If a fire from your neighbor’s property damages your home, your homeowners insurance typically covers your losses, though liability may also depend on whether the neighbor was negligent.
Filing a claim in such situations can feel overwhelming, but a fire damage lawyer can guide you through the process and help ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to.
Even if you already have a homeowners insurance policy in place to protect yourself and your family, a neighbor’s fire can raise unexpected questions about who pays for the damage. At Insurance Claim HQ, our New Orleans fire damage lawyers are ready to answer your questions and assist you with filing a claim every step of the way.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you secure the settlement you deserve after experiencing fire damage to your property.
Who Is Liable When a Neighbor’s Fire Spreads to Your Home?
Your neighbor may be liable if their negligence caused the fire.
However, in many cases, your homeowners insurance will cover the damages first, even if the neighbor is at fault. Common situations when a neighbor might be at fault for a fire that starts on their property and spreads to yours can include:
- The neighbor falls asleep with a lit stove or lit cigarette.
- The neighbor fails to safely store flammable materials.
- The neighbor fails to properly supervise children in the presence of incendiary materials.
- The neighbor neglects to adequately prepare for or prevent the spread of wildfires.
Wildfires are a known peril in Louisiana, so you might wonder who pays when a neighbor’s fire spreads to your home if the blaze started as a wildfire.
It can be difficult to determine blame in situations such as these, but your neighbor may be at fault if they had ample time and opportunity to prevent the spread of the fire. Ultimately, your own insurance provider is likely to pay for your damages in the event of a wildfire.
After your house sustains fire damage for any reason, one of your top priorities is to report the situation to your homeowners insurance provider.
Even if it is clear that your neighbor is liable for the damages, your insurer will likely pay for the damages as per the terms of your policy.
What Are the Common Reasons a Neighbor’s House Can Catch Fire?
A neighbor’s house can catch fire for several reasons.
The most common causes include negligent actions like careless smoking or failing to maintain electrical wiring, as well as events beyond anyone’s control, such as wildfires, arson, or accidental fires.
Fires Caused by Negligence
If the fire is due to the neighbor’s negligent actions, such as careless smoking or failing to maintain electrical wiring, then liability is clear.
Other Common Causes of Neighbor Fires
Other common reasons that a neighbor’s house or apartment can catch fire, which are not necessarily the neighbor’s fault, include wildfires, arson, or accidental fires. In situations like these, the matter of liability might not be immediately clear.
How Can a Neighbor’s House Fire Affect Your Property?
A neighbor’s house fire can affect your property in multiple ways, from minor damage like scorched shingles or smoke odors to severe issues such as structural damage or flooding caused by firefighting efforts.
Determining who pays when a neighbor’s fire spreads to your home starts with determining the extent of the damage. The neighbor’s house fire might affect your property even if the blaze does not actually reach your house.
For example, airborne embers and other debris might blow onto your roof and damage the shingles.
Direct Fire Damage
If the fire does reach your property, extensive damage to your exterior siding or windows may occur. Exterior plumbing systems like garden sprinklers or pipes affixed to the exterior of your home can also suffer major damage due to the heat of a house fire.
Structural Damage
In a worst-case scenario, the fire might spread to the point of causing damage to the structural integrity of your house.
Smoke Damage
Your property might also sustain damage that is not a direct result of the flames. Smoke damage from a neighbor’s fire may cause airborne contamination or unpleasant odors to seep into your house.
Flooding from Firefighting Efforts
You might also encounter flooding in your home’s foundation or basement as a result of a firefighter’s efforts to extinguish the neighbor’s fire with large volumes of water.
Will Insurance Cover Damage Caused by Your Neighbor’s House Fire?
Yes, your homeowners insurance will typically cover damage to your property caused by your neighbor’s fire. Your insurance may then pursue reimbursement from your neighbor’s insurer if the neighbor is found liable.
To ensure your claim is handled properly, the first step is to contact your own insurance provider and give them a detailed account of the events, including a complete list of the damages and items lost in the fire.
Each party’s insurance provider will conduct an investigation to determine the root cause of the fire and assign liability in the case.
In most cases, your own homeowners insurance company will pay for your damages and then, in turn, seek compensation from your neighbor’s insurance company if they are at fault. However, you do have the option to file a claim against your neighbor’s insurance if they do not offer a satisfactory settlement.
This can lead to a complex legal situation, so it is especially important to have an attorney on your side at this stage.
How Can an Insurance Claim Attorney Help You?
An insurance claim attorney can help you by investigating damages, collecting evidence, negotiating with insurers, and representing you if your claim is mishandled.
Filing a homeowners insurance claim can be complex on its own, and situations like a neighbor’s fire spreading to your property add legal and liability complications. Involving a fire damage lawyer early ensures the process goes smoothly, from accurately filing your initial claim to dealing with the insurance company throughout your case.
An insurance claim attorney can help you through this process by:
- Investigating the cause of the fire alongside insurance investigators, ensuring a fair outcome
- Collecting evidence establishing the value of your damages
- Negotiating with the insurance companies on your behalf
- Representing you in a bad faith action if there’s suspicion of intentional missteps in handling your claim
Involving a fire damage lawyer early on in the process can ensure that things go smoothly every step of the way. Your attorney can help you talk to the insurance company and file your initial claim correctly and accurately.
Have any Questions? Contact Our Fire Damage Attorneys Today
There are sure to be many overwhelming questions and concerns on your mind after a fire damages your home, especially if it occurred through no fault of your own.
Leave the question of who’ll pay for your damages after your neighbor’s home catches fire to an experienced attorney. At Insurance Claim HQ, our fire damage lawyers are ready to tackle those questions and any other obstacles on your way to securing a fair settlement for your damages.
Call today or contact us online to learn more about what we can do for homeowners like you.
We serve Louisiana and other states where disaster may strike.
