Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my business was damaged by a fire?
Fire has no mercy on anything it comes in contact with. As it makes its way through your business, it can lead to terrible devastation, consuming everything from documents, furniture, electronics, machinery, equipment, inventory, and so much more. Electrical wiring will be impacted as well as the structure as a whole – if it is left standing at all.
After the fire department has completed everything it needs to do, you will want to assess the damage. If you decide to move forward with filing a claim with your insurance company, be sure you take pictures and document the fire, smoke, and water damage for your own records.
Hopefully, you have kept your insurance policy information in a safe place. If not, your insurance company should be able to provide you with instructions on how to file a claim and a copy of your policy if you want to confirm what is or isn’t covered.
How long do I have to file a claim for fire damage to my commercial property?
Typically, most policies allow one (1) year from the date the damage occurred to file a claim. Your insurance company will determine the length of time you have to file a commercial fire insurance claim – and this time limit will be stated within your policy, so be sure to get acquainted with it.
Because this fire will impact your overall business – and livelihood – it is a good idea to get your claim filed immediately so you can attempt to get back up and running as soon as possible.
How do I file a fire insurance claim for my business?
Every insurance company has its own designated process for filing a claim. This information can usually be found documented within your policy, on their website, or found out via a telephone call with an agent. To be sure you are covering all the bases, it is a good idea to reach out to your insurance provider and make sure you are following all the proper steps to get the claim filed.
If there is severe damage or this is an emergency, this is the time to let them know so they can respond accordingly.
What happens during the fire insurance claim process?
When you file an insurance claim for commercial fire damage, an insurance adjuster will come out to assess the damage. This adjuster works for the insurance company and is looking out for their interests – not yours. Therefore, the assessment may likely be skewed.
You may want to hire your own independent public adjuster. This individual will work for you with your best interests in mind. That way you can compare the public adjuster’s damage estimate to the one provided by the insurer’s adjuster – and determine your next steps.
What happens if my insurance carrier denies my fire damage claim?
As we said, insurance companies are looking out for their own pockets and use different tactics to do so. If your claim was denied – or even low-balled, delayed, etc. – then you need to contact the law firm of Raizner Slania today at (844) 554-9099. We handle bad faith insurance litigation cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we don’t get paid unless you do.
Let us help you get your claim paid so that your business can get back up and running.