Lantern Law Group Property Insurance Attorneys

Possibly, yes. A home does not have to burn down to suffer a substantial wildfire loss. Smoke, ash, soot, heat, and contamination can damage a standing home and its contents. Those are real, covered losses which can be overlooked or minimized if the inspection focuses only on visible structural damage. If your home still smells like the fire, or ash keeps returning to surfaces, your claim may not be done.

A total-loss claim can involve far more than the dwelling limit shown on the first page of your policy. Depending on your coverage, you may also be entitled to extended replacement cost benefits, payment for your contents and personal property, additional living expenses, debris removal, code upgrades, and recoverable depreciation as you rebuild. Total-loss claims can also raise difficult questions about rebuilding costs and underinsurance. A free review can help you understand what coverages apply and whether the insurer is accounting for the full benefits available under your policy.

No. You do not have to wait for a denial or a serious dispute before having your claim reviewed. An early review can identify missing coverage, incomplete estimates, documentation requirements, additional living expense issues, and deadlines before they become harder to fix. And if your claim appears to be on track, Peter will tell you that too. The review is free, and there is no obligation to hire us.

Do not assume an insurer's first estimate or payment accounts for every covered loss. Before signing a release or agreeing that the claim is resolved, it can be worthwhile to have the policy, estimate, and payment reviewed independently. Our review is free, so you can understand whether important benefits or damages may still be unpaid before making that decision. Remember, first offers are negotiating positions, and accepting one can close your claim permanently. A free review tells you where you stand before you sign anything.

More than most people are told. In a declared wildfire disaster, Colorado law entitles a total-loss homeowner to at least 65% of contents coverage without an itemized inventory, at least 24 months of additional living expenses, and years to recover depreciation as you rebuild. Knowing which protections apply can materially affect how a total-loss claim is documented and resolved.

Nothing up front. Consultations are free and we work on contingency, so our attorney fee comes only from a recovery we obtain for you. If we do not obtain a recovery, you will not owe Lantern Law Group for case costs we incurred on your behalf. A court may, however, order a party to pay an opposing party's fees or costs in certain circumstances.

Public adjusters can help document and negotiate property losses. They are not lawyers, however, and cannot file a lawsuit or pursue legal remedies against an insurer. When a claim has been seriously delayed, denied, or underpaid, attorney involvement may provide remedies that adjusting alone cannot. A public adjuster estimates damage but cannot enforce your policy or bring a bad faith claim.