
Florida Fire Damage Insurance Claims Lawyer

When thinking about all the different scenarios that might occur in your business or home, a fire that has broken out is most likely among the most frightening and stressful ones. A Miami fire damage attorney can help you navigate this stressful time.
If you have found yourself faced with an emergency that involves fire, it is perfectly understandable to feel completely overwhelmed, and you may not be sure what you should be doing next. At the same time, your insurance provider will most likely make your claim filing process difficult. Our experienced attorneys in property damage law will know exactly what to do next.
But you do have available options to make this process easier. The team at Klotzman Law Firm is committed to assisting victims like yourself to secure the coverage for fire insurance that you deserve.
What Should You Do When Your Property Has Sustained Fire Damage?
A fire that has caused damage but has not completely destroyed your home often creates several insurance claim problems. Also known as “partial losses” some of the things you should be looking out for often include:
- Hidden damage which includes: ash, mold, air quality, smoke, water, and duct damage.
- Inadequate repairing and cleaning, or conducting repairs when items should rather have been replaced.
- Delays that were caused by the priorities of the insurance adjuster.
- Inconsistent appearances, for example, repairs are supposed to return the structure to a consistent and uniform appearance even when that has meant the replacement of undamaged items.
Whenever your home or business is damaged due to a fire or any other reason, here are a few important steps you should be following to assist your attorney:
- To assist in supporting your damages, look for videos or pictures of your business or home before the fire, and then take videos or photos of the structure after the fire.
- Create a list in detail of all the damaged property.
- Learn and study the terminology in your insurance policy
- Try to get the claim filed as quickly as possible.
How Does A Fire Claim Work?
If your property was exposed to and damaged by a fire, you will need to file what is known as a Fire Insurance Claim to cover costs relating to the damages and any other loss that you have incurred. Your claim should be covering expenses relating to all necessary replacements and repairs.
When your property was exposed to a fire, whether it’s a minor fire in your kitchen, a major house fire, or damages caused by a wildfire, it is very important to file your claim as fast as you can. Depending on the terms of your policy, your compensation may include these damages:
- Loss of personal property and belongings
- Smoke damage
- Interrupted Business
- Costs relating to having to live somewhere else during the repairs
- Detached property such as sheds, garages, or fences
Does Smoke Damage Count As Fire Damage?
Yes, coverage for fire and smoke damage is included in most homeowners insurance policies. Smoke also doesn’t always have to originate from a fire in your home. Smoke damage caused to your property from a fire in your neighbor’s property should also be covered. Your insurance policy for fire damage should also provide coverage for damages that result from a wildfire.
Is My Damage Covered By My Insurance?
In most cases, fire insurance will cover losses to the house itself along with any property in it from the damages caused by a fire. Most renters and homeowners have ample protection against damage caused by fires through standard renters or home insurance since fire coverage will be included in the policy.
However, people that are residing in areas that are regarded as a “high risk” when it comes to fire should consider adding on separate coverage for fire insurance to make sure their properties are protected. Homeowners insurance providers can sometimes exclude the homes that are at a higher risk of fires from the “standard” fire protection, which is why it is essential that you have checked on your coverage.
Below is an overview of how homeowners insurance coverage may handle the financial losses that you have experienced due to the damages caused by fire:
Dwelling Coverage
This will cover the repair costs to burned-away or singed portions of a property. If your home is completely destroyed, your insurer should be paying out a “lump sum” for your house, up to the limits stated in the policy. This will also cover smoke damage to your house. Payments are usually for the replacement cost or the cash value of the home.
Personal Property
This coverage pays for replacing furniture, clothing, and other types of belongings after the fire. Valuables are often treated differently since expensive valuables usually have set limits per item.
Liability Protection
This is coverage that protects you against lawsuits along with related damages that the fire has caused by spreading from your property to your neighbor’s property.
Additional Living Expenses Or Loss Of Use
Your insurance provider should also reimburse you when it comes to food costs and temporary lodging if you are forced to evacuate the property. This is usually worked out on anything from 10% to 30% of your dwelling limit. What is regarded as allowable expenses will differ from one insurance company to the next.
Why Was My Fire Claim Denied?
It is unfortunate, that many claims for fire insurance are denied when they are initially submitted. This could arise from simple mistakes you have made when you submit your paperwork. Or it could result from larger issues like your insurance provider attempting to dodge its responsibility when it comes to compensating you.
The attorneys at Klotzman Law Firm can assist you in streamlining these processes to help you get your home or building back to top-quality condition. Your lawyer will first determine if you made any mistakes with the claim you have submitted or the reasons why your insurance company is denying your claim.
From here, an appeal can be filed on your behalf, which means you won’t have to go through having to submit a new claim. To conduct these processes, your lawyer will need to gather the needed evidence in order to build a case and to provide proof of why your insurance company has a duty to ensure that they are providing the coverage that you have already paid for.
If needed, your Miami Fire Insurance Attorney will take your insurance provider to court to make sure you receive the compensation that you are rightly entitled to.
How Can A Miami Fire Damage Attorney Help Me With My Claim?
The results of fire damage can be extremely costly and devastating. But if you are like many property owners, then you probably have a Fire Insurance policy in place that should provide protection for such emergencies. However, insurers are well-known for making it difficult when it comes to filing a claim.
They may even attempt to try and make it look like you are responsible for the fire damage through something you have done or said. They could also offer a settlement that is too low to cover all your damages, and you might not know how to go about getting your insurance provider to provide you with an amount that is fair.
When you work with an experienced fire damage attorney in Miami Florida, this is one of the best ways to avoid these types of circumstances. The team at Klotzman Law Firm is here to deal with and file all your documents correctly to minimize faults in these situations and to do everything that they can to ensure the compensation that you are offered is going to cover you (to the limits of your policy).
Depending on the details of the policy, this could include property compensation for property damage. At the same time, if your policy covers it, your lawyer can also ensure that your insurance provider is going to cover living expenses that you have incurred when your home has been rendered inhabitable. This could include travel, hotels, and meals.
Having an attorney that is focused on the best interests of you and your family in these matters is extremely important if you have sustained physical harm caused by fire damage to your property. If you were injured or burned, your lawyer can also help you to provide proof as to why you deserve compensation and medical care for the injuries you have sustained.
Klotzman Law Firm is Ready to Handle Your Claim
The process involved to file a commercial or residential insurance claim for a fire can turn into a highly complex process. If your property was recently damaged due to a fire, the lawyers at Klotzman Law Firm in Miami, Florida have the experience and skills to help you navigate through this very difficult time so that you can work on getting your life back to some state of normalcy. They provide a free evaluation of your claim or they can answer any concerns or questions you might have. Give them a call today at (954) 915-7405, so that they can help you to receive the compensation that you deserve.

Written By Scott Klotzman
Scott is passionate about holding insurance companies accountable. As the Founder of Klotzman Law Firm, he fulfills his dream of helping people and making a difference. After earning his undergraduate degree, Scott worked at a top NYC law firm before attending Quinnipiac University School of Law, where he earned his degree and met his wife, Nancy.