How Are Fire Damage Claims Handled by Insurers?

Fire damage can easily ruin your home or business, and after a disaster, you expect your insurance company to step up. The process of handling a claim involves multiple steps, from initial acknowledgment to final resolution, and there can be misunderstandings and delays all along the way. A Fort Myers, FL fire claims attorney can help you keep your claim moving and your insurer honest.  

How Are Fort Myers, FL Fire Damage Claims Handled by Insurers?

Initial Acknowledgment and Response

Upon receiving your claim, your Florida insurer should promptly acknowledge that they got it: they have a max of 14 days to do so under Florida law. The insurer has to then assign a claims adjuster, and this adjuster will be your primary point of contact. They’ll gather details about the incident and your coverage. During this phase, the insurer may request access to your property so they can do an on-site inspection, and they’ll likely coordinate with the local fire department, as well.

Investigation

Next, your claim enters a more detailed investigation phase. The insurer will often hire specialized investigators like fire origin experts and forensic engineers to determine if the fire was accidental, electrical, or due to other causes. This investigation helps them rule out fraud or intentional acts, which could void your coverage, but they are also looking for any evidence that some negligence on your part contributed. Remember that an insurance company is a business, and a business exists to make profit. That gives them a strong incentive to find a way to deny or minimize a claim.

Damage Assessment and Valuation

With evidence in hand, the next step is to assess the damage and categorize losses into dwelling, personal property, and additional living expenses according to what’s outlined in your specific policy. For the structure itself, the adjuster will calculate the repair costs using standardized pricing for materials and labor in Florida’s market, consider depreciation for older items, and will apply either an actual cash value or replacement cost value, depending on the coverage you have in your policy.

If you’re making a personal property claim, you’ll need to provide a detailed list of destroyed items, and it’s common for insurers to require an appraisal for high-value assets. Additional living expenses, such as temporary housing you might need, are generally reimbursed based on the receipts you provide, up to the policy’s limit.

Claim Evaluation and Decision

After doing the assessment, the insurer will evaluate the claim against your policy. Insurers use actuarial models that are designed to be fair but also to minimize coverage as far as is legally possible. They should, however, give you an explanation if they’re only giving partial coverage. Your lawyer can help you to combat both full and partial denials as well as push back if coverage doesn’t reach your policy limits and is inadequate for your losses.

Payment and Settlement

Once the claim is approved, payment should be issued for all undisputed amounts. Funds are often released in stages, and for large claims, it’s common to require contractor estimates before making a full disbursement.

Talk to a Fire Claims Attorney

As you can see, this process is complicated, and there are many points along the way where an insurer may delay or work to minimize your claim and protect themselves. Talk to us today at HD Law Partners in Fort Myers, Orlando, Sarasota, or Tampa, FL today for help with your claim. 

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