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San Francisco Bay Area, California Fire Insurance Claims Attorney
Hard work and close attention to detail from a qualified advocate can be the difference between underpayment and full payment of your fire (or water) damage claim. At the Law Offices of Bruce C.F. McArthur, my focus is to make sure that you are fully, fairly and reasonably compensated, so that you have the financial resources to rebuild your home.
If you have experienced a residential fire (or water damage), contact my office to schedule a free consultation. During this initial meeting, I will look at your insurance policy, interview you regarding the details of your fire, and outline the kinds of concerns that must be addressed in the handling of your claim, and the services I can provide if retained.
- Personal property loss assessment and settlement: The contents of your home which are salvageable and which are stored pending repairs must be carefully inventoried first. Items which are destroyed or damaged beyond saving must also be inventoried in detail before being disposed of, as you will be seeking compensation for all of these items, which may number in the hundreds (or thousands). Disputes with your insurer regarding the value and/or cost of these items are not uncommon. Inventories prepared by insurers are sometimes incomplete. If retained in time, I will do my best to make sure that your home's fire-damaged contents are fully inventoried and properly valued, so that you are fully compensated (within the limits of your insurance policy).
- Emergency repairs: This is usually arranged by your insurance company, though your approval is required. I will assist, where guidance is necessary, though this generally occurs prior to my involvement.
- Relocation issues: Generally, after a home fire, you will relocate to a rental home where you may be living for an extended period of time while your fire claim is resolved and your home is repaired. The cost of relocation is generally covered under the “Additional Living Expense” (“ALE”) portion of your policy (assuming you have this coverage). Disputes with your insurer regarding ALE payments, including the amount and duration thereof, are not uncommon. I’ll assist you in resolving any ALE payment issues with your insurer.
- Disposing of debris: Disposing of debris from the fire—some of which may be toxic (e.g., materials containing asbestos) must be done properly and according to the law. I will assist where necessary and coordinate with your contractor.
- Dwelling damage assessment and settlement: This process can involve contractors (1) obtained by you (or on your behalf by this office), (2) obtained by (or sponsored or arranged by) your insurer or (3) both. Repair bid/estimates vary dramatically, and disputes with your insurer regarding what should be paid to you for the repair of your dwelling are common. This is a process I will be directly and deeply involved in. Unless already completed, I will obtain a competitive bid, by a general contractor specializing in fire restoration and will perform a detailed bid comparison and analysis (between all available bids, including those obtained on your behalf, and those obtained by or on behalf of your insurer), to facilitate a fair determination of what should be included in the scope of repair of your home and what those repairs should actually cost. I will usually present your position to your insurer in writing, and in detail. Negotiating a dwelling settlement for you will be one of my most important functions as your legal representative, and where my services can have the most dramatic impact.
- Preparation for repairs and obtaining relevant building permits: Your local Building Department will dictate whether and to what extent plans (and in some cases, engineering) may be required for the repair of your home. The preparation of plans will usually be coordinated/arranged by the general contractor you retain. I will address any payment issues and insurance coverage issues that arise with your insurer in connection with architectural or engineering fees and permit fees, and required Building Code upgrades. (Bear in mind that your insurer will not pay for any required Building Code upgrades if your policy does not include coverage for these items.)
My goal is to help you maximize your compensation by being as thorough as possible with respect to every aspect of your claim. Contact my firm today to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your situation and how I can help you.
Law Offices of Bruce C.F. McArthur
1850 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite 120
Walnut Creek, California 94596
Toll Free: 888-340-2270
Phone: 925-906-4775
Fax: 925-906-4776
Email