Fires occur every year, regardless if it’s accidental, it can be a devastating situation that can leave behind serious damage. Although most homeowners insurance covers smoke and fire damage, coverage amounts often vary. Familiarizing yourself with insurance policies can help you decide the best choice for yourself and your property.
Fire Insurance Requirements in Connecticut
Unlike automobile insurance, homeowners insurance is not required in the state of Connecticut. Typically a mortgage lender will require you to keep an active policy and although most insurance plans include fire protection, it may not be sufficient to cover all of your loss. Usually the coverage amount will be half of the covered value of the covered property. It is also important to note that liability insurance does not apply to smoke and fire damage.
Measures to Protect Yourself
If you’re looking for fire insurance in the Connecticut area, it’s important to ask these companies a lot of questions in order to find the plan that will best work for you. The recommended policies to look for are plans that offer packages that cover not only fire damage, but also hail, snow, and storm related damages.
To help protect yourself from a fire accident, be sure to have working smoke detectors installed in your property as well as working fire extinguishers. Establish and practice a plan for yourself/your family to quickly and safely escape. Lastly, be mindful of possible fire hazards present in your property such as burning candles, fireworks, Christmas trees, fire places, and other potential fire scenarios.
Contacting a Lawyer
Although you may not need a lawyer for a small insurance claim, a fire claim can be tough to go through on your own; an experienced Connecticut attorney can help you navigate the settlement process. An attorney can ensure that the appropriate steps are carried out; this can include filing required paperwork, gathering evidence and important documentation, creating an inventory of items, compiling estimates for necessary repairs, among other necessary steps.
If your insurance company doesn’t try to deny your claim, the adjustor may undervalue your claim and offer you a low settlement to quickly close your case. An attorney that represents you can fight for what you are legally entitled to and make sure that you are not getting taken advantage of. Contact us to review your claim; schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, we can assist in any negotiations and help you recover the money you deserve.