To fund any repairs or inspections, you will often require payment from your insurance company. If your insurer fails to pay out, therefore, you may find that you need to pay out of pocket. In this guide, you can learn why a home insurance fire damage claim may not get approved, and how our team at All Property Claims can help you get it right the first time.
The Impact of House Fires
House fires can have a large impact on the daily life of those living inside, meaning it’s important to have the damage addressed with care. Below, you can find out the potential impacts of a house fire.
Physical Damage
Fires are known for their ability to spread quickly, allowing them to cause a large amount of damage in a short amount of time. Often, physical damage can make it difficult for you to live in your home as normal. The physical damage can include structural damage and aesthetic problems.
Emotional Impact
Fire damage in your home can have an impact on your emotional health, as well as your physical health. Fires can also be traumatising events, leading to emotional distress and new fears. If sentimental belongings have been destroyed in the fire, this can also be emotionally devastating.
Common Policy Exclusions
Often, insurance providers will have exclusions from their policy. Below, you can find some of the common exclusions to be aware of when making your fire claim.
Intentional Acts of Arson
If your insurance company believes that the fire in your home was set for fraudulent reasons, it’s unlikely that they will pay. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to fully provide any relevant information.
Vacant Properties
If you have a property that is or will be left vacant for a period, it’s worth checking your insurance policy. Some policies require the property to be inhabited, meaning that you need someone to be within. Other policies accept periods of vacancy, however, they require you to inform them of this first.
Lack of Maintenance
In some cases, your policy may only protect you if you have fully functioning fire alarms. If your fire alarms didn’t work at the time of your fire, this may prevent you from being able to make a successful claim.
Delays in Filing in Your Claim
One of the reasons your fire damage insurance claim may get rejected by your provider is because of the time it was submitted. Delays in claims can impact the outcome of your claim in several ways, some of which you can discover below.
Claim Filing Deadlines
Some policies have a claim filing deadline, which if you pass before attempting to claim your insurance, you may find that are denied. It’s best to check your policy to understand how long you have to make a claim, helping you to keep this in mind.
Insurer Suspicions
A delay in contacting your insurance provider can often lead to your insurer becoming suspicious about the nature of your claim. Sometimes, they may suspect fraudulent activity, which can then result in a lengthy investigation which further delays your claim from being accepted.
Difficult in Proving Damage
If you delay making your claim, you may find that essential evidence of your fire damage can be lost or altered. This could be because repairs have been carried out early or environmental exposure has worsened the initial damage. Compromised evidence can impact the outcome of your claim, as it becomes difficult to prove.
Increased Repair Costs
As time goes on, the fire damage caused can worsen if it is unresolved. This can mean that the repair costs can increase, making it much more expensive to repair overall. Your provider may not pay this full amount, as it has worsened during the delay in your claim.
Insufficient Documentation or Evidence
When claiming your policy, it’s important to have the right documentation and evidence. If you don’t have sufficient evidence or the right documents, you may find that your claim is rejected. Below, find examples of how insufficient documentation or evidence can impact your claim.
Accusations of Fraud
If your insurer cannot find proof of how a fire began accidentally, they may begin to suspect fraudulent behaviour. This can lead to lengthy investigations, which can delay your claim from being resolved and, in some cases, even result in a complete denial.
Reduced Payout
If your belongings have been damaged in a fire, it’s important to have proof of ownership to hand. Many insurers will reject a claim if they have suspicions that you do not own the high-value belongings you are trying to claim for, leading to a reduced payout overall.
The Importance of Understanding Your Policy
To prevent a situation where the fire damage in your property isn’t covered by your insurance, you will need to fully understand your policy. Below, find out how key terms are especially important aspects of an insurance policy.
The Key Terms
Sometimes, it’s difficult to know what specific key terminology means when reading an important document. Misunderstanding a key term can lead to you breaking your policy mistakenly, which means you won’t be able to claim funds back. If you’re ever unsure about what a term in your policy means, our team at All Property Claims can provide assistance and support.
How We Can Help
If you’re dealing with the aftermath of fire damage on your property, let our team at All Property Claims help you to get the justice you deserve. Our home insurance claims company provides a complete service for homeowners looking to claim a fire. Our team of restoration contractors, for example, are skilled in helping your daily life return to normal after a fire.
As fire damage can be emotionally draining, it can be hard to ensure you provide your insurer with the correct information in the right time frame. Instead of trying to contact your provider alone, get in touch with our team of professionals first. At All Property Claims, we can take care of the process for you. Please visit our website at All Property Claims to learn more about us and the areas we cover. Alternatively, please get in touch with us directly for more information or further support.