Dealing with fire damage claims on your own is possible, but it can be much more confusing and slow. You don’t need to deal with negotiating on your own, and you deserve fair treatment and compensation after a fire. The experienced attorneys at Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, can help organize documentation, coordinate independent estimates, and communicate with the carrier so timelines don’t slip.
Understanding Fire Insurance Claims in Ohio
Fire insurance claims typically cover three kinds of fire damage loss, including:
- Dwelling loss: Repairing or replacing damage to your home caused by fire, or finding a new residence.
- Personal property loss: Repairing or replacing damaged goods and property, such as furniture, appliances, electronics, jewelry, and clothing.
- Additional living expenses: Compensating “loss of use” for temporary housing expenses while your home is being repaired or reconstructed or until finding a new place to live.
No matter where you are in Ohio, your homeowner’s policies will vary from Columbus to Cleveland to Cincinnati, with different building codes or available insurers. After a fire, call your insurance provider immediately, and your insurance adjuster will begin assessing your claim.
Some Ohio municipalities may withhold a portion of fire-loss insurance proceeds to cover safety or abatement costs under local ordinances. If applicable, remaining funds are released to the policyholder after compliance is documented. Requirements vary by city, so check your local rules or ask us to review them.
While they should be assessing the value of your home or property’s damage, it’s not uncommon for an insurance adjuster to offer estimates that don’t fully reflect the damage to save the insurance company money.
Common Problems Ohio Homeowners Face with Fire Insurance Claims
Often, homeowners in Ohio face denials, delays, or other issues for their fire damage claims, which can include:
- Delayed payout
- Unfair denials
- Undervaluation
- Partial denials
- Failure to investigate your claim
- Offering less than the claim is worth
- “Wear and tear” excuses
- Disputes over the cause of the fire
In cases of fire damage, smoke damage can hide behind walls, and if your adjuster is not doing their due diligence, some issues like hidden smoke damage, mold, or water damage from fighting the fire can be overlooked.
Insurance policies can be vague, with language that is open to interpretation, meaning that they can be lowered to more easily denied. When you’re trying to recover from an incident as traumatic and damaging as a fire, dealing with issues from insurance companies like Nationwide, State Farm, or Erie Insurance can be frustrating.
When Should You Hire a Fire Insurance Lawyer in Ohio?
Dealing with insurance claims after a fire and property damage can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if your insurer denies or delays your claim, or provides a too-low estimate for damages.
Having an experienced fire damage insurance claim attorney to help you through the process can make all the difference if you suspect insurance is acting in bad faith or handling your case unfairly.
Beyond helping you with the legal options for fire claims, our legal team at Lawrence & Associates can help you with the overwhelming documentation demands, conduct independent investigations, and independent damage evaluations. Your attorney will negotiate directly with insurance companies and litigate your case in court if you’re not getting fair treatment.
Insurance companies have large legal teams to prioritize saving money. Having an attorney support your case can level the playing field, with a legal team that cares about you and your family.
How Lawrence & Associates Helps Ohio Fire Victims
Filing a property damage lawsuit can help you recover damages after an insurance denial, a low offer, or if you believe your case was handled improperly. Our team has worked on hundreds of cases in Ohio and Northern Kentucky to fight for our clients’ fair compensation when insurance companies dispute their claims.
Filing alone can be intimidating and prolong the process, but an attorney with experience in fire damage insurance claims can help. We offer free consultations to evaluate your case, and you won’t pay unless you recover funds.
At Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, we understand the challenges you’re facing and are here to protect your rights every step of the way. We have recovered hundreds of millions for our clients, and our experienced Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky personal injury attorneys can guide you on what to do and avoid so you don’t unintentionally harm your case.
Don’t Let the Insurance Company Undervalue Your Loss
After a fire, so much can feel uncertain, from your home’s damage to your stability. Following a tragic event like this, time can move differently, and all of these incidents have time limits for notifying, filing, and challenging denials or filing bad faith claims.
Contact our Ohio fire insurance lawyers at Lawrence & Associates today for a free, confidential consultation at (513) 951-6723 or complete our online form to get started on your case review. Let us fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on healing.
Fire Damage FAQs
What does a fire insurance policy cover in Ohio?
In Ohio, homeowners’ insurance policies cover loss by fire, including dwelling loss and damage, personal property loss and damage, and additional living expenses incurred after a fire.
What if my claim is delayed or denied?
You should consider filing a lawsuit if your claim has been denied, delayed, or if you believe you are not adequately compensated for your property's damages.
Can I sue my insurance company for bad faith in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio recognizes insurance bad faith claims against carriers that unreasonably delay, deny, or undervalue covered claims. In addition to a lawsuit, you may also file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Insurance.
How long do I have to file a fire insurance lawsuit in Ohio?
Deadlines vary. Many homeowner policies include a contractual ‘suit-limitation’ clause, sometimes as short as 1 year, for bringing claims against your insurer. Other timelines may apply depending on whether your case sounds in contract or tort, i.e., if there is any damage to real or personal property.
In such cases, you have two years to file a claim if you lose personal property—such as a vehicle or personal belongings—and you must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of the incident, according to the state’s statute of limitations. If your property or land is damaged in Ohio, you have four years to file a lawsuit. Because time limits can differ, have an attorney review your policy and dates right away.
What if my insurance adjuster’s estimate is too low?
If your insurance adjuster’s estimate is too low after fire damage, you can dispute the payment amount and file a property and casualty lawsuit. These lawsuits are for homeowners seeking compensation from their insurance company for unfairly rejected or undervalued property damage. Our experienced property damage lawyers can help you contest a denied or undervalued insurance claim.
