Sarasota Fire Claims Attorney
The Chicago fire of 1871 was a significant event in American history that forever reshaped the ways that cities were designed and buildings were constructed. In the aftermath of the fire, terra cotta clay eventually made Chicago the most fire-resistant city in the nation, according to National Geographic. Most homes today are equipped with numerous smoke detectors and built with ever more types of fire-resistant materials; condominiums and apartments typically have sprinkler heads as well. And, cities of the present are designed with fire safety in mind—firefighters are quick to respond to incidents and hydrants are plentiful. Building fires used to ravage American cities in the early 19th and 20th centuries, such as the Great Fire of 1871.
Aside from wildfires, which are a rapidly increasing problem, building fires are generally contained quickly. Yet, fires continue to be the largest and most expensive peril when it comes to claims. Whether the fire was started by a cigarette butt or a cooking incident, homeowners rely on their insurers to pay for the personal property damages and cost of rebuilding. Insurers rely on thorough investigations into the cause of the fire and the true cost of the damage to protect themselves from expensive overpayments and fraudulent claims. Our Sarasota fire claims attorneys at HD Law Partners can help.
Covered Perils of Home Fires
Fires are usually covered under most homeowners’ insurance policies, and it does not matter if the policyholder is found to be at fault for causing the fire. A homeowner who left the oven on while stepping out for a few hours only to come back to an out-of-control house fire would still be covered under his or her insurance policy regardless of negligence. The only time that fires are not covered are when they are set intentionally with the purpose of defrauding an insurance company. According to FEMA, the top causes of residential fires are:
- Cooking—50.3 percent;
- Heating—9.6 percent;
- Carelessness—6.6 percent; and
- Electrical malfunction—6.5 percent.
Other top causes of residential fires include the following:
- Outdoor grilling;
- Candles;
- Wildfire;
- Smoking;
- Arson;
- Fireworks;
- Adolescents playing with fire;
- Christmas decorations; and
- Fault home appliances.
The Cost of Repair
It is common for a homeowner to overestimate the cost of the damage. While fire and smoke damage generally costs thousands to repair, it may not involve serious structural repair. Kitchen fires, for example, may destroy the kitchen but leave the rest of the house untouched. Other characteristics of an exaggerated claim often occur when a policyholder requests compensation for the cost to replace their damaged appliances, as opposed to the cash value that their policy covers. Many claims inflate the cost of the damage in various ways, which is when an experienced fire litigation attorney can help.
Call a Trusted Sarasota Fire Damage Attorney Today for Legal Assistance
The Sarasota lawyers at HD Law Partners offer legal services for exposing exaggerated, unfounded, and fraudulent fire damage claims to protect insurers from business-damaging mistakes. Call us today at 813-964-7878 to schedule a free consultation.
