Will Your Florida Fire Insurance Fix the Damage?
Sometimes insurance companies try to deny and delay fire loss claims. Other times insurers try to control their costs by paying only for surface repairs that do not address the permeating smoke damage.
Often the only way to truly restore a home or building after a fire is to remove and replace the drywall, fixtures and other components that are saturated with smoke, toxins and moisture. If your insurance company is trying to substitute extraction and cover-up repairs, Corless Associates will stand up to demand your rights under the terms of your fire insurance policy.
Our Tampa law firm serves homeowners and commercial property owners in Hillsborough, Pinelllas and Pasco counties and throughout Florida. Arrange a free consultation by calling 813-498-1623 or 877-517-5595.
Restoration and Removal Versus "Repair" and "Extraction"
Your insurance adjuster may try to settle with you for an amount that covers clean-up and smoke extraction. Typically, this is a surface treatment at best. If your home or business had a raging fire or was adjacent to a burning structure, the smoke has probably penetrated not only the furniture and carpet, but walls, ceilings, insulation, and every nook and cranny. Beyond possible structural damage to walls, there may be pockets of soot and water that assure the "fire smell" will never go away without gutting walls and replacing them.
Ted A. Corless is an experienced insurance litigation attorney and former insurance defense lawyer who can determine what level of restoration you are entitled to under the terms of your policy. He will arrange for an independent assessment of the damage and the repairs necessary, including:
- Smoke extraction
- Water extraction
- Replacement of furnishings and carpeting
- Structural repairs
- Replacement of damaged wiring
- Drywall removal and replacement
Tampa Fire Loss Claim Attorney Who Fights for You
Our mission is to hold insurers to nothing more than their good faith obligations under the insurance contract and Florida law. If the insurance company is offering minimal repair versus removal and replacement of irreversibly damaged materials, Corless Associates can help.
Contact us online or call 813-498-1623 or 877-517-5595 for a free initial consultation. You can contact us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and evening and weekend appointments are available. We handle fire loss insurance claims on a contingency fee basis.
