How Does Insurance Work After A House Fire In Massachusetts: Insurance Claim Process

Published on June 11th, 2023

After a house fire, it's hard to know what to do next. You may be wondering how insurance works after a house fire insurance claim and what your next steps should be.

When it comes to home insurance claims, there are generally two types: first-party and third-party. First-party claims are filed by the policyholder and concern damage to their personal property. Third-party claims are filed by someone who was not involved in the policy but suffered injuries due to the event.

Going through the insurance process is not the only way to exit a horrible event as a home fire. Many people wonder can you sell a house that has fire damage and the answer is yes, whether you plan to proceed with an insurance claim or not.

Let's get into the meat and bones of how insurance works after a house fire.

Is Fire Insurance A Thing In Massachusetts?

The short answer is yes, fire insurance exists, and it protects the homeowner from financial ruin after a house fire. The longer answer is that the insurance claim is more complicated than most other natural disasters.

A house fire can cause severe damage to the home's structure and destroy personal belongings, furniture, and valuables. However, with the right coverage, homeowners can get reimbursed for their losses after a fire by filing a claim with their home insurance provider.

What Risk Does A Fire Insurance Policy Normally Cover In Massachusetts?

The most common fire insurance policy is known as an all-risk policy. Unless something is expressly excluded, it is covered by the policy. For example, most insurance companies' policies include coverage for:

Accidental damage by external means:

If damaged by external forces such as hail or windstorms, your home, and its contents are covered.

Explosion/implosion:

If a gas line or propane tank explodes, it should cover your home and its contents under your policy.

Aircraft damage:

Damage to your home caused by an aircraft (or other vehicles) crashing into your property is usually covered.

Riot, strike, malicious act, and terrorism:

The property is insured against damage caused by riot and strike or civil commotion for which police aid has been called. It also covers loss or damage due to acts of terrorism.

Impact damage:

The property is covered in the event of any direct loss or damage caused by the collision of any vehicle or animal with the property.

Storm, cyclone, typhoon, tempest, and flood:

All risks covered include loss or damage to the building, machinery, electrical and electronic equipment by storm, cyclone, typhoon, and tempest, including flood resulting from that place.

Subsidence and landslide, including rockslide:

The property is covered against loss or damage caused by subsidence and landslip, including rock-slip.

Is Fire Insurance The Same As Home Insurance In Massachusetts?

Home insurance covers the structure of your home and your damaged personal property inside if you have coverage for them. In addition, the homeowner's insurance policy usually includes liability protection and coverage for incidents that occur on the property, such as someone falling or getting injured.

Fire damage is usually included in homeowners insurance policies if the cause is accidental or negligence, although there are exceptions based on the policy specifics. For example, if the fire were caused by negligence, such as leaving something on top of a hot burner or not keeping your chimney clean, it would cover the damage. However, it may not be covered if it was due to an act of nature or an intentional act.

What Is The Process After A House Fire In Massachusetts?

A fire in your home can be devastating and filing an insurance claim and rebuilding can be stressful and confusing. Therefore, it's essential to know what to expect from your insurance company.

Your first step after a fire is to file a claim with your insurance company. Be sure to contact your agent or company as soon as possible — even if you're unsure if you have enough coverage to rebuild or need help finding somewhere else to live right away. Your insurer will help you figure out what's covered under your policy.

What Are The Steps Of A Home Insurance Claim In Massachusetts?

Filing a home insurance claim for a fire is broken down into seven steps. First, when you file a claim, you will work with your insurance company and a claims adjuster to get back on your feet and restore your home.

Call your insurance agent:

When something happens to your home, it's good to contact your agent immediately. They will provide guidance and help you understand how homeowners insurance work after a fire or other disaster strikes. In most cases, they will refer you to their 24/7 claims line or have your file online.

Determine if it's worth filing a claim:

Filing an initial claim starts the process of getting paid. First, your agent will ask for basic information about the incident, including any preliminary estimates of damage costs. Next, this information gets filed with the insurance company, and they assign a public adjuster to investigate what happened and determine what kind of damage occurred.

Get your claim started:

The first step to making the fire insurance claims process efficient is to start it right away. The sooner you can get in touch with the claims team, the faster they will be able to assess the damage and help you figure out where to stay. It also reduces the risk of further water or smoke damage to your property.

Write a list of everything that burned:

It will help speed up getting reimbursed by your home insurance carrier. Have receipts for any items that were destroyed or damaged by the fire. Even if you don't have permits, write down the value of each item that was lost in the fire. If there are items lost in the fire in boxes or containers, which you haven't gone through yet, don't touch them until after an adjuster has come to look at the damage.

Don't throw anything away until you talk to your insurance company first:

Your insurance company will want to inspect your property before they make any decisions about your claim, so before you start ripping things out or tearing down walls, call them and ask for instructions on what to do next. They might be able to tell you over the phone how to proceed and how long the fire insurance claim process will take.

Take pictures and videos of the damage:

Before you do anything else, it's essential to document the damage immediately after a fire. Take pictures and videos of all the damage, so you have proof of what happened when filing your insurance claim.

Assess the damage after the insurance adjuster assesses the home

Assess the damage after the insurance own adjuster assesses the home. But don't sign anything until you understand what you are signing and what impact that signing will have on your rights as a policyholder under your insurance contract and under applicable state law (including laws related to adjusting fire losses).

How Do I Prepare For A Fire Insurance Claim In Massachusetts?

You'll want to collect as much documentation as possible. It includes photographs, receipts, police reports, and other items that can help substantiate your claim. It's also important to keep track of all costs associated with the loss. That includes additional living expenses for temporary housing and food, medical bills if you were injured, and other charges that it can have in your claim.

What is the difference between actual cash value (ACV) and replacement cost value (RCV)?

Actual Cash Value includes depreciation of items destroyed in a fire or damaged by smoke or water. Replacement Cost is what it would cost to replace each item today without considering depreciation. If you have Replacement Cost coverage on your homeowner's policy, you will generally receive a more significant amount than if you had chosen Actual Cash Value coverage.

How Do I Handle A Fire Insurance Claim In Massachusetts?

1. Contact your agent or the insurance company as soon as possible after the fire.

2. Do not throw anything away until the insurance company has inspected it. There may be things that can be salvaged, even if they appear to be a total loss.

3. You may need to get estimates for repairs and replacement of damaged items, so start collecting the names of repairers and other contractors as soon as possible.

4. If you are renting, contact your landlord immediately and inform them of the damage to your property. They will probably want to file an insurance claim with their insurer.

How Do I Handle A Fire Insurance Claim In Massachusetts?

• The Cost Of A Fire Insurance Policy
• How to Calculate Fire Insurance 
• The Insurance Process After A House Fire
• Dealing With A Difficult Insurance Adjuster's After a House Fire
• The House Fire Insurance Payout
• House Fire Insurance Got Denied
• What You Can and Can't Do With The Extra Money From The Insurance Claim
• What Happens If You Have a House Fire But I Have No Insurance