Colorado Springs Fire Claim

Damage from a property fire is expensive and can completely wipe out your savings if you receive a lowball insurance settlement. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average fire and lightning damage claim was $88,170 from 2019 to 2023, about six times the average cost of claims for wind or water damage. With that much money at stake, fire claims often involve disagreements over the scope and cost of the damage.

From kitchen fires to wildfires in the wildland-urban interface, Colorado Springs homeowners know how quickly a fire can change everything. The Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires destroyed hundreds of homes in El Paso County, and smoke from a nearby blaze can damage a property that never saw a flame.

Having a licensed Colorado Springs Public Adjuster on your side is key. These insurance claim experts can help you build a complete, well-documented Colorado Springs fire claim so that you can get the funds you need to repair the damage.

How to Maximize Your Fire Claim

After a fire of any size or severity, insurance claims demand careful attention. Fire losses involve many moving parts, and damage that goes undocumented can be left out of a settlement. Here are four ways to strengthen your fire damage claim.

1. Document Additional Living Expenses (ALE): If forced to relocate due to a fire, it's essential to keep records of any extra living expenses incurred as a result of the incident to submit for reimbursement. In Colorado, if you lose your owner-occupied home in a governor-declared wildfire disaster, your insurer must provide at least 24 months of ALE, with two possible six-month extensions.
2. Document the Damage: Once it's safe to return to the scene, photograph any visible damage before calling a fire remediation company and save your receipts for relevant costs.
3. Know Your Insurance Policy: Know which types of damage your insurance policy covers. This can include flames, smoke, soot, or even ash. Colorado law requires your insurer to send you a copy of your policy within 3 business days of your request.
4. Consider Using a Public Adjuster: As licensed insurance professionals, Tiger Adjusters® guides policyholders through the full claims process and helps them recover their losses, working to ensure fair, timely, and accurate settlement outcomes.

What's covered by your policy?

If you're a Colorado Springs resident filing a fire insurance claim due to an electrical fault, kitchen mishap, or wildfire, your policy may cover more than just structural damage. Many homeowners' policies also protect personal items, such as electronics, furniture, clothing, and jewelry. Look for the personal property section of your policy (often called Coverage C) to gain a better understanding of which possessions may be included in your fire damage claim.

Colorado law adds protections for homeowners who suffer a total loss of an owner-occupied home in a governor-declared wildfire disaster. Under House Bill 22-1111, insurers must offer to pay at least 65% of your contents coverage limit without requiring an itemized inventory. To claim the remaining 35%, you'll need to complete an inventory. You also get at least 36 months to submit receipts for rebuilding and replacement costs.

What Colorado law says about Public Adjusters

Colorado regulates Public Adjusters to protect homeowners like you. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 10-2-417, every Public Adjuster must be licensed by the Colorado Division of Insurance and carry a surety bond of at least $20,000. Here's what that means for your Colorado Springs fire claim:

• Fee limits after a disaster: When a catastrophic disaster is declared, a Public Adjuster's fee can't exceed 10% of your insurance settlement, and your adjuster can't collect any fee, retainer, or deposit before your claim settles.
• A written contract: All agreements must be in writing and spell out the full fee, and you must receive a separate disclosure about the claims process before signing.
• No fees on money you haven't received: Your contract can't let your adjuster take a percentage of money your insurer owes but hasn't paid, or take the whole fee out of the first check.
• 72 hours to change your mind: You can cancel a Public Adjuster contract by mailing written notice to your insurer and the adjuster within 72 hours of signing.
• Loyalty to you alone: A Public Adjuster cannot take part in repairing your home, profit from contractor referrals, or settle your claim without your knowledge and consent.

Get help with your Colorado Springs fire claim

You don't have to navigate the claims process on your own. A Colorado Springs Public Adjuster can help evaluate your fire damage, interpret your insurance policy, and negotiate with your insurer on your behalf.

Unlike insurance adjusters, Public Adjusters work solely for you. Their job is to use their knowledge and experience to help you recover the full amount your policy provides.

Don't forget to check resources from the Colorado Division of Insurance for general claim tips and to verify Public Adjuster licensing information.

Rick Maddox

Centennial, Colorado

Owner/ Operator & Public Adjuster 

CO: #950799

(303) 406-2646

R_Maddox@tigeradjusters.com