Fire Claim Process: Here’s 8 Things You Need to Know

When a fire damages your home, a fast and fair settlement is important. From our Insurance Claim HQ fire damage attorneys serving New Orleans, here’s what you need to know about the fire claim process.

Important Tips in the Fire Insurance Claim Process

1. Always report the fire as soon as possible

Your claim begins when you report the fire to your insurance company. It’s important to get started by making a report to the insurance company as soon as possible. You can expect them to inspect the damage and gather information about the fire.

When you make your report, the insurance company may send you an advance. These funds can help you cover essentials while waiting for your final settlement. Be sure to carefully read any documents that you receive from the insurance company so that you understand what the payment is for and what you are agreeing to by accepting a check.

2. Compensation may include home damage, personal belongings, and living expenses

During the fire claim settlement process, you may receive payment for several different types of losses. There is the structure of the home itself and the cost to rebuild. You likely also lost personal belongings in the fire. Finally, you may receive payment for the living expenses that you have while you rebuild.

When you receive a payment or a settlement offer, be sure that you understand what it is for. Read everything carefully – if you accept a payment, you should know what it is for and how the insurance company arrived at that amount.

3. The mortgage company’s name may be on the check

You may be surprised to see the mortgage company’s name on the check. They want to make sure that the funds go to repairs. This is due to the fact that they have a significant financial interest in the house.

The mortgage company may be directly involved in the repairs process. They may need to endorse the check, and the funds may go into escrow for repairs. They may have varying levels of involvement in the process – reviewing proposals, approving a contractor, and authorizing the work.

4. A detailed inventory is very important

To pay you for damaged property, the insurance company needs to know what you’ve lost. It’s up to you to make a detailed inventory of your personal property. This isn’t always as easy as it sounds. It can be hard to remember what you had when it’s not right in front of you. Photographs of damage, purchase records, and even older photographs can help you create your inventory.

Usually, policy limits for personal property are a percentage of coverage for home value.

5. You may receive replacement cost or cash value

There are a couple of different ways to settle a fire claim for damaged personal property. You may receive the replacement cost or what you need to purchase new items. Alternatively, you may receive cash value for what the items were worth at the time of the fire. What you receive depends on your policy.

In some replacement policies, you must buy the items and then submit receipts for compensation. There may be time limits to purchase the replacement items. Depreciated cash value may also be an option.

6. Insurance replaces what you had

The purpose of insurance is to replace the property that you had up to your policy’s dollar limit. You may have the option not to rebuild or to build in a different location – it just depends on what your policy says and what state law allows. Insurance doesn’t pay for a bigger or better house – it covers your losses up to your policy limits.

7. There are things you can do to help the fire claim process

There are several things that you can do to make the fire claim process easier. Be sure to keep the insurance company informed. When unexpected events happen, it’s common for your phone number or mailing address to change. The insurance company needs up-to-date contact information.

In addition, the accuracy of your inventory, receipts, and repair estimates can all help you resolve your claim quickly. In addition, you can take measures to prevent further destruction using tarps and other measures to secure the property as much as you can. Save receipts for these materials to submit to the insurance company.

8. You may have help from an attorney

An attorney can help you throughout the fire claim settlement procedure. Don’t wonder whether you’re getting fair compensation. You don’t have to accept the first settlement offer, and it can be hard to know what the documents mean.

Our Attorneys Help With the House Fire Insurance Claim Process

At Insurance Claim HQ, our fire damage lawyers focus on maximizing your recovery. Contact our fire claim settlement attorneys today.

FAQs About the Fire Claim Process