Commercial Fire Claims: How to Recover Faster

A fire at your business has both short-term and long-term impacts. The operation of your business must be put on hold temporarily while you attempt to determine the next steps to take. Your employees are left wondering whether their jobs are secure in light of the devastating impacts of the fire. Depending upon the severity of the fire, it is reasonable to wonder whether your business will be viable in the future. 

Pearson Legal, P.C. has walked alongside business owners who have suffered fire damage to their property. Recovering from losses associated with a commercial fire can take months or even years. Our team of legal professionals has served clients by helping them resolve fire claims faster than they otherwise would have been able to. 

What should a business owner do immediately after a fire occurs?

In the immediate aftermath of a fire, concerns for your revenue and bottom line may distract you from what matters most.  Your first priority is to ensure that you and you employees are safe.  Tending to important paperwork, inventory, and other property comes later. 

Ultimately, however, these are all “things” that can be replaced. Attempting to re-enter a building too quickly after a fire has the potential for you or an employee to be exposed to chemicals, fumes, and other conditions that are extremely unsafe. 

Instead of rushing into a burning or near-burning building to save replaceable property, contact your insurance company first. By providing the insurance company with information about the fire, you can begin the timeline of recovery. In addition to providing you with key information regarding your policy, such as its coverage limits and details about how to begin a claim, the insurance company should provide you with information on hiring services to begin clean up and mitigation. 

Steps to take within the first week after a fire

Once the local fire department and other authorities have provided the go-ahead, then it is time for you to re-enter the building. Even if no property is salvageable, it is still important to keep the grounds of your property secure. Installing a fence, boarding a window, and even setting up security cameras may be necessary under the terms of your particular insurance policy. 

When it comes to recovering insurance policy proceeds related to fire damage, the key is to document everything carefully. Photograph the building after the fire has been extinguished. Write down, to the best of your recollection, the property that will be essential for you to recover. This helps you to quickly and correctly file the insurance claim when that time arrives. 

Familiarize yourself with the insurance policy.

The specific language of your insurance policy must be something you familiarize yourself with after a fire occurs. Property damage coverage is the most obvious clause of a policy that you must understand. The specific dollar amount of coverage on property loss is a great place to initially review. Any coverage for interruption of your business and additional expenses is a logical place to look once you are able. 

An experienced attorney who helps to serve commercial clients who have suffered fire losses is a tremendous resource to have in a circumstance like this. The earlier you seek legal advice, the better off you will be. 

Policy language is often complex and confusing. With everything else going on associated with the state of your business, it is helpful to have an attorney who knows how to read through the insurance policy and identify potential issues. Don’t allow a dispute to derail your claim. Contact an attorney who has served clients whose businesses have suffered commercial fire losses. 

What areas can an attorney help you to hasten a fire loss recovery?

Each state in our country has laws and regulations that are unique. An attorney who understands these state-specific regulations and laws can help you pinpoint areas you need to focus on. After a disaster, it is normal for a business owner’s mind to go a million places at once. An attorney helps clients focus their attention where it is most needed. 

An unfortunate consequence of having many concerns after a fire loss is that you run the risk of missing important deadlines. Filing claims and lawsuits associated with the fire must be completed by certain, state-specific deadlines. Missing a deadline means losing the ability to recover under your policy. 

Positioning your claim to receive maximum attention from insurance adjusters

Commercial insurance adjusters are busy. With many claims each day to review, you run the risk of having your claim be lost among the hundreds or thousands on the virtual to-do pile of that adjuster. Receiving a quick insurance recovery under these circumstances is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. 

Contacting an attorney with insurance experience is important when you have a significant fire loss.  Policy coverages for fire losses are often complex and include obligations that the property owner must follow.  You also want to make sure your insurance company does a complete investigation to make sure they identify all of the fire and smoke damage to your property, not just what is visible to the naked eye.  Finally, you want to make sure you properly document and calculate the different physical and economic damages caused by the fire.  An experienced attorney will help make sure you can maximize your recovery under your policy.

Pearson Legal, P.C.- a trusted advocate for business owners

Navigating a commercial fire claim is not for the faint of heart. Recover faster and more efficiently with Pearson Legal, P.C. A consultation with our office allows you to ask questions and receive feedback directed at your specific circumstances. Contact us today.