You and your family are sound asleep when the smoke alarm begins to blare. After a quick inspection, you see a fire too strong for a fire extinguisher to put out. You evacuate the house and call the fire department. The flames do extensive damage that will take time and money to repair.
It will be expensive to put your family in alternative lodging until your home is a sound structure you can live in again. You also face the prospect of replacing burned and smoke-damaged items. You need your insurance provider to come through for you but they are acting in bad faith. A fire damage claims lawyer from GED Lawyers can help you recover damages in Massachusetts.
A Fire Damage Claims Lawyer From Our Firm Can Recover Damages For You
A house fire can devastate your life. You not only lose your home, but you also lose personal belongings, furniture, appliances, and more. Even if the fire did not totally destroy your home, there’s still fire damage, smoke damage, and soot to remove or repair. Your home could also have significant water damage from firefighters spraying water into your home to put out the flames.
You need your insurance provider to honor your policy and send you the compensation you require to begin the process of rebuilding. Your house is the foundation of a secure future for you and your family. If the insurance company is dragging its feet, a lawyer from our firm can help you recover damages that include:
- Home repairs
- Water damage cleanup
- Personal belongings
- Smoke damage removal
- Soot cleanup
- Relocation or loss of use costs
In addition, your insurance policy likely covers personal liability. If a fire that starts at your home spreads to the neighbor’s house, you can be held liable for the damages and taken to court. Personal liability coverage can pay the cost of a settlement, but you should take care to ensure that you have enough coverage by considering personal umbrella insurance to supplement your existing coverage.
Compensation cannot replace lost memories such as photographs and items that have personal significance. But it can cover other damages to help you rebuild your home or start over elsewhere so you can look forward to a brighter future.
Benefits of Hiring a Massachusetts Fire Damage Claims Lawyer
Dealing with the insurance company can be frustrating and slow-moving. There is so much paperwork to fill out and you’ve got so much you need to do already. Maybe you’re not even sure how to file a claim because you’ve never done it before or you’re not sure what your policy covers.
Or maybe the insurance company is acting in bad faith by misrepresenting your policy coverage, delaying the investigation of the fire, or denying your claim without cause. Insurance providers are profit-driven so it might take a little more than simply filing a claim to get a pay-out.
When you hire a fire damage lawyer from our firm to handle your case, you get a professional who will:
- Notify the insurer about the fire
- Gather evidence to prove your claim such as photographs of your home
- Meet filing and notification deadlines
- Review every detail of your policy
- Help you understand insurance and legal language
- Determine the amount of compensation you require to cover your losses
- Negotiate a settlement
- File a lawsuit and represent you in court, if necessary
We understand that this is a challenging time for you and your family. You may not understand how the insurance system or the legal process works, but we are here to help. We will work to help you understand so you never feel like you don’t know what’s going on with your claim or case.
Our firm will treat you like family and put the time and resources into your case that it deserves.
Common Causes of Fire Damage
There are many ways a fire can accidentally start in your home. Determining the cause of the flames will be a key part of any investigation that follows. Your insurance provider will require the results of the investigation and will likely conduct an investigation of their own.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the top five common causes of fire damage in homes are:
- Cooking
- Heating
- Electrical
- Smoking
- Candles
You can take steps to prevent a fire in your home. Always pay attention when you are cooking and be sure to turn off your oven or stovetop. Remove flammable items away from heat sources and inspect wires for fraying. Keep fire extinguishers in strategic places in your home that are easily accessible. Never leave a cigarette butt unattended and be sure to put it out in an ashtray. Pay attention to lit candles and blow them out before you leave the room or go to bed.
You Only Have a Short Time to Act
We encourage you to consult an attorney as soon as possible after a fire. It’s never too early to seek legal advice or representation. A lawyer can present you with options and prepare you for the next actions you must take to receive compensation from your insurance provider.
But you must act quickly as Massachusetts only gives you three years from the date of the fire to file a lawsuit against the insurance provider, according to MGL c. 260 § 2A. We will work to meet the statute of limitations in your case so you can retain your right to pursue compensation through the legal system.
Consult a Fire Damage Claims Attorney in Massachusetts Today
A fire damage lawyer from our firm can help you navigate the ins and outs of the insurance system so you can claim every cent of compensation you are entitled to receive. You have an insurance policy for a reason. It should work for you when you need it most.
We have the experience and training to help you file a claim and file a lawsuit if necessary. Most cases settle out of court, but we will prepare for the possibility of a trial. To schedule a free consultation with a fire damage claims lawyer from GED Lawyers, please do not hesitate to contact us today.
