When a fire breaks out in your Texas condominium complex, you most likely won't have time to collect your personal items before vacating the premises. Fires can be devastating, destroying most, if not all, of the items in your unit. When a fire occurs in a condo building, damage to other condo units and to the entire building typically happens.
When a fire damages your condo unit and all the items inside of it, you might assume that everything will be replaced or covered by the condo insurance policy under a fire damage insurance claim. However, not all condominium insurance policies cover personal property. This does not sound fair, as you may not have been the one to even start the fire.
Understanding Condo Insurance Policies
When you move into your condominium, it is important to review the condo's HOA policy and refer to the CC&Rs to understand the rules for your association and what you are responsible for insuring. Some condo complexes do not have a complete fire policy. Many condos will only cover the exterior of the units in the case of a fire; however, some policies will repair both the interior and exterior, but it will not cover your personal property inside the unit.
Most likely your condo will collect insurance for the damage caused to the structure in order to repair the units, and the tenants will be able to claim damage to the interior of the condo such as cabinetry, appliances, flooring etc.
It is important to review your Texas condo insurance policy. You may need to get your own separate fire insurance policy aside from your HOA's. You will want to get a fire insurance condo policy that will cover replacing the items inside your condo such as your personal property.
The sad fact is that there are items you cannot replace like photographs, keepsakes, heirlooms, and other treasured items. Even though you cannot replace these items, you should still be able to collect on them.
After a fire occurs, you need to assess the damage, get quotes for repair work, and itemize possessions that were destroyed, in order to file an accurate claim with the insurance company. You may also need compensation for additional living expenses while you are unable to live in your condo unit because of the damage. You should consult with a Texas insurance claim attorney if your insurance company or condo complex is failing to do the right thing in your situation.
Contact the Voss Law Firm to speak with an experienced attorney who specializes in insurance bad faith claims. Our Texas first party insurance claim litigation lawyers will help you determine if you have a legal case or if you have been treated unfairly by the insurance company regarding your fire damage insurance claim. Call the Voss Law Firm at 888-614-7730 for a free legal consultation today.
