Fire Damage Attorneys in San Antonio
Successfully Representing Texas Clients in Fire Insurance Claims
Experiencing the devastating effects of fire damage in your home or business can be extremely overwhelming. Homeowners often experience severe property loss associated with extensive water and smoke damage, making the structure a total loss.
The majority of policyholders believe that the insurance company has their best interests at heart when it comes to fire insurance claims. Repeatedly, the actual truth is that your insurance company may work to protect its own financial interests when it comes to paying your fire damage claim.
Often, the insurance companies may attempt to place blame on the homeowner or business owner and assert that they were somehow negligent and caused the house fire themselves. Some insurance companies may require substantiated evidence from qualified experts that the fire damage was indeed an accident and release you from any form of blame.
If you feel that you require legal representation for your fire insurance claim, contact the law firm of Stormlex Law Group by calling us at (877) 890-6372. We can schedule a free consultation with one of our highly qualified lawyers who have extensive experience in handling fire insurance claims.
What Are the Most Common Problems Involved in Fire Insurance Claims?
Commonly, many Texas homeowners and business owners find themselves struggling to recover the full value of their losses from the fire damage after they have submitted a fire insurance claim. There are recurring areas in which policyholders may encounter issues in the insurance claims process. They include some of the following:
Disputes With the Insurance Company as to What Exactly Is Covered
What’s covered under your policy depends on the exact wording of the document and what clauses are included. It’s common for property owners to think that they have coverage but be unaware that the policy lists several exclusions. Knowing exactly what your policy says can ensure you have the information you need to go up against the insurance company if it attempts to deny coverage.
Disputes Over the Exact Cause of the Damage
It can be difficult to determine the exact cause of a fire, and if there is any dispute, the insurance company could try to blame you. Providing documentation, such as the fire department investigation report or expert statements, can help your claim.
Lack of Adequate or Appropriate Coverage for Your Fire Insurance Claim
Sometimes, it’s not a matter of the insurance company not paying — it’s that it doesn’t pay enough. If your coverage cap is lower than the damage to your property, you could be left trying to come up with the balance for repairs or not having enough funds to rebuild.
Overall Delays by Your Insurance Company
Insurance companies have deadlines they have to comply with according to Texas law. This includes how long they have to acknowledge your claim after you submit it and how long they have to investigate the claim before they must either approve or deny it. An insurance company that is unreasonably delaying the claim may be acting in bad faith.
Claims That Are Denied or Settlements That Are Far Too Low for the Claim That Was Submitted
Having your insurance claim denied or severely undervalued can be devastating. But you don’t have to settle for what the insurance company offers. An attorney can help you negotiate a fair settlement and help you get what you’re entitled to.
Each of these factors may work against your receiving the full compensation that you may be due for the property damage caused by fire.
What Should I Do If I Feel That the Insurance Company Has Acted in Bad Faith Regarding My Fire Damage Claim?
The legal term “bad faith” refers to when an insurance provider fails to honor its financial obligations to policyholders. In many instances, this involves its refusal to pay a property damage claim covered in the insurance policy by later misstating contract language to avoid paying a fire claim.
Frequently, an insurance company will act in bad faith when it intentionally does not fulfill its legal or contractual obligations concerning your settlement claim.
An insurance provider is also guilty of acting in bad faith if it fails to clearly state the full extent of the policy exclusions and limitations to the policyholder before they purchase coverage. It may also try to make unreasonable demands of the property owner to prove the extent of the covered property loss.
It should be understood that not all disputes or issues that may be involved in proving the extent of fire damage loss can be chalked up to an insurance company acting improperly. If you feel that you are not being treated fairly and that your insurance provider has breached their contract with you, then contact the law firm of Stormlex Law Group, and schedule a consultation with one of our experienced fire damage attorneys who can explain your rights as well as any legal options that may be available to you.
Why Should I Consider Hiring a Fire Damage Attorney in the San Antonio Area?
Homeowners and other property owners have faith that their insurance company will pay their fire damage claims in a reasonable and timely manner. They depend on the fact that the insurance coverage that they have will cover the full value of their losses and other fire damage that their property has sustained.
Far too often, property insurance providers will try to underpay or deny your claim. You need an experienced fire damage attorney who knows and understands the various legal tactics that insurance companies use to try to deny or pay the full value of property damage claims.
Contact Stormlex Law Group Today
The attorneys at Stormlex Law Group are committed to obtaining the best settlement possible for our clients. Contact our law offices by calling (877) 890-6372 and schedule a free consultation today. We look forward to assisting you!