The Insurance Adjuster Considers It a Partial Loss

9/27/2018 (Permalink)

Commercial fire loss in Pembroke Pines, FL

You have just had a serious fire. The flames are out, the tarps are in place and the windows are boarded up. Once the building is secured from the elements, it’s time for the insurance adjuster to open the claim, assess the damage and most likely tell you that it is a partial loss. However, when it comes to a serious fire loss, it is important for you to bring in your own expert.

Add a Licensed Professional Engineer to Your Team

The adjuster only represents the interests of the insurance company. You need someone to represent your interests. A licensed professional engineer with fire loss experience and a structural engineering background can help in several ways.

• Evaluate the steel beams and iron components, looking for damage from intense heat.
• Evaluate HVAC and ductwork for fire and smoke damage.
• Inspect the roof, exterior walls and siding for evidence of hidden damage from the heat.
• Identify areas where fire and smoke damage need to be repaired before new walls go up.
• Evaluate water damage and check for the presence of mold in water-damaged areas.

Present the Engineer’s Report of Actual Damage

This is where the fun begins. The engineer identified problems that the adjuster couldn’t or didn’t want to see. If all damage identified by the engineer is repaired, the cost is going to be higher than the adjuster’s estimate. Next comes the negotiation but, when it comes to fire restoration claims, nothing is easy. Hopefully, the negotiation will be a matter of the engineer and adjuster discussing their estimates using language that you probably wouldn’t understand. If they come to an agreement, and if you agree, the work can begin.

Bring in the Contractors and Get Started

When dealing with a fire loss, quality restoration is best handled by skilled professionals and specialized equipment. You are fortunate that a team of fire restoration specialists can be found close by in Pembroke Pines, FL. See how smoothly things go with experts on the job.