Public Adjusters for Fire Damage in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Living in Ft. Lauderdale, house or business fires usually don’t happen very often. It is easy to prevent a fire but sometimes it can happen even if we don’t expect it. So, should you be prepared for damages made to your home or business because of fire? The answer is yes! It is important to have fire damage coverage and have a public adjuster who handles fire damages claims in Fort lauderdale.

What documents does the public adjuster give to insurance companies when filing a claim?

Here’s what our public adjuster obtain:

• Your name, number, email address and policy number
• The date and time of when the damages occurred (give an estimate, if needed)
• Describe the type of loss and the condition of the property
• Give them any police or fire reports for accuracy
• Tell them of any injuries or hospitalization by an individual if any occurred
• Give photographs or videos for evidence
• Protect your property from any further damages
• Do NOT throw or clean anything until a public adjuster inspects the damages
• Make a copy of all the documents you gave to your insurance company

Is fire damage covered in my insurance?

Majority of homeowners insurance and even business insurance policies cover fire damage depending on how the fire damaged happened in the first place. Homeowners insurance, specifically, can cover you for any additional living expenses during your homes reconstruction.

Your insurance can also cover property such as detached garages, fences or any shed that you have that may have also caught on fire. Along with this, your valuables and belongings, or landscaping can also be covered.

What’s Covered in Your Insurance

Just like most insurance, it does not cover a multiple of things. Insurance policies are very limited depending on what you buy or include. Here is what is not covered:

• If a fire happened in a vacant home for more than 30 days. In the instance that this has happened to you, you will not be covered but if you’re considering a homeowners insurance knowing that it will be vacant for at least 30 consecutive days, you can buy of what is known as “vacant home insurance” which covers what a standard homeowners policy includes along with theft, wind, fire, hail and vandalism damages.
• If arson was coming your insurance company will deny your claim and make sure to file a police report because arson is a criminal defense in the U.S. law. Many people commit arson because they want to collect insurance money., which is why insurance companies will deny your claim.

Fire Damage and Public Adjusters in Fort Lauderdale

It’s unfortunate to say that insurance companies will compensate you for less than the valued amount of you paid for. If you are not happy with your settlement and what to get the amount of what you feel like you should be getting, call Churchill’s public adjuster to assist you with your claim. They are experts in helping you with your settlement claims. Contact us now for a free consultation.

How to prevent a fire damage

If you want to protect your home and prevent any fires from happening, here are a few things you would want to invest in:

• Fire extinguisher. These will help you to put out a small fire that could turn into a bigger one.
• Fire alarms. Most homes come with fire alarms that are battery operated. Be sure to replace batteries as often as possible just in case there is a fire.
• Fire door. Majority of homes are not aware of fire doors but fire doors actually slows down the growth of the fire in case there is one.

How smoke from fires can affect your health

Fires are not only damaging to your property, but it can be hazardous to your health. It is important to try to prevent a fire from happening so that you will not experience the effects of smoke inhalation. The main ones at risk during a fire are older adults, small children, a person with lung or heart conditions, pregnant women and a person with asthma or diabetes. Other effects that come with inhaling smoke include: irritation to the nose, throat and eyes. People who live in a higher pollution area like cities could experience long term cardiovascular and chronic diseases if exposed to a lot of smoke.

FAQ

If I lost everything in the fire including my documents for my insurance, what can I do?

Contact your insurance agent and ask for a replacement copy of your insurance. If in the instance that you don’t remember your insurance company or agent, you can call your bank to get records of your statement or simply ask them to look through your statement and look for the company you paid for your insurance.

My house is completely inhabitable, should I still pay for my insurance?

Many policyholders stop paying for their premiums because they are either waiting for their insurance company to give them reimbursement or they are paying out of pocket for the damages and repairs for their homes. But the answer to this question is, yes. It is important to always pay for your premiums because in the case that you forget to include a damage on your claim, you are able to reopen a claim without it getting denied.

Would I still get a settlement check even if my house is financed?

Yes. Your insurance company will give a check between you and your lender. You and your lender will have to agree on how the funds can be release otherwise it cannot be cashed out. You will have to work with your lienholder in order to repair your property.

What can I do for items that are non-restorable?

Compose a list of all the items that can’t be restored because the fire burned them. Make sure to also take pictures, videos and have a description of what they used to be so that you can give that information to your insurance company for reimbursement.