Navigating the Aftermath of a House Fire: Seeking Fair Home Insurance Claims
California wildfires are known for being some of the most expansive, dangerous, and decimating natural disasters in the country. Over the last five years, the United States has experienced 344 significant fires that have caused billions of dollars in damage. California has the most wildfire damage in the country.
As the smoke clears in Los Angeles and residents are taking note of what has been lost to the fire, many are returning home to charred belongings and flattened homes. The swift and sudden nature of these disasters mean that many homeowners don’t have much time to gather their belongings, take note of their possessions and leave their homes.
Homeowners are facing huge emotional and financial tolls as they attempt to pick of the pieces of a life burnt to the ground. In the midst of the recovery and grieving, homeowners are simultaneously having to navigate complex insurance claims.
Property Claims Consultant helps residents of Southern California, namely San Diego County and Los Angeles County, receive high settlement claims after they face home damage like fire, flood and earthquakes.
Immediate Steps After a House Fire
Before thinking about insurance claims, first ensure yourself, your family and your pets are safe and out of the way of the fire.
1.Ensure Safety
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- Your city will alert you if your are in an area at risk of succumbing to the fire and will order an evacuation. It is important to obey the order promptly, gathering things of high importance that can be moved easily. Evacuate your home to safe location away from the fire. Many relief organizations provide lists of places that offer sanctuary to those affected.
2. Document the Damage
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- After you are permitted to return to your area, document the damage thoroughly with pictures and videos. Compile a list of what was lost to the fire.
3. Reach out to Insurance and a Claims Consultant
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- Reach out to your home insurance to file a claim. If you are at all skeptical about the claims process, hiring a claims consultant can help streamline your process and win you the highest available settlement so that you can fully restore your home and replace your belongings.
Common Challenges in Fire Restoration Claims
Unfortunately, the struggle doesn’t stop after the fire has subsided. The next battle is with your insurance company. Often times and unfortunately, large insurance providers will lowball your settlement estimates so that they won’t have to pay as much for repairs and rebuilds. This is particularly harmful after a homeowner or renter is in a time of grief following a property disaster. Public Adjusters fight for the rights of the homeowners against insurance providers to help homeowners get fair compensation for damages.
Undervaluation of Property Loss
Insurance companies can undervalue home damage claims by using tactics like: delaying the claims process, disputing the severity of the damage, attributing damage to pre-existing issues, using low-ball settlement offers, misinterpreting policy language, and relying heavily on their own inspections while downplaying evidence provided by the policyholder; essentially trying to minimize their payout by finding reasons to reduce the estimated repair costs.
Delays in Claim Processing
Insurance companies can delay the claims process by requesting unnecessary documentation, failing to conduct timely investigations, assigning new claims adjusters frequently, asking for information in increments, stalling investigations, and generally creating bureaucratic hurdles to make it difficult for claimants to navigate the process. This is usually done in efforts to deter the homeowner from continuing to pursue the claim further.
Disputes Over Coverage
Insurance companies dispute coverage to deny a claim by citing specific exclusions or limitations within the policy language, arguing that the situation presented by the insured falls outside the scope of covered events, often pointing to factors like pre-existing conditions, lack of proper documentation, or claiming the incident was not “accidental” as defined in the policy.
How Property Claims Consultant Can Help With Fire Damage Insurance Claims
The Property Claims Consultant team is well-versed in insurance law, policy jargon, and disputing settlements for our clients. With millions of dollars won back from our customers, placing your damage in the hands of the Property Claims Consultant means securing the future of your home, a smooth rebuild, and a restoration of your belongings. We understand how devastating fires can be, and how difficult it can be to piece your life back together after a wildfire. We are here to offer fire insurance claim assistance for residents of Los Angeles County. Contact us today to start rebuilding your life.
