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Fire Damage Lawyer

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Sudden fires can cause a wide range of damages. Fires can damage or destroy buildings, homes, vehicles, personal belongings and other property. The extent of damage varies, depending on the fire’s magnitude, intensity, materials present and effectiveness of fire fire fighting. Fire claims can be complex and complicated due to numerous factors involving the extent of damage, insurance coverage, investigations, disputes and emotional considerations. Fires damage is  covered by various types of insurance policies, like homeowners, renters, commercial property, auto, wildfire, flood and business.  Seeking legal counsel can help you navigate the complexities of fire claims and pursue fair compensation. 

Denver, Colorado Fire Damage Attorney

Have you recently experienced fire damage in your Denver home or business? You may be feeling overwhelmed trying to figure out how you are going to pay for all the damages and whether or not your insurance company is going to help. At Fielder Trial Lawyers, we have over 25 years of experience advocating for our clients against insurance companies that act in bad faith. If your property has been damaged in a fire and you want to dispute your insurance provider’s decision, give us a call today and see how our team can help you secure the compensation you deserve. 

Common Instances of Fire Damage in Colorado

After a fire, there are a number of different ways in which your property may be affected. Some of the most common cases of fire damage in Denver properties include:
 

Smoke Damage

Smoke damage is a common issue after a fire. Even a small kitchen fire can result in significant damage. Smoke damage may affect some of the following surfaces in your home or business:
  • Porous materials: Materials like clothing, drywall, and certain types of flooring easily absorb smoke, leaving them discolored and odorous.
  • Carpet: Carpet has a higher vulnerability to smoke damage than other types of flooring. Oftentimes even powerful cleaning is unable to eliminate the smell. 
  • Walls: After a fire, your walls may turn a brown or yellow color and smell like campfire. Replacing them quickly can help prevent any further damage.
  • Metal: Smoke and fire damage can leave little dents in your metal surfaces or turn them an unpleasant color.
  • Pipes: Smoke contains acidic components that can quickly corrode pipes. This leaves your home more susceptible to leaks if the damaged pipes aren’t replaced promptly.
  • Electronics: Smoke has a magnetic charge that can short-circuit your electronics. It can also corrode the wires and connections.
  • Furniture: When smoke permeates your wood or upholstered furniture, it can leave an unpleasant, lasting odor.
  • Personal belongings: From clothes and curtains to toys and books, smoke can leave your belongings with lasting damage.

Structural Damage

Structural damage occurs when the fire burns away part of your floor, ceiling, or walls. Many of these structures help physically support your Denver home or business, so if they experience severe fire damage, they risk collapse. Even with minor damage, you may fall through burnt floors while the rest of your building stands.
 

Water Damage

A fire can cause your pipes to burst, causing significant damage to large areas of your home. Excessive flooding and water damage do more than just damage your property and personal belongings. Exposure to mold is a serious threat to property owners and those living within the home, as it can present health risks and symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. 
 

Chemical Damage

Your home may be subject to chemical damage if you need to use an extinguisher or other retardant to put out the fire, especially if the foam wasn’t cleaned immediately. The chemicals can have a corrosive effect on electronics, pipes, and other surfaces, similar to the effects of smoke. 
 

Personal Injury

In addition to fire damage, you could experience minor or severe personal injuries. The common medical emergencies that people experience after a fire include:
  • Smoke inhalation: Smoke inhalation can damage your lungs. You may have to stay in the hospital for a few days to recover.
  • Skin irritation: Apart from first, second, or third-degree burns, the fumes from the fire can leave you with skin rashes or allergies.
  • Kidney damage: In rare cases, the toxins from the fire can affect your kidneys. Depending on the damage, you may require dialysis.
  • Increased cancer risk: While less common, prolonged exposure to smoke can leave you with a higher risk of cancer.

Preparing for Forest Fires Outside Denver

According to the National Weather Service, Colorado experiences around 2,500 forest fires yearly. Firststreet.org estimates about 18% of properties are at risk of forest fire damage over the next 30 years.
 
How can you prepare your home for a forest fire?
  • Keep a 30-foot radius outside your home clear of vegetation and debris like leaves and branches.
  • Trim trees that overhang your home.
  • Use fire-resistant materials for your home, like metal roofs and fiberglass insulation.
  • Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level and test them monthly.
  • Review your insurance policy and ask your agent how to increase your coverage for forest fires.

Determining Liability for Fire Damage

Determining liability after a fire is an important step in deciding who is liable to pay for the damages. In some cases, multiple parties may be held liable. 
For example, imagine you own a business and rent part of a retail space in a larger building. After a fire, the insurance company may determine you bear 20% responsibility for the fire, and the building owner shares the other 80%. Without proper representation from an experienced fire damage attorney, you’ll likely pay 20% of the total expenses for smoke damage repairs, medical bills, and other costs.
How can an attorney help determine liability? A qualified fire damage attorney will consider some of the following factors:
  • Negligence: Negligence refers to any conditions or precautions that you should have addressed but didn’t. For example, if you fail to replace exposed wiring, you may bear liability for the fire.
  • Malice: If an arsonist starts the fire, they’ll bear all or the majority of the responsibility.
  • Faulty products: If you have a poorly manufactured product, like an appliance or space heater, the company may have significant liability for the fire damage.
  • Poor construction: If a construction company cut corners or used subpar materials, they may have contributed to starting the fire or helping it spread.

Dealing With Insurance in Denver

After enduring fire damage, you’ll have to deal with the tedious process of filing an insurance claim. However, working with an experienced attorney can help you handle the process with ease and improve your chances of a favorable outcome. Consider the following steps.
 

Contact Your Agent

Once you’re safe, call your insurance agent. You should start the process promptly, notifying them of the fire and the resulting damage.
 
Your agent should work with you to help you secure fair compensation for the damage. However, when you hire an attorney, they can ensure that the agent acts in your best interest. An attorney can also help you challenge any bad faith practices that your agent may be using to reduce your compensation.
 

Document All Damage

Documenting all the damage can feel like a chore, but it provides your attorney and insurance agent with all the evidence they need for your insurance claim. Prioritize taking the following photos:
  • Capture pictures of structural damage, including collapsed ceilings, burned walls, missing portions of floors, and foundation issues. Don’t forget overlooked places like attics or garages.
  • Prioritize photos of your high-value, unique, or sentimental personal belongings. Take pictures from multiple angles and focus on water and fire damage.
  • Take overhead or aerial photos of your home or property if possible. This helps establish the overall scope of the damage to your Denver property and gives context to the more detailed pictures.
You should err on the side of too many pictures rather than risk taking too few. When in doubt, document it.
 
Having to take photos of your destroyed property can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re still experiencing intense emotions after the fire. An attorney can help you track every task you must complete and may even have access to people who can aid you in taking photos.
 

File the Claim

To pursue compensation after fire damage in Denver, you must fill out a claim form and file it with your insurance company. While forms for insurance claims differ depending on the company, you should have the following information ready:
  • Your insurance group number, policy information, and date of your last payment
  • The date, location, and cause of the fire
  • The estimated total value of your losses
  • A list of all your damaged items
  • Any out-of-pocket expenses you’ve already incurred, such as lodgings and transportation costs

Provide Documentation

You may require additional documentation, and you should aim to over-prepare your records rather than under-prepare. Confirm you have the following items to help your Denver case for fire damage compensation go as smoothly as possible:
  • Make a note of any pre-existing conditions or damage you noticed before the fire. This helps the insurance company know you’re acting in good faith and can even affect the liability determination.
  • Don’t dispose of any damaged items until the insurance company inspects them. In some cases, photos don’t provide all the proof you need.
  • Make a copy of your claim and keep a hard copy and a digital copy on the cloud.
  • If you didn’t include it in your claim, keep an inventory of all your damaged belongings and include their quantities, descriptions, purchase date, and original price.
  • Maintain a record of the cleaning process, including dates and pictures of before and after the cleaning.
  • Keep a list of every interaction throughout the process, including correspondence with the insurance company, estimates, invoices, receipts, and all other relevant paperwork.

Track Expenses

When you’re recovering from fire damage, you should track every expense. For example, you likely can’t live in your home after severe damage, so you’ll have expenses for a hotel room, food, and even transportation. When you keep documentation of these costs, you increase your chances of achieving a more favorable outcome with the insurance company.
 
You may also start the repair and cleaning process before filing your claim, though if possible, you should wait. Regardless, you should keep all receipts and invoices throughout the entire restoration process.
 
Insurance companies will not simply take your word or accept general estimates about how much you spent after the fire. By keeping meticulous records, your insurance company will not have the opportunity to challenge you. 
 

Secure the Property

You should aim to secure your home or business soon after the incident. This helps keep you, your property, and other people safe. The majority of insurance companies require you to secure the site to file a successful claim.
 
How do you secure your property after experiencing fire damage? Ideally, you hire a contractor to complete the process effectively and efficiently. You can ask your attorney or insurance agent if they have any recommendations.
 
The process usually includes the following tasks:
  • Boarding up the windows and doors to protect against theft, vandalism, and animals after fire damage.
  • Installing temporary fencing around the edge of your property.
  • Consider installing an alarm or surveillance system or asking the police to stop by at random times.
  • Ask a professional to identify any safety issues and how to mitigate the risk.

Ask for an Advance

If you are struggling to pay for living expenses after the fire damage, consider asking the insurance company for an advance. You can use this money for food, hygiene products like toothbrushes, affordable lodging, and transportation.
 
Your insurance coverage may already include upfront payment for emergency expenses. However, you can always ask your insurance agent. Hiring an experienced fire damage attorney can increase your chances of success.

How Fiedler Trial Lawyers Can Help

What services can our team of Denver attorneys provide after you experience fire damage?
 

Policy Review

As bad-faith insurance attorneys, we can meticulously examine your policy and identify loopholes the company may exploit. We know how insurance agencies work, and by going over your fire restoration coverage with meticulous attention to detail, we can start preparing arguments and evidence early in the process.
 

Paperwork Confirmation

The paperwork for filing a success claim can seem confusing. When you’ve just been through a fire, you’re dealing with a range of emotions that can make focusing on minor details difficult.
 
When you work with an attorney, they’ll review the paperwork before you submit it. They’ll ensure nothing falls through the cracks so you have the highest chance of receiving fair compensation.
 

Meticulous Documentation

An experienced attorney knows exactly what documentation you must have prepared to increase your chances of a favorable outcome. Many homeowners will feel overwhelmed keeping track of all these details. When you partner with an experienced attorney, you can worry less about overlooking essential details.
 

Investigating Liability and Negligence

One of an attorney’s most important responsibilities after a fire is determining who bears responsibility for the damage. Whether you suffered minor smoke damage or the fire destroyed your home, if the insurance company finds you liable, your payout will be reduced. 
 
A fire damage attorney will examine the evidence, consult local authorities, and even conduct an investigation to uncover all the facts. If your case goes to trial, they have all the tools they need to stand behind you in court.
 

Insurance Negotiation

Some insurance companies will work hard to pay you as little as possible. They may go out of their way to exploit loopholes or present evidence that indicates you are at fault. When you work with an experienced attorney like those at Fiedler Trial Lawyers, you can combat these tactics and improve the chances of maximizing your compensation.
 

Communication

A lawyer can handle all your written, verbal, and electronic communication with agencies and authorities. They can communicate on your behalf, give statements to the press, and even reach out to Denver realtors. When they handle all the mundane details and logistics, you can focus on healing and moving forward.
 

Consultations

After a fire, you likely have a great deal of questions. From filing the insurance claim to securing the property, an experienced lawyer can give you all the information you need.

Questions To Ask Your Fire Damage Attorney

What questions should you ask an attorney before you hire them after experiencing fire damage?
 

How Much Experience Do You Have in Fire Damage Cases?

After fire damage, you need a legal team that has specific experience in handling these cases with an insurance company. 
 

How Large Is Your Team?

You need a Denver team of attorneys, even if you only have one main contact. This can help resolve your fire damage case quickly and may also include forensic authorities, private investigators, and more.
 

Do You Charge Any Upfront Fees?

Don’t work with a fire damage attorney that charges you upfront. You should only pay if you win your case.
 

What Expectations Should I Have for My Case?

A Denver attorney can never give you certainty of success in your fire damage case. However, they have enough experience to help you set your expectations for how much you may be able to recover.

Schedule a Free Consultation in Denver Today

When your property has experienced fire damage in Denver, you need time to recover. Fiedler Trial Lawyers can help.
 
Our team of attorneys has helped countless clients recover compensation from their insurance agencies. We are here to provide you with personalized attention and constant communication. We approach each case with exceptional attention to detail and personally meet with witnesses and authorities to provide a comprehensive case on your behalf.
 
To schedule a free consultation for your fire damage case in Denver, call 303-225-5536.

Practice Areas

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Bad Faith Insurance Claims

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor Vehicle Accidents FAQ

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Frequently
Asked Questions

What to do after a car accident?

If you’ve been injured in an accident, there are several important steps you should take to protect your health and legal rights
  • Dial 911 – Emergency Services. Get checked out by emergency responders, even if you think injuries are minor, you should always get evaluated. If the accident involved a motor vehicle, file a report with the police This documentation could be important later on.
  • Document the Scene: If possible, take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and any damage to vehicles or property. Collect contact information from witnesses and others involved in the accident READ MORE…

When involved in a personal injury claim, the process can be very intimidating. Many individuals facing this situation are often dealing with life-altering injuries, high medical bills, financial hardships and find themselves feeling very vulnerable.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be beneficial in a variety of situations, particularly when you have sustained significant injuries or damages due to someone else’s negligenceREAD MORE…

After being injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be wondering if you actually need to hire a personal injury lawyer. You would want to consult with an attorney, because in most cases, there will be an opposing party in your case that will be working against you. Choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your case is important to ensure you receive the best possible representation and outcome. Hiring a Denver Personal injury lawyer that specializes in that area of law is crucial, to ensure that you are getting proper representation, and your case is in good hands. Having an experienced lawyer like FIEDLER Trial Lawyers is helpful and provides powerful representation.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right lawyer:READ MORE…

The cost of hiring a personal injury lawyer can vary depending on the lawyer and the specifics of your case. However, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if they win your case. Here’s how the contingency fee structure typically works and other potential costs to consider:

Contingency Fees: Percentage of Recovery: If the lawyer works on a contingency fee basis, they will take a percentage of the settlement or judgment amount you receive if you win your case. This percentage is typically around 33% to 40% but can vary depending on the lawyer and the jurisdiction.

No Win, No Fee: If you do not win your case, the lawyer will not charge you for legal fees. However, there may still be other costs you could be responsible for (discussed below).RAED MORE…

In a personal injury claim, you may be entitled to several types of compensation, also known as damages, to address the losses and injuries you’ve suffered due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. The types of compensation typically fall into three main categories: economic, non-economic, and, in some cases, punitive damages. Here’s an overview of each:

Economic Damages: These damages are intended to compensate you for actual financial losses resulting from the injury:

Medical Expenses: Compensation for past, current, and future medical costs, including hospital bills, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and any other necessary medical treatment. READ MORE…

The value of a personal injury case can vary greatly depending on several factors unique to your situation. Since each case is different, there is no standard formula to calculate the exact value. However, here are some key factors that generally affect the worth of a personal injury case:
Severity of Injuries: The more serious and long-lasting your injuries, the higher the potential value of your case. This includes considering whether your injuries result in permanent disability or disfigurement.
Medical Expenses: Your case will take into account all medical expenses you have incurred, as well as future medical costs related to your injury.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: The case can include compensation for lost income due to time off work and any future loss of earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work.READ MORE…

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Kevin

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This is the representation that you are looking for! Ken Fiedler hits every box; from punctuality to communication to professionalism. I couldn’t be more satisfied to have chosen Ken to solve this unfortunate problem of mine. He will do the same for you!
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I want to take this opportunity to thank this team for everything they did for my family. James and Ken worked on my case with the dedication and tact that you need the most. They fought for my family like I was part of theirs and made me feel seen and heard. This is the type of law firm you want and…
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a year ago

Ken and his staff are top notch! Ken helped my son and I with our auto accident case. He always took the time to answer our questions or explain things in more detail if needed. Ken is honest, straightforward, and a pleasure to work with. I will always recommend Ken and his team and…
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