Question
Do I need to get a lawyer after my house caught on fire?
My house caught on fire last night in Colorado. The fire chief said so far the cause of the fire is undetermined. I've owned the house for a year and a half and have had renters living in the house for the past six months. (No one was hurt in the fire... the tenents made it out fine) Half of the house was completely destroyed. An investigator from State Farm (yes I had homeowners insurance) will be in town tomorrow to check out and evaluate the cause and origin of the fire. A family friend of mine told me that getting a lawyer would be a good idea to make sure I get the full amount I need to rebuild a new home... any suggestions or advice would be great. Thanks
4 weeks ago - 4 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
A lawyer knows the law....he does not know anything about repairing a house. If you want to hire someone- you would hire a Public Adjuster. That's basically an adjuster that works for you. HOWEVER, the public adjuster's fee also paid by you. It can run as much as 20%- 25% of your settlement.....which means that's 20% - 25% less money you have to re-build or repair with. But that's still cheaper than the 33% of settlement a lawyer would charge you. The insurance company does not pay for lawyers or public adjusters that you hire. The insurance company did not hire them.....you did....so it's your job to pay them. The insurance company does not add extra money to the settlement just because you decided to give a big ol' chunk of it to an attorney or public adjuster. So....I'd wait and meet with the State Farm adjuster and see how the process works. As long as you have not done anything stupid....like burning down your house on purpose - committing insurance fraud......they will handle the claim according to your policy provisions. If, at a later date, you decide it's worth giving away 25-33% of your settlement to a public adjuster or attorney....then go hire one.
Source(s)
Insurance Adjuster 12 years
by MSAD
4 weeks ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
Why in the world would you want a lawyer? That would SCREAM fraud, to the adjusters, right up front. AND drastically drag out the claims process, because once you have a lawyer, all communication must go through him. "Family friend" is talking out of his hat. You won't get more than the policy limit, or the cost to rebuild the damaged portions. If you underinsured the house, you'll get even less. If you lied to State Farm and said it was owner occupied, it can void your policy. The person in the BEST position to give you advice, is your State Farm agent. No one here knows enough to give you any REALISTIC, concrete advice that can help you. Nothing can be done until that fire marshall report is completed, and in to the insurance company.
by mbrcatz- 4 weeks ago
The others are correct. There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to hire a lawyer. On any house fire, every insurance company out there have to investigate the cause of the fire. I had a house fire in 1995 that was caused by a faulty furnace and the insurance company once determined it was not our fault, paid to rebuild my house. Unless they find out this fire to be suspicious and look to you as the culprit, then at that time you might want to hire a lawyer to protect you. But you will pay the lawyer out of your own pocket and for property damage (fire/House) you will not get a dime more than what it will cost to repair the house to the original shape with a lawyer. good luck
by lucy- 4 weeks ago