Fire Damage & Insurance Claims in New York | What You Should Know
Losing a home is far more than losing a financial asset, though in many cases, peoples’ homes are their greatest financial asset as well. Unfortunately, losing a home also means that you’re losing your possessions, precious photographs, and the place you made lasting memories with friends and family. That being said, though the thought of losing your home due to a disaster, such as a fire, is a horrible one, many people purchase insurance to prepare for the worst. While we all expect our insurance companies to have our backs and provide us with the compensation we need to get back on our feet again after enduring such a loss, there are times where insurance companies will inform individuals that they will not hold up their end of the bargain. In some cases, insurance companies will assert that the fire was your fault, or, in the most egregious of cases, that you purposefully started the fire to collect insurance money. This can be devastating to a family, and if you have recently had your home affected by fire damage, you should strongly consider retaining the services of a knowledgeable New York City property claim insurance attorney who can work to fight for the compensation you truly deserve. Here are some of the questions you may have:
What should I do if my home was damaged by a fire?
After a fire, the first thing you should do is ensure you and your loved ones are safe. From here, you should immediately speak with your insurance company. If your home was damaged though not destroyed, your insurance company will probably call it a “partial loss.” In this case, the insurance company should repair your home, however, you should keep in mind that insurance companies are businesses and may do everything in their power to cut costs. This means hiding damage, using cheap repair materials, insufficiently cleaning or removing any damage, and more. It is critical that you ensure that when repairing your home, your insurance company uses the same materials that were used to originally build your home. This is so that there is a “uniform and consistent” appearance.
What is a “proper inspection?”
Insurance companies are legally obligated to pay for what is known as a proper inspection. This means that they will have to fully inspect all windows, the roof, structural steel or iron, plumbing and heating systems, siding, interior walls and framing, and more. If you believe a proper inspection was not performed, or that your insurance company is otherwise not acting in your best interests, give our New York City firm a call today. We are ready to assist you.
Contact our experienced New York City firm
The Law Office of Craig A. Blumberg is an experienced New York City insurance law firm. If you require quality assistance after having suffered a property loss due to a fire, a flood, a severe storm or a robbery, please do not hesitate to contact our firm to schedule a free initial consultation. A knowledgeable attorney on your side in your time of need can make all the difference.
