Powerful hurricanes, rainstorms, and fire – there are countless ways a home could suffer unexpected damage. Although serious fires and floods can wreak havoc on any day of the year, homes are particularly vulnerable to damage over the holidays.
According to Kiplinger, fire-related homeowner’s insurance claims increase by 12 percent over the holiday season. All it takes is one unattended candle or defective string of Christmas lights to set your home alight.
Unfortunately, in our experience, we believe that profit-minded homeowner’s insurance companies will look for any excuse they can to deny or undervalue claims. The best way to avoid being cheated by your insurance provider is to enlist the help of an insurance attorney.
If the worst happens and your home suffers damage this holiday season, contact Leader & Leader P.A. Michael D. Leader is an insurance claims lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who will evaluate your insurance policy, help you find a reputable public adjuster, and make sure your insurance company restores your property to its pre-disaster condition.
If the insurance company’s contractor botches the repairs, damages your home, or uses lower-quality materials than the originals, Mr. Leader can help you collect what you are entitled to and do what is necessary to get your property back to its pre loss condition. Under Florida law, your insurance company will have to pay your attorneys’ fees and other costs if you have to file a lawsuit to enforce your rights.
Leader & Leader P.A. is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 954-523-2020 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Read on to learn about four common causes of home destruction over the holidays:
- Overloaded Electric Outlets
Overloaded outlets are a common culprit behind house fires – especially during the holidays. Approximately 5,300 household fires ignite every year due to overloaded outlets. Nearly 2,000 of those fires occur over the holiday season.
- Unattended Fireplaces
According to the Claims Journal, nearly 1 in 4 people have fallen asleep while a fire was burning in their fireplace.
- Unattended Candles
The National Fire Protection Association warns that unattended candles caused approximately 9,300 house fires between 2009 and 2013. These fires caused 827 injuries and 86 deaths.
- Cooking while Distracted
It’s tempting to listen to holiday music while preparing Christmas dinner, but distracted cooking is a common cause of house fires. Try to avoid cooking too many dishes at the same time, and never let yourself dose off while the stove is on. According to an Allstate poll, 9 percent of respondents said they had experienced a cooking mishap that caused smoke or a fire.
If your home sustains damage over the holiday season, contact Leader & Leader P.A. In our experience, adjusters who work for insurance companies (or “independent adjusters”) rarely estimate repairs fairly. With our help, you can rest assured that your property will be restored to its pre-loss condition, or that your insurance company will pay out fair compensation. Call 954-523-2020 to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Lauderdale insurance attorney.
