San Francisco Fire Damage Lawyer

San Francisco Fire Damage Attorney

Fires can leave a property with significant damage from both the fire and the smoke. In some cases, the property could be entirely lost after a fire. This can be devastating for families whose residence is damaged, and commercial entities can have their business interrupted or ruined by a fire. While there is often insurance protection in place for these situations, the help of a San Francisco fire damage lawyer may be necessary to get the compensation that you’re owed.

When you’re faced with an insurance company that’s acting in “bad faith” following a fire, Sawyer & Labar LLP can help you fight for what you deserve. We understand how to hold insurance companies responsible for their bad faith actions, and we’re skilled, fierce litigators who can represent you in the courtroom. We fight to get our clients what they’ve been promised.

How a San Francisco Fire Damage Lawyer Could Help

A San Francisco fire damage lawyer can be particularly helpful if you are faced with a circumstance where an insurance company is acting in “bad faith.” This generally means that they are not providing the compensation they should be under your policy. In other cases, they may be acting too slowly in investigating your claim and providing the funds. There are legal protections available to consumers in these situations, and a lawyer can be a critical part of taking advantage of those protections.

As your lawyer, we look closely at your policy, the damage you’ve suffered, and the process required to obtain compensation. These policies can often be written in complicated language and are not easy to decipher, but we understand how to identify the relevant information. We can apply your policy to your situation, calculate the compensation that you should expect to receive, and help you understand if the insurance company is acting in “bad faith.”

When an insurance company is not living up to their end of their agreement with you, we can represent you in the effort to seek fair compensation, whether through negotiation with the insurance company or through litigation.

Negotiation

For many people, a negotiated settlement may be possible. There is a possibility that going through litigation can offer a potentially greater payout, however. We can determine the possible downsides and advantages of each potential route.

Negotiating a settlement means that you will certainly receive whatever is agreed upon, and the process is usually completed more quickly than the litigation process. As your lawyer, we can negotiate on your behalf. This is often beneficial for our clients in a few ways. One of the most impactful is that it leads the insurance company to take the situation more seriously.

When faced with a lawyer, they know that they will be unable to get away with the same tactics they might try on someone less experienced. They will also recognize that litigation is a legitimate threat if an agreement can’t be negotiated. Having us negotiate on your behalf can also be helpful because we can offer informed advice. We understand what a reasonable settlement could look like, and we can help you with considering whether you’d like to accept a settlement or push the matter further.

Litigation

While many people settle a claim, there are times when it may not make sense, given the strongest offer that’s presented. If that’s the case, we are prepared to represent you before the court and present a strong argument. The litigation process involves significant paperwork, hearings, and arguing on your behalf. As a firm focused on litigation, we’re more than prepared to litigate your case.

We are responsible for ensuring that your paperwork is completed appropriately and submitted through the proper avenues. Having investigated your case, studied your policy, and assessed the damage that you’ve incurred, we can be prepared to make the strongest argument we can for the compensation that you’re seeking.

How an Insurance Company May Act in Bad Faith After Fire Damage

If you’ve sustained damage to your property in a fire, you’re likely counting on your insurance to fulfill their obligations and provide the compensation that you’re owed as a result of that damage. When your insurance company fails to meet the parameters of your agreement, is treating you unfairly, or is otherwise unreasonable, they may be considered to be acting in bad faith.

Some common examples of bad faith behavior by insurance companies include:

• Delays in Processing. When you are in need of the funds that a fire damage claim should provide, you often need to receive those funds in a timely fashion. Unreasonable delays in processing your claim are considered a form of bad faith action.
• Inadequate Communication. You should be updated regarding where your claim stands and the steps involved in receiving your compensation. Insurance providers may be held accountable if they are insufficient in communicating with you.
• Not Investigating the Claim. Insurance companies need to do their due diligence before rejecting your claim, and a critical component of doing so is investigating the situation.
• Making a Lowball Offer. At times, an insurance company may try to offer less than you are rightfully owed.
• Deny Your Claim Without Sufficient Reason. A claim must be approved or rejected based on the parameters of your contract. If a rejected claim doesn’t meet those parameters, you may be able to hold the company accountable.

Get Help Seeking the Compensation You Need After Fire Damage

In some fortunate situations, fire damage may be minimal. However, fire can often cause significant damage to a property, requiring significant repairs or leaving the property entirely destroyed and unusable. In these circumstances, people have come to rely on their insurance policies to provide the funds that they so desperately need to recover. Getting those funds, though, can sometimes be more challenging than it should be.

At Sawyer & Labar LLP, we work with those who are dealing with the unfortunate combination of fire damage and an insurance company that’s not living up to their agreement. Bad faith insurance issues can be difficult to face, but we understand what it takes to hold these companies accountable and get you the funds that you’re owed.

As an accomplished litigator, our attorney is not afraid to take insurance companies to court. Contact our offices to discuss your situation and learn how we may be able to help.