Fire Insurance Claims

If you have suffered from damage as the result of a fire, then you are likely to have questions about filing for a fire insurance claim. According to thesunnews.com, more than $25 million in insurance claims is expected to be filed as a result of the spring 2009 wildfires in Myrtle Beach, SC. This estimate was based on a survey conducted by the Sun News service.

Filing for a fire insurance claim is not an easy task, in fact, there is so much to do that it could be easy to forget or miss things in the process. Also, a main point to note is there could be more damage than what really meets the eye. At times it may be good to have someone on your side i.e. a fire insurance claims consultant.

Step One: After being a victim of fire damage, one must look over their insurance policy and carefully find out what is covered, how much it is covered for, and what else might be included in the coverage.
Step Two: Next the person involved, must give notice to the insurance company i.e. file a fire insurance claim. Once that notice is given, the insurance company must start an investigation within 15 days. The fire insurance company will send out a loss adjuster to review the damaged property. It is important to understand that the adjuster is an employee of the insurance company.
Step Three: Another point to note is that the insurance company has to make a decision on the acceptance of the fire insurance claim within 40 days. The company is expected to explain all the fire insurance claim coverage that is available to the insured so that the insured has enough information to smartly guide itself during the claim process.

Some key things to consider:

If it is safe to access the damaged area, one must take photographs of the damaged property. Visual documentation works better than words. This will help with the claims process and will assist the adjuster in the investigation.
Many people hire a fire insurance claims consultant to help them in situations similar to this. Somewhat like the loss adjuster works for the insurance company, the claims consultant works for you. This is a group that is on your side and will help you determine and handle the many tasks that must be performed when filing fire insurance claims.
The smartest thing a policyholder can do is to be conservative and don’t risk padding the claim. Everyone should have a home inventory created before any disaster strikes, and a video inventory of the home’s contents is even more valuable to have. This will help to avoid having your claim marked as suspicious and make the process easier.
If your home is brutally damaged and you need to find other accommodations while repairs are being made, keep a record of all expenses. The expenses could include hotel and restaurant receipts. These items are often covered by the additional living expenses section of your homeowner’s policy.