are being made.
Whether the fire started in your own home, from a neighboring property, or was the result of a natural disaster such as a wildfire, property damage lawyers can assist you with your claim.
While smaller claims may be safe to handle on your own, the higher the potential value of the claim, the more likely it is that the policyholder can benefit from help. The stakes are high for both the insurance company and the homeowner. The insurance company may be eager to control their own costs by denying parts of your claim, and you need to make sure you don’t give them a good reason to withhold coverage. These are three ways hiring a property damage lawyer can help.
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#1 Help Understanding What Your Insurance Policy Covers
The first job of a property damage lawyer is to make sure you understand what your insurance policy covers. In the case of a fire or flood, there are three main elements to your policy:
- Structure
- Contents
- Additional Living Expenses
But your policy can be much more complicated than that. There are different types of coverage, coverage limits, and even types or causes of damage that may not be covered. There can be a substantial difference in how much money you receive depending on the type of coverage you have.
A property damage lawyer will break down the often-complicated language used in your policy.
#2 Paperwork, Deadlines, and Insurer Demands
The process of an insurance claim can be a demanding one. There may be a lot of paperwork you need to handle, deadlines to meet, and demands from the insurance company that you will have to navigate.
One of the main requirements in your home insurance claim is creating a Schedule of Loss. This is a document that details all of the personal belongings that were lost or damaged in the fire. A property damage lawyer can help you through the process of creating the schedule of loss. Often, the insurer has a third party create the schedule of loss for you. A property damage lawyer can guide you through the process of reviewing the document to ensure it is an accurate reflection of your loss.
A property damage lawyer can help you make sure that all of your paperwork is accurate and on time while also effectively navigating demands from the insurance company.
#3 Negotiating with the Insurer
Finally, once all of the paperwork has been filed, your insurer will send you an offer. You do not necessarily have to accept the first number the insurance company provides, and insurers are often open to negotiation.
A property damage lawyer knows how to negotiate with the insurer and ask for a better offer if it’s warranted. They help make sure that you get the funds you need to recover.