Who Pays When a Neighbor’s Fire Spreads to Your Home?

If you own a homeowners insurance policy, you are already going above and beyond to protect yourself and your family from disaster.

When disaster befalls your neighbor’s property, though, you might suddenly have cause to ask who pays if a disaster like a fire at your neighbor’s home means you’re covered by insurance.

At Insurance Claim HQ, our fire damage lawyers are ready to answer even your most unusual questions and help you with filing a claim every step of the way. Contact us today and learn more about how we can assist you in securing the settlement you deserve after experiencing fire damage on your property.

Who Is Liable When a Neighbor’s Fire Spreads to Your Home?

When a neighbor’s fire spreads to your home, your first instinct is likely to wonder whether your neighbor is directly liable for the damages. 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?

If a neighbor is directly responsible for a house fire that spreads to your property, then the matter of who pays when a neighbor’s fire spreads to your home is clear. However, this all hinges on the actual reason for the fire. 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 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?

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.

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. In a worst-case scenario, the fire might spread to the point of causing damage to the structural integrity of your house.

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. 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?

Who pays when a neighbor’s fire spreads to your home and causes damage? Will the neighbor’s insurance pay fairly, or should you file a claim with your own homeowners insurance provider to cover a neighbor’s fire?

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?

Filing a homeowners insurance claim is complex enough, but there are additional legal complications when you must also determine who pays when a neighbor’s fire spreads to your home. There are matters of liability to consider, as well as making sure you get a fair settlement.

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.

Contact Insurance Claim HQ About Your Home Insurance Questions

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.