Florida Fire Damage Claims
Fires cause devastating property damage and losses to businesses and homes. Even seemingly minor fires can produce significant smoke damage that can spread through the air ducts and building interiors, resulting in damage throughout the property and leaving behind the lingering odor of smoke.
Almost all property insurance policies have provisions for fire damage. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that insurers willingly cover fire damage claims. Likewise, when they do cover such claims, the coverage is not sufficient to restore the property to its original condition before the fire damaged it.
If your insurance provider underpaid or denied your claim or is aggressively trying to dispute it, please reach out to the fire damage insurance claims lawyers of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos for legal guidance.
How Do I Know If My Insurance Policy Covers Fire Damage?
The terms of your policy must spell out all the damages it will cover when a fire occurs. Some policies explicitly cover damage resulting from the fire, while others may cover issues stemming from the fire, such as smoke damage and water damage. Depending on your policy, it may likewise cover melted personal property and wind, structural, plumbing, electrical, and roof damage.
Why Insurance Providers May Deny Fire Damage Claims
Insurance providers deny fire damage claims for various reasons and may even accuse their policyholders of starting the fire. Other reasons for denials may include protective safeguards, which they commonly utilize to deny insurance claims if the property owner didn’t have a smoke detector or fire alarm installed. In addition, insurers may cite concealment provisions, inaccurate insurance application answers, and vacancy provisions.
What’s worse, policyholders who have suffered fire damage also go through invasive investigative tactics from their insurers. Their insurers will demand a host of financial records and other documents and make the claims process intentionally challenging for their policyholders. Unfortunately, some policyholders get so intimidated and worn down by the lengthy investigation and delays that they choose to give up on their claims.
Consult with a Skilled Fire Damage Insurance Claims Lawyer Serving Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater
A fire can occur at any time to anyone. But knowing this doesn’t make it easier when you experience one. Dealing with the aftermath of a fire can be overwhelming even for the strongest people. Then there’s the never-ending back and forth with insurance providers and claims adjusters.
Insurers will always try to settle fire damage claims for less than what their policyholders deserve. Most policyholders will have to contend with unfair settlement offers, delaying tactics, or unjust claim denials. If this seems familiar to you, you will need skilled legal representation to protect your interests and fight for fair compensation.
The fire damage insurance claims lawyers of Tragos, Sartes & Tragos have the resources and experience to deal with insurers and will negotiate or litigate on your behalf to seek maximum compensation for your losses. Send us an online message or call us at 727-441-9030 to arrange a free case evaluation with our fire damage insurance claims lawyers today. Get the information you need to help make the best decisions for your case.