The Insurance Avenger   
Sara McClain, Esq.
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  • Bad Faith Claims
  • Fire/Water Damage Claims
  • Insurance Claim Help
Sara's Victories
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The Insurance Avenger   
Sara McClain, Esq.
Home
About Sara
Practice Areas
  • Bad Faith Claims
  • Fire/Water Damage Claims
  • Insurance Claim Help
Sara's Victories
Media/Blog
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Fire/Water Damage Claims

Fire and Water Damage Insurance Claim Help

 Fire, smoke, burst pipe, or storm water intrusion - these losses escalate costs quickly. We document, value, and press your claim so you can rebuild faster and completely. 

Covered vs. Disputed Losses

 Typical covered components: structural repairs, interior finishes, contents, loss of use (ALE), smoke remediation, mold (if sudden & accidental and not excluded). Disputes often arise over scope (tear‑out), code upgrades, depreciation, or pre‑existing damage accusations. 

Why Claims Stall

Incomplete or inaccurate initial estimate

Failure to separate smoke / soot cleaning costs

Incomplete or inaccurate initial estimate

Carrier preferred vendor undervaluations

Failure to separate smoke / soot cleaning costs

Incomplete or inaccurate initial estimate

Failure to separate smoke / soot cleaning costs

Failure to separate smoke / soot cleaning costs

Failure to separate smoke / soot cleaning costs

Moisture mapping not performed early

Overbroad “wear and tear” exclusions cited

Failure to separate smoke / soot cleaning costs

Overbroad “wear and tear” exclusions cited

Overbroad “wear and tear” exclusions cited

Overbroad “wear and tear” exclusions cited

Core Claim Phases We Manage

Emergency Mitigation & Preservation

Emergency Mitigation & Preservation

Emergency Mitigation & Preservation

 

Coordinating reputable remediation vendors; ensuring invoices and moisture logs are preserved.

Cause & Origin / Causation Clarity

Emergency Mitigation & Preservation

Emergency Mitigation & Preservation

 

Independent experts when causation is disputed (e.g., electrical fire vs. alleged neglect; sudden burst vs. “ongoing leak”).

Scope & Estimate Development

Emergency Mitigation & Preservation

Scope & Estimate Development

 

Xactimate or equivalent detailed line‑item estimates; smoke & soot particulate testing; contents inventory protocols.

Documentation & Valuation

Emergency Mitigation & Preservation

Scope & Estimate Development

 

High‑resolution photo mapping; pre‑loss valuation; replacement cost vs. actual cash value (ACV) calculations.

Adjustment Negotiations

Adjustment Negotiations

Adjustment Negotiations

 

Challenging unwarranted depreciation, demanding undisputed advances (ALE, build‑back draws, equipment replacement).

Escalation / Litigation

Adjustment Negotiations

Adjustment Negotiations

 

 

If the insurer stalls or lowballs, we pivot to formal demand or suit asserting breach and, where warranted, bad faith.

Insured Action Checklist

Photograph/video every room before debris removal.

Keep all mitigation invoices & drying logs.

Track Additional Living Expenses daily

 e.g., lodging, meals, mileage, storage

Begin a contents spreadsheet

e.g., Item | Description | Age | Original Cost | Condition | Replacement Cost.

Preserve damaged exemplars for inspection.

e.g., charred framing, corroded pipe segment

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at sara@theinsuranceavenger.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

 No; you control the rebuild vendor, subject to policy duties to mitigate and cooperate. 


 Jurisdictions differ; we challenge improper labor depreciation where case law supports.


 Surface appearance is not determinative - residue and corrosion risk justify testing.


 Regulations often require decision or action within specific day counts after proofs, delays can support bad faith.


Facing pushback on your fire or water claim?

Contact Sara
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