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You are here: Home >> Fire Victims >> Marine/Boat Fire Victims
Certified Marine/Boat Fire Victims Information
IN MARINE/BOAT FIRES, THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE TODAY
MAY DETERMINE THE DOLLARS YOU RECEIVE WHEN THE CHECKS ARE WRITTEN.
You have experienced a Marine/Boat Fire loss and now you need to be made whole. If you have insurance, the insurance company will work out
a settlement with you on the Marine/Boat Fire loss based upon your policy (if you and the insurance company cannot come to an agreement on the amount due you then you may want to explore the appraisal clause process. See certified appraisals). If you have an additional monetary loss that is not covered under an insurance policy, such as a buildings, personal effects, docks, etc. then you need to seek a remedy, that being for you to conduct your own independent Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation to collect the dollar amount from the negligent party.
An insurance company will most likely want to conduct a Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation which will hopefully find the negligent party so they can recover their loss. This procedure is handled through the Insurance Company Fire Subrogation Department. So where does it leave the owner/insured?
The owner/insured is generally not entitled to the results of any insurance company Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation. If the finding of the Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation does lead to litigation then the Marine/Boat Fire Investigator can usually only represent one party. The insurance company paid for the Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation and they are looking to only recover their loss pursuant to the policy. If the owner/insured wants to recover a loss then they must have their own Certified Marine/Boat Fire Investigator present at the investigation in order to represent their interest. If a claim is made to a Marine/Boat Manufacturer for a loss by the owner/insured one of the first request of a Marine/Boat Manufacturer will be “provide us with the Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation Report showing we are negligent”. If you cannot provide evidence to substantiate your position, then you most likely have no case and no recourse. On the other hand the insurance company has their Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Report and will attempt to collect.
In order for an owner/insured to protect their interest the following procedure is recommended for Marine & Boat Fires:
- After the fire department has left, leave the boat in its present location if at all possible. If the boat is sunk then you must act far more quickly to have it properly removed. If it must be moved then tell the salvage company in no uncertain terms that all debris must be protected and preserved. If they fail to protect, then they may be responsible for the loss, especially if spoliation issues rise.
- DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING AROUND OR INSIDE THE BOAT AND MAKE IT CLEAR NOBODY IS TO GO ANYWHERE NEAR THE FIRE DAMAGED BOAT. YOU OWN IT, AND YOU DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS TO IT UNTIL THERE IS A SETTLEMENT. If you make a Marine/Boat Insurance Claim then you must allow an insurance company representative to visually look at the Marine/Boat, and Fire Scene, but under no circumstances are they to disturb the condition of the boat.
- Protect the Fire Damaged Boat from the elements of the weather. The insurance company may or may not know to do this. Remember you own the boat.
- If you wish to proceed with collecting the total amount of loss less what the insurance company will pay under the policy then you must proceed in obtaining your own Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigator.
- Most Fire Investigators don’t understand the complexity of a Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation. Having different electrical systems and how to conduct test on certain questionable components that may be suspect. A Certified Marine/Boat Fire Expert is critical in you finding out the “Marine/Boat Fire Cause & Origin” and you not just hearing “it’s undeterminable” and you cannot recover your full loss.
- Once you have your Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigator he or she will be in charge of the Fire Investigation. A date and time will then be set to conduct the Intrusive Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation and to legally notify all interested parties.
You may review our photo gallery of our Certified Marine/Boat Fires, and please feel free to call us with any questions you may have. We are at
your service to conduct Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigations anywhere throughout the United States and abroad. Remember you own the boat and the decisions you make regarding its disposition may decide whether you are made whole or not.
Frequently asked questions about Marine & Boat Fires:
- Will a fire department report work for me? Fire department reports provide information about when Marine/Boat Fires are called in, who responded, how long it took to extinguish, and if Marine/Boat Fires look suspicious. Their reports generally do not provide definitive determination as to the Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause.
- How long before there is a Marine/Boat Fire Investigation? Usually a date and time is set at about 2-3 weeks.
- Why does it take so long? All possible negligent parties must be legally notified.
- Do I have to be present? No but it is a good idea as questions may arise as to the sequence of events leading up to the Marine/Boat Fire that only you can answer.
- I have some personal items left in the boat can I look to see if they are still good? It is not a good idea to enter the boat unless you are accompanied by the lead Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigator. The lead Boat Fire Investigator will determine if you may enter.
- Should I take photographs? Taking photographs can be helpful especially if they were taken during the Marine/Boat Fire.
- What about my records? If you have your service records make a copy and offer them to the Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigator. He or she should ask for them prior to any Boat Fire Investigation.
- Can I talk to my neighbor or a friend about the Marine/Boat Fire? It is best not to. Your discussion as to what you observed and what you did should be limited to the fire department, law enforcement and your Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigator.
- How much does a Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation cost? It depends on the geographical location of the Boat Fires. Contact our office for a price quote.
- When the Certified Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation is completed what happens to the collected evidence? We have evidence storage at our facility depending on the size.
- Should I contact an attorney before the Intrusive Marine/Boat Fire Origin & Cause Investigation? A Marine/Boat Attorney is generally a good idea but most clients wait to find out what caused the Boat Fire and who might be negligent. That way the attorney will have what he or she needs to pursue your just compensation.
