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Fires can rapidly damage commercial buildings and homes, ruin personal property with smoke damage, and destroy sentimental items. They spread quickly and can affect every part of the building. Personal loss and property damage can leave residential and commercial building owners confused about filing an insurance fire claim. The process is not easy. Insurance companies are businesses and offer little or no compassion for your losses.
At Rhine Law Firm, P.C., our lawyers are determined to help clients achieve their goals–including when clients seek representation to recoup losses after a fire has devastated their home or commercial building. We’re prepared to go up against insurance companies’ bad faith tactics, including claim denials and underpayment. We also offer personalized legal support throughout the entire claims process with a deep understanding of fire damage insurance policies and North Carolina regulations. A property damage lawyer can help you receive the compensation you deserve to rebuild your life.
Types of Fire Damage Claims We Handle
If you make a fire claim against your North Carolina homeowners’ insurance policy, you are required to offer strong and verifiable evidence with your claim. Residential fire insurance policies should cover not only the home structure and your personal belongings but also provide temporary housing after the blaze. Other claims include the following:
Commercial Fire Damage
Commercial fire damage policies should cover the business property, equipment, and inventory, as well as lost income depending on the policy.
Wildfire Damage
Wildfire damage poses unique challenges. While most policies include wildfire damage, properties in wildfire-prone areas may not be able to obtain coverage or must pay higher premiums.
Smoke and Soot Damage
Smoke and soot from a fire damage property and cause serious health hazards. The insurance adjuster frequently misses this type of damage when they visit the property.
The Fire Damage Claims Process
Insurance companies often go to extreme lengths to blame the fire on the owner of the property. Our team of experienced North Carolina fire damage lawyers will leverage our knowledge and resources to objectively analyze your fire damage claim to help you understand your options. Never agree to a fire damage settlement before consulting an attorney. Once you sign such a settlement, you have no further recourse.
Filing the Claim
At Rhine Law Firm, we provide step-by-step assistance in the filing and submission of your insurance claim. It is also critical to file the claim as soon as possible so that crucial evidence does not vanish or deteriorate.
We know how to negotiate aggressively with insurance companies so that you can receive a fair and reasonable settlement. While most fire damage claims are settled, we will represent you in court if the insurance company denies or underpays the claim.
Common Challenges and How We Overcome Them
Insurance companies make money by paying out as little as possible in claims. Even though you are current with insurance payments–not paying the bill on time is a legitimate reason for insurer denial–your insurance company will likely seek reasons to deny or minimize your claim. We are familiar with these strategies and know how to overcome them, including the following:
- Claim denials: Insufficient insurance is one of the most common reasons for denial. The insurer may also dispute the value of your property. If the insurer acted in bad faith when denying your claim, we can help you file a bad-faith lawsuit against the carrier.
- Underpayment: Insurance companies use various tactics to undervalue claims. Insurers may prey on a fire victim’s financial difficulties by making a lowball offer, hoping they will accept it. We can recommend an independent assessor to inspect the property and offer a second opinion of its value.
- Documentation Issues: Proving your fire damage claim requires extensive documentation. We can help collect evidence of the fire’s cause and quantify the residential or business insurance losses.
- Policy Exclusions: Your insurer may claim that your policy excludes the type of fire damage that occurred. The language in policy exclusions is often complex and designed to keep policyholders from receiving fair compensation. If the policy’s language is ambiguous, the policy should favor the policyholder, not the insurer.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Rhine Law Firm
If you suffered fire damage and your insurance company denies or undervalues your claim, contact an experienced North Carolina Fire Damage Lawyer for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can assist you in interpreting your policy and facilitate the recovery you need to rebuild your life. Call or visit our office in Wilmington.
We are proud to serve the people of North Carolina.
Although our primary office location is in Wilmington, North Carolina we represent clients nationally and across the state of North Carolina. Some of the many areas we serve are listed below.
Our Promise to You
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Working with our firm means your needs will be met and your questions answered by someone who knows your name and the details of your case — every time you call.
Contact Rhine Law Firm, P.C., at (910) 772-9960 for a free initial consultation. Evening and weekend appointments upon request. Office hours 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and weekend appointments also available. We also offer Spanish interpretation and translation services.
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