Top Ten Tips for Filing Fire Insurance Claims

As fires become an increasingly prevalent threat, especially in places like California, insurance companies constantly try to cut corners on fire insurance claims in an attempt to save money. The increasing threat of fires makes familiarizing yourself with how to file fire insurance claims more important than ever. Losing your home and personal belongings to a fire is already a devastating experience. The last thing you want is your homeowners' insurance company giving you a hard time regarding your claim. Here are some tips to follow when dealing with your homeowners' insurance company regarding fire insurance claims.

1. Ask for an advance against your ultimate fire insurance claim.

If you were forced to evacuate due to the dangerous conditions, you may not have grabbed essentials like toiletries or clothes. Some of these things may have even been completely lost in the fire. Don't panic. Call your insurance company and ask that someone bring a check to wherever you're staying. That way you can purchase necessities without having to wait for your ultimate insurance coverage.

Take care of your needs, but don't go overboard. Be practical with what you buy because the insurance company will refuse to reimburse you for frivolous things. For example, if you need a pair of slacks and a dress shirt for work, don't assume you can head to the most expensive clothing store in town.

Remember, this advance will be deducted from the total amount you receive from the insurance company, so don't hurt yourself by going overboard.

2. Make a list of everything you've lost and don't throw anything away.

You'll want to make a list of everything you lost in the fire, which can take some time and reflection from everyone in your household. You want to be sure to start making this list as soon as possible so that you're able to remember to include everything lost by the time you file your fire insurance claim.

Be sure not to throw anything away. It'll be easier to prove that you really lost the items on your list if you hold on to them for the insurance adjuster to see the damage. If you throw them away, the insurance company may refuse to compensate you.

3. File your claim right away and press the insurance company to act ASAP.

Insurance policies require policyholders to file their fire insurance claims as soon as possible, so call your homeowners' insurance agent immediately to get the process started. The insurance company will require you to submit a "proof of loss claim," which is where you list all of the items you lost, including their value. Your prompt action is especially important if there were many other homeowners affected by the fire. If you don't act immediately, you could fall to the bottom of the list of policyholders who have fire insurance claims, and it could be a long time before the adjuster reaches you. The following is a list of information to include in your claim:

    1. Date of loss
    2. Type of loss/damage
    3. Location of damage
    4. Any related injuries
    5. Others involved
    6. Condition of the home
    7. Description of damaged contents
    8. Any necessary temporary repairs
    9. A police report

Dealing with the insurance company is a very convoluted process involving countless calls, emails, letters, and documents. Be sure to keep track of all of the documents and communication, including post office receipts of mailing. Take notes, including the date and time, of every phone conversation and face to face meeting. Putting everything in a binder or file organizer will allow you to organize the different types of correspondence, invoices, bills, permits, contracts for repairs, and insurance forms into their own separate section.

Remember to always keep original documents of everything. If your insurance company wants proof of a document, make them a copy but keep the original. The more organized you are, the better prepared you'll be should your insurance company start playing the "he said, she said" game with you.

Since you're acting promptly to fulfill your responsibilities of the policy, your insurance company should also be prompt in acting on your fire insurance claim. In fact, the law requires insurance companies to handle claims in a timely manner, and most states give insurance companies specific timelines.

For example, California laws and regulations requires insurance companies to send out a "notice of intentions" within 30 days of receiving a fire insurance claim. If there are no issues or disputes with your fire insurance claim, they must send you payment within that time as well. If your insurance company is taking too long to get back to you, write them and let them know that you're sending a copy of the letter to the state's Department of Insurance. This should prompt the company to act, as they will not want to make a mistake or drag their feet if they know they are being monitored.

4. Secure your property to mitigate damage.

The insurance company will require you to take reasonable care of your property. Therefore, be sure that you secure your property from further damage. If something is a total loss, of course, this is unnecessary. However, where only one section of your home is damaged, be sure to take proactive measures in preventing further damage. Insurance companies call this "mitigating damage," which just means reducing the amount of damage.

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