Fire damage: our expert stands alongside the insurer's expert.

What Krantz & Polak does in a fire damage claim

The aftermath of a fire is chaos: you stand in shock before what remains, and at the same time the insurer’s expert is already at the door. At that moment it matters whether you are alone — or whether someone who knows the rules stands beside you.

We attend on site, record what remains and what was there, and engage with the insurer’s expert as one professional to another. Not to argue, but to ensure every discussion is held on the substance.

On-site damage assessment

We map the damage systematically: buildings, contents, inventory, business assets. With photographs, measurements and valuations. Where doubt arises, we bring in external specialists — a furniture restorer, an installer, a contractor — to substantiate what repair or replacement reasonably costs.

Fire investigation and cause

Where the cause is unclear — or where the insurer doubts your account — we carry out our own technical investigation. Our fire investigators work to NFPA 921, the international investigative standard for fire and explosion incidents. That investigation is independent of your insurer; the report belongs to you.

Policy conditions and substantiation

We test your policy against reality. Which items are covered? Which exclusions are being invoked unjustly? What does the law say about the reasonableness of an exclusion? Many policy texts do not withstand judicial scrutiny — and we know this because we have fought it out before.

Guidance through to settlement

Until the final amount is in your account. Communication with the insurer, preparation for meetings, monitoring the settlement, objection to unreasonable deductions.

Common points of dispute

• Actual cash value versus replacement value: insurers tend to apply actual cash value to “older” items. In many cases this is not in line with the policy.
• Underinsurance: when the insurer invokes underinsurance, we verify whether that argument holds. Frequently it does not.
• Business interruption: a fire halts your income. Business interruption goes beyond standstill alone — think of lost customers, broken supply contracts and the cost of restoring customer relationships.
• Demolition and clearance costs: often forgotten and not automatically covered. We check whether you are entitled to them.
• Temporary accommodation: where the property is uninhabitable, the cost of temporary accommodation is often insured. We make sure this is paid out without fuss.