Your house is where your heart is and it is hard to imagine everything inside as just belongings. People get emotionally attached to everything in their house so it becomes difficult to figure out what to do when it catches fire. You need to stay calm so you know where to begin, who you need to call, and when you can start the recovery process. In many cases, property damage lawyers can assist with the recovery, but there are a few things you want to make sure you do prior to making a phone call.
What NOT to Do
The first thing when your house catches fire is knowing what not to do. Thankfully, that list is very short, even if it seems to be the most difficult. While you will want to immediately start the recovery process, it is vital that you do not re-enter your home until you have been told that it is safe to do so. Firefighters and inspectors will want to make sure any possible hot spots are put out, and there is no structural damage that will cause you injury upon re-entering. In addition, if your car was in a location of fire damage, make sure you do not attempt to move it.
What to do Following a Fire
The first step you will want to do following a fire is contact a property damage attorney and your insurance company. They will give you the information you need to make sure you are financially covered for damages, and determine what your protection is. Following those phone calls, make sure you contact utility companies to let them know there was a fire and have services turned off if necessary. When you have permission from the fire department and inspectors to re-enter your property, you will be ready for the documentation process.
What to Document
When you are allowed back into your house, you will want to make sure you have a camera and a notebook. You will want to take pictures of your items and document what has been damaged. Place heirlooms and items you view as irreplaceable aside so you can take them with you when you leave. Locate your important documents, such as licenses, social security cards, and birth certificates, and note what you may need to have replaced. Hopefully, all of these documents will have been kept in a fire-proof safe so they are not damaged. Finally, make sure you obtain a copy of all fire reports from the fire department and law enforcement agencies.
There are a lot of services available to help people recover from fires, and filing a claim is just one small step in that process. Lawyers for property damage, such as Richard Palumbo, have years of experience in know how to help you replace money, belongings, and getting financial relief for fires that were not your fault. When your emotions run high, even knowing what to do is sometimes not enough and an outside party is the most comforting thing you can have for you and your family.