Fire and Smoke Damage Attorneys in Florida
Fire and smoke damage may not be the first hazards that come to mind when it comes to hurricane damage, but they can be more common than you’d expect. One of the dangers explicitly warned against by many disaster preparedness experts are those posed by candles or gas lamps.
There may be lots of rain and water outside, but inside your home a fire can still cause serious damage as well as lead to injuries or force the home’s occupants to leave the relative safety of their home during a hurricane.
The risk of fire and electrocution after a hurricane, especially when there are downed powerlines involved, is also elevated. People may begin relying on gas-powered camping cooking stoves, lamps or candles while they’re waiting for power to be restored in the wake of a hurricane. Not only can these things potentially spark fires, but it could be difficult or even impossible for emergency personnel to respond due to blocked roads.
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Common Reasons Fire and Smoke Damage Claims Are Denied
Fires can easily lead to complete losses or extensive fire and smoke damages that affect several aspects of your home, forcing you to entirely gut affected rooms. Insurance companies will frequently try to find a way to deny, delay or undervalue your claim by:
- Alleging arson or requiring a long, drawn out arson investigation
- Accuse you of violating some terms of your insurance policy’s conditions
- Asserting the cause of the damage was excluded from your policy
- Argue that your repair or property replacement costs are inflated or fraudulent
Your Family’s Health Should Be Your Top Priority
Ash, soot and smoke can have serious impacts on the health of your family if the damage is not properly remediated. Smoke can also be particularly invasive, working its way into anything porous in your home, from rugs, curtains, carpet and clothing to stone countertops, tile and other building materials.
Cleaning using common household cleaning chemicals and methods often isn’t enough to make a home safe after fire and smoke damage. The leftover fine particulate matter in smoke or other byproducts of a fire can get in your eyes, skin and lungs, exacerbating medical conditions or causing new ones.
You shouldn’t take on cleaning yourself due to the contaminants and chemicals that can be involved with tear out and cleanup. Soot, ash and other particulate matter generated by home fires can have severe, long-lasting health ramifications.
The insurance company may try to minimize your claim’s valuation, but your policy likely entitles you to have your home returned to its pre-fire condition.
How to Make Sure You’re Fully Compensated on Your Fire and Smoke Damage Claim
Documentation, accurate and fast reporting and keeping track of your own out-of-pocket costs is usually the best way to ensure you are fairly compensated for your fire and smoke damage losses. It’s not at all uncommon for homeowners and insurance companies to fail to see eye to eye on a fire and smoke damage claim.
Claim filers often need to get independent claims adjusters or property damage lawyers experienced with fire and smoke claims involved before they get fair compensation from the insurance company.
If you’re unconvinced the insurance company’s claim payment offer will be adequate to restore your home and make it a safe place for you and your family to continue living, call Kanner & Pintaluga. Our fire and smoke damage attorneys are ready to sit down with you, review the damage your property suffered and fight for you to get the claim payment you need to restore your home to its pre-fire condition.