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The Woodlands Fire Damage Lawyer

It is a homeowners nightmare is to lose their home to a fire. A fire can destroy your house and its contents in a short amount of time. Often policyholders will lose their clothing, furniture and precious photographs or heirlooms.

Most homeowners will turn to their insurance company when their property sustains fire damage. When your insurer denies or underpays a covered fire claim, it can be even more devastating.  Speak with an insurance lawyer to get the coverage owed under your policy so you can repair or replace your property.

Fire Damage Claims Attorneys in The Woodlands, Texas

Consult the legal team at LeMaster & Ahmed, PLLC to help you identify the coverage available to you under your policy and to help you negotiate your covered claim.  Let the attorneys at LeMaster & Ahmed, PLLC fight with your insurance company to get you the benefits owed to you under your fire insurance policy.  Ms. Ahmed and Ms. LeMaster have experience working with insurance companies and will use their experience to help you.

You can set up a case evaluation with the attorneys at LeMaster & Ahmed, PLLC by calling us at (866) 984-4556. We will review your case thoroughly and then help determine the best course of action so you can receive a higher settlement. LeMaster & Ahmed, PLLC practices throughout the greater Montgomery County area including Conroe, Montgomery, The Woodlands, Magnolia, Willis, New Caney, Splendora, and Houston.

Information Center:

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What Type of Losses Are Covered or Not Covered Under Fire Insurance?

Most homeowner insurance policies provide protection in the event of a fire. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), fire claims actually pay out more than any other loss type. All contracts have different deductibles based on the specifics of the policy, but the majority of homeowners insurance packages will cover for the same type of fire damage.

Listed below are the types of losses typically covered by homeowners insurers in case of a covered fire occurs.

  • The home itself
  • Personal property damaged by the fire, smoke or water
  • Property not attached to your home such as a shed, fence or garage
  • Loss of use, which is when your insurance pays for living expenses if you must move temporarily while your home is being repaired

It is important to note that most insurance policies will not cover high price personal items such as cash, jewelry or fine art unless you purchased additional protection.

What is not covered under your homeowners or property insurance will depend on the specific provisions of the policy. However, most homeowners insurance policies preclude coverage for a home that has been vacant for a certain period of time. Vacancy is defined differently based on the provider.  So please review your policy to determine when a property is considered vacant.

Any acts of arson are not covered by your insurance policy.  If there is a concern for arson, the Insurance companies may involve its special investigative unit or SIU.

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Fire Damage Statistics for Montgomery County, Texas

Unfortunately, fire damage is becoming increasingly more common in the state of Texas. As a way of documenting it, the State Fire Marshall’s Office developed the Texas Fire Incident Reporting System (TFIRS) so they can track the amount of fires and their damage in the whole state of Texas. Listed below are some startling 2016 TFIRS statistics for Montgomery County.

  • There were 403 structure related fires in Montgomery County
  • Authorities recorded 74 cooking or kitchen related fires in Montgomery County
  • TFRIS recorded 288 vehicle fires that year
  • A whopping 1,024 outside fires occurred in Montgomery County
  • 4 people sustained serious fire injuries and 3 others died as a result of a fire

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Why Did My Insurance Deny My Fire Damage Claim?

The Texas Insurance Code states insurers must act in good faith in adjusting your claim. That is, an insurance company may not deny your fire damage claim without conducting a reasonable investigation. If your insurer denies your claim, it must provide you with a written explanation of its basis for denial.  If your insurance company denies your covered fire insurance claim, it may be in breach of your insurance contract and in violation of the Texas Insurance Code.

Listed below are some examples of unfair settlement practices found under the Texas Insurance Code.

  • Denying a claim without doing a reasonable investigation
  • Failing to provide a written explanation of the basis for denial
  • Failure to deny or accept a claim within a reasonable time
  • Failure to provide a prompt and fair settlement after the insurer’s liability has become reasonably clear
  • Misrepresenting provisions of a policy relating to the claim
  • Denying a claim based on:
    • Color
    • Nationality
    • Marital status
    • Age
    • Gender
    • Religion
    • Disability
    • Race
    • Credit score
    • Geographical location

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Fire Damage Resources in Montgomery County, Texas

Montgomery County Fire Marshall | Local Departments – Visit the official website for the County of Montgomery to learn more about their Fire Marshall and local fire departments. Access the site to find the Fire Marshall’s location and contact information as well as links to every fire department in all of Montgomery County.

The Woodlands Fire Department – Visit the official website for The Woodlands to learn more about their local fire department. Access the site to get answers to your frequently asked questions as well as the location and contact info for the fire department.

Annual Fire Statistics | TFIRS – Visit the official website for the Texas Department of Insurance to learn more about the State Fire Marshall’s program TFIRS to record fires in Texas. Access the data to learn how many fires happen in Texas annually, casualties and injuries from them, causes, as well as property damage loss recorded that year.

Fire Safety Research and Resources | TDI – Visit the official website for the Texas Department of Insurance to find resources regarding fire safety. Access the site to learn more about fire safety equipment, the common causes of fires, how to prevent outdoor fires and fire safety when using fireworks.

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Additional Resources

Texas Insurance Code – Laws and regulations set forth for insurance companies can be found under the Texas Insurance Code. Access the statutes to learn more about bad faith practices, your rights as a policyholder, and the statute of limitations to sue your insurer.

Montgomery County Clerk – The Clerk of the Courts documents matters of the court and acts as the official registrar and historian. You can access their site to request important documentation, file your claim online, and search the public records.

 

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Fire Insurance Claim Lawyer in Montgomery County, Texas

If you have to fight for the coverage owed under your fire policy, contact our fire insurance claim attorneys   at LeMaster & Ahmed, PLLC for a case evaluation. Our insurance lawyers can assess the  your claim and determine if your insurer has breached your fire insurance policy and acting in bad faith.  Our attorneys will fight to get you the benefits owed under your insurance policy.

You can get in touch with the attorneys at LeMaster & Ahmed, PLLC by calling (866) 984-4556. Our lawyers serve throughout the greater Montgomery County and The Woodlands area including Conroe, The Woodlands, Magnolia, Willis, New Caney, Splendora, Pinehurst, Houston, and Conroe.

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