Fire insurance could cover various types of fire damage losses after a fire, although the specific coverage will depend on your policy. An accidental fire can severely damage your home and personal items. Understanding what your insurance covers is key to advocating for yourself through a claim. Contact Lawrence & Associates today to learn more about making a fire damage claim and how to get started with your own.
What Does Fire Insurance Typically Cover After a Fire?
A fire can damage far more than the rooms it reaches. Smoke and soot can spread throughout your home. When firefighters arrive, the water they use to put out the fire can cause damage to your walls, floors, furniture, and other belongings.
Insurance coverage distinguishes between three distinct types of coverage:
- Repairs to your home
- Replacement of damaged belongings
- Additional living expenses if your home is uninhabitable
The amount the insurer pays depends on what your policy covers, its limits, and any deductible.
What’s the Difference Between Property Insurance and Homeowner’s Insurance?
Typically, property insurance is a broad term for insurance that covers damage to property or liability coverage for owners or renters. Homeowners’ insurance is a more specific type of property insurance. Depending on your policy, your homeowners’ insurance coverage can provide protection against damage to the interior or exterior of your home, damage and loss of personal property, and can even cover living expenses while your home is uninhabitable.
Damage and Repairs to Your Home or Building
If a fire is found to be covered under your property insurance policy, it will likely cover the repairs needed to fix your home or building after the fire. This can include repairing damage to the:
- Roof
- Walls
- Floors
- Ceilings
- Electrical systems
- Plumbing systems
- Built-in appliances
Essentially, this coverage extends to the permanently attached features of your home or building. Coverage for detached structures, such as a garage or shed, may be listed separately in your policy.
Smoke, Soot, Water, and Other Fire-Related Damage
A fire can leave damage well beyond the areas that burned. Smoke and soot can spread to other rooms, damaging not only the rooms but also the belongings in them. Additionally, water used to put out the fire can damage walls, floors, and furniture in the rooms where the fire occurred and adjacent rooms. Depending on your property insurance coverage, your policy could also cover the cost of cleaning and repairing the damage.
Personal Belongings Damaged or Destroyed by Fire
If a fire is found to be covered under your property insurance policy, additional personal property coverage can extend to pay to repair or replace your personal belongings, or anything that is movable. These often include furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal belongings that get damaged by the fire.
How much your insurer pays will depend on your policy limits and how the insurer assesses the value of your belongings. Making a list of what was damaged or destroyed in the fire can provide important information to help document your claim.
Additional Living Expenses After a Fire
Living expenses are Some homeowner’s insurance policies provide loss-of-use coverage if a covered fire makes the home temporarily uninhabitable. This may pay for added costs while you live elsewhere, such as temporary lodging and the portion of meal expenses above what you normally spend. The policy may limit the amount or length of this coverage.
What Losses From a Fire Might Not Be Covered?
Insurance coverage is not an unlimited source of compensation. Coverage after a fire depends on your policy, the cause of the fire, and the losses claimed. Certain exclusions in your policy could prevent you from making a claim and recovering compensation. Policy exclusions could specify specific circumstances in which your fire coverage does not apply.
Additionally, your policy coverage limits can cap what the insurer will pay for a covered loss. You also have to consider your deductible. If you have a lower premium, your policy might require a higher deductible, meaning you must meet a threshold of out-of-pocket expenses before your coverage pays for repairs and replacement costs. Your policy’s exclusions, limits, and deductible will all determine what the insurer pays and what you may have to cover yourself.
What if the Insurance Company Does Not Fully Cover the Fire Damage?
If the insurance company does not fully cover your fire damage or denies your fire claim, compare your policy’s coverage limits, deductible, and exclusions against the explanation provided by your insurer for the denial. You can ask the insurer to review damage it may have missed or challenge a denial you believe is inconsistent with your policy.
Get Help With Your Fire Damage Insurance Claim
If your insurer has denied your fire damage claim or offered you less than you need to repair or replace your lost items, our experienced legal team can review your policy and the insurer’s explanation. We can answer your questions about property damage.
At Lawrence & Associates, we offer free initial consultations. To schedule your free appointment, contact us through our website. You can also call us at (513) 951-6723 if you are calling from Ohio, or (859) 251-3045 if you are calling from Kentucky.
