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Lynsey's experience with Oakleafe Loss Assessors showcases the immense impact a dedicated and experienced loss assessor can have on the lives of those who have suffered the devastating consequences of a house fire. Through their unwavering commitment and expert guidance, Oakleafe Loss Assessors provided Lynsey with the reassurance and support she desperately needed during one of the most challenging times of her life.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, remember that you don't have to face the complexities of the insurance claim process alone. Reach out to professionals like Oakleafe Loss Assessors, who can offer the expertise and assistance needed to restore hope and help you rebuild your life after a house fire.

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Oakleafe Claims are delighted to announce that we have become corporate associate members of the British Damage Management Association (BDMA). The membership will enable us to continue pushing forward as industry leaders through ensuring the best standards are adhered to during the restoration stage of the insurance claim process.

About the BDMA

The British Damage Management Association are the certifying body for damage management professionals. They raise industry standards and provide training for practitioners and others across the wider insurance industry who are involved in the recovery and restoration of damaged properties, such as Oakleafe. The BDMA also facilitate recognition of specialist services in the recovery and restoration sector.

Oakleafe Claims BDMA membership

With generations of experience in dealing with incidents and perils such as floods, water damage, fire and smoke damage, the BDMA membership will provide a huge boost for everyone at Oakleafe. Client satisfaction always at the forefront of our operations and becoming corporate associates will allow us to provide even better services for those who have experienced a tragedy in their home.

Everyone at Oakleafe Claims is looking forward to working with the British Damage Management Association and seeing where this membership takes us.

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If you are Cheshire based and need help with your insurance claim, give Oakleafe a call. Oakleafe Claims offer insurance claims management services in all of Cheshire, and work for you not your insurer. So if you suffer a flood, fire, storm, burglary or leak in your Cheshire home or business, contact us. We are on hand 24/7 as your local insurance claim specialists and will get you and your property back on track.

Oakleafe Claims in Cheshire

Oakleafe Claims are the UK's leading Loss Assessors, operating all over the country, including in Cheshire. As multi-award winners, we are highly regarded across the industry and as claims specialists retain an enormous amount of experience in all manner of different types of claims. As a family business in its 8th generation, we have built up a long list of clients who have been successfully assisted with their claims, many of which have been in and around Cheshire.

Oakleafe insurance claim specialist response team
Oakleafe Claims out to deal with a restaurant fire.

Our services in Cheshire

Domestic Home Insurance Claims

  • Burglary
  • Fire & Smoke
  • Flood
  • Impact
  • Storm

Business Insurance Claims

  • Business Interruption
  • Fire & Smoke
  • Flood
  • Impact
  • Storm
  • Theft

Places in Cheshire we operate in

  • Alderley Edge
  • Alsager
  • Bollington
  • Chester
  • Chorlton
  • Congleton
  • Crewe
  • Culcheth
  • Daresbury
  • Disley
  • Faddiley
  • Frodsham
  • Hale
  • Handforth
  • Haslington
  • Helsby
  • Holmes Chapel
  • Kingsley
  • Knutsford
  • Lower Whitley
  • Lymm
  • Macclesfield
  • Malpas
  • Middlewich
  • Nantwich
  • Neston
  • Northwich
  • Penketh
  • Poynton
  • Prestbury
  • Runcorn
  • Sandbach
  • Stalybridge
  • Stockton Heath
  • Tarporley
  • Warrington
  • Weaverham
  • Widnes
  • Wilmslow
  • Wincham
  • Winsford
  • Wistaston
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Electrical failures are the main cause of fires in a home. They make up 25% of all fires and commonly this is down to an electrical arc fault.

What is an electrical arc fault?

Electric arcing often occurs when there is a breakdown of dielectric strength. Dielectric strength is the maximum electric field a material can withstand in any insulating material in a live power system. Electrical Arc Faults can occur when there is an undesirable current flow in an unintended path.

House fire Tooting South East London
House fire Tooting South East London

Types of arc faults

There are two kinds of arc fault. Parallel arc fault and a Series arc fault.

Parallel arc fault

Parallel arc fault is when the current flows through damaged insulation from one conductor to another causing a leakage current that is too weak to be detected by a relay. The leakage current, travels in arcs to ease its passage through the insulation.

Series arc fault

A Series arc fault is when a single wire is broken apart and the current arcs gap across the conductor to complete the circuit. This in turn creates abnormal heat at the affected area, which degrades the insulation further and therefore can lead to the ignition of other material surrounding the insulation.

Each arc heats and gradually carbonises the insulation. Eventually the arcs ignite the carbonised insulation over time. Carbonised insulation acts like an accelerant fuel and is ignited by these electric arcs.

Leakages of current generate arcs that carbonise the insulation.  Carbonised insulation is an extremely good conductor of electricity. The cycle of arcing and carbon conduction gathers pace and intensity until the carbonised insulation spontaneously combusts which can lead to significant damage.

Get help with your fire Insurance claim caused by electrical arc

Dealing with the aftermath of fire damage caused by an electrical arc in your home is incredibly stressful. You will need an Insurance assessor if you want to receive your full entitlement after a fire. Oakleafe claims are loss assessors that will handle all aspects and prepare and present your claim to ensure you receive everything you’re entitled to whilst taking the stress away from you.

Call us today on 0333 2101 999.

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Characteristics of fires and the Dangers of Smoke Residue

The fire triangle- Fuel, Oxygen and Heat are the 3 main attributes of fires. In laboratory conditions these 3 elements balanced result in complete combustion. In the real world of Fire insurance claims, the unequal balance of the 3 elements result in smoke residue (soot) being produced to some degree. If you have complete combustion you have no soot. Therefore, soot is the product of incomplete combustion and in technical terms combustion is the chemical process of burning or changing a solid into a gas via heat.

Oakleafe Claims as the leading Insurance Claims Loss Assessors understand how to identify the Characteristics of fires and how to effectively deal with the components and effects of smoke and heat damage. Oakleafe claims loss assessors understand that in a fire damage event the gases generated are extremely dangerous to individuals directly and indirectly exposed.

The many loss assessors that currently exist within the insurance claims handling industry lack the diverse and technical knowledge to understand the effects of contamination from fire event. A burning structure and its contents produce literally thousands of different gases which generally fall under two categories- Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulphur dioxide.

Characteristics of Claim and how Oakleafe Claims can help

Oakleafe Claims will be able to effectively and competently deal with the secondary effects and damage from not only the fire itself but also the subsequent water contamination from fire extinguishing and suppression. The insurance loss adjuster will expect You the policyholder to mitigate the damage to your property or its contents by taking steps to prevent further damage to contents and building materials.

Oakleafe Claims will be able to draw on its wealth of experience like the Characteristics of fires to ensure the cost of the fire insurance claims are reduced by identifying acid soot residues, implementing moisture control measures to reduce mould contamination and safely remove smoke damaged contents and neutralise acid soot residue.

Oakleafe Claims take seriously their professional responsibilities to be sufficiently knowledgeable and technically experienced in fire insurance claims and the restorative process that follows. Insurance claims for fire damage and the proceeding insurance claims handling must always be performed by a loss assessor who is positive and reactive in the way they are performing their duties- something that Oakleafe Claims and their expert team of loss assessors possess.

If you are unfortunate enough to require fire claim help through the use of an experienced Loss assessor then Oakleafe Claims will draw on their integral tried and tested strategy’s and Insurance claims handling skills to organise and route the tasks and operations required to avoid unnecessary delays and repetition of services. You may know the Characteristics of fires but are you experienced enough to handle the whole Insurance claim by yourself?

Loss Assessors can Identify Characteristics of Fires

Fire damage insurance claims are complex and time consuming and it is therefore imperative that quick decisions are made to prevent long term and costly damage to your property and its contents.

Loss Assessors are independent Insurance Claim experts that can Identify traits of Fires and can take the stress away from your insurance fire claim. They work for you the policyholder, and only you. Using their expertise knowledge of the characteristics of a claim and skills Loss Assessors will aim to get everything you are entitled to.

A Loss Assessor from Oakleafe claims will simplify the importance of a fast response- ultimately saving money, trauma, liability and inconvenience to the policyholder and subsequent fire damage insurance claims.

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Fire damage claims can be particularly stressful, but the Fire Insurance Claim Guide can make things a bit easier for those who do have to deal with them. Fire damage claims are not only time consuming but can also be quite difficult to assess. Annually there are about 37,000 house fires in the UK, and most are caused by accidents while cooking, such as leaving a frying pan unattended. Another common cause is frayed electrical wiring and faulty heating systems.

Fire damage can be complex and far beyond what is immediately noticeable so you may not know how to assess the loss properly if you handle your claim on your own. For example, you probably will not be able to see the extent of smoke damage and therefore may not claim for it. Only a professional with years of experience in the field will know how to look for signs of structural damage following a fire. It is always a good idea to hire a Loss Assessor such as Oakleafe Claims to help with a fire damage claim in your home. Insurance companies have their experts and so should you.

First Step In The Insurance Claim Guide

The first step is that if a fire in your home does happen, first leave the property and call the fire department. Only after the authorities declare your property safe to enter again check if any immediate repairs are needed to guard against further damage. This may include a temporary cover of damage to the roof to shield from rain. If such immediate repairs are needed and you fail to act, any further damage will likely be denied by your insurer.

At this point, if it’s safe, it’s a good idea to take photographs or videos to document all the effects of the fire damage. Also, make sure you obtain a copy of the fire department’s report to include in your claim. Your insurance company will ask for this documentation if authorities were called to the scene.

Prepare

No one wants to think about a fire in your home but there are definite steps you can take to both improve safety and be prepared in case it happens. The Fire Insurance Claim Guide indicates that in order to avoid a fire in your home never leave anything on the stove unattended and keep your home and heating systems well maintained. Always make sure there are fire extinguishers in the home and that you know how to use them.

Also, make sure every household member knows how to evacuate the property in case of fire. You can practice evacuation routes with your family. Another good way to prepare is to keep records: photos, receipts, and inventory of home contents. This will help you prove their value and that you own them when the need arises. You can keep these records in a cloud-based platform so that they are easily accessible from anywhere when needed.

Support According To The Fire Insurance Claim Guide

To get the best professional help for your fire damage claim call a Loss Assessor such as Oakleafe Claims who will help you deal with the insurance company. In cases of fire damage, the insurer must eliminate fraud so some questions they may ask you may be uncomfortable. The insurance loss adjuster is also employed by the insurance company whose main priority is their bottom line and not yours. They are likely to want to settle your claim for the minimum required by law.

The loss assessor will help you prepare for their questions and guide you through the entire process having your best interest in mind. Most importantly they will expertly asses your loss, making sure to include everything your policy covers, and help prepare your claim. Fire damage repair costs can be quite high, and some claims can take a long time to settle. It is important not to exaggerate the value of your claim, but you also do not want to undervalue it either. When it comes to fire damage in your home professional support is priceless because it ensures you get everything you are entitled to and that you receive it as fast as possible.

Avoiding Mistakes Using The Fire Insurance Claim Guide

Any delay in filing is a common reason to deny a claim so make sure to file on time. Every insurer has a defined reasonable amount of time to file after an incident and this information should be easily found in your policy. Yes, you will have a lot on your mind and the wellbeing of your family will be your priority but do not ignore these timelines.

Another common mistake is throwing away items that have been affected as a result of the fire damage. You may not even realize it but if you throw away a burnt piece of furniture or any other household item, which reeks of smoke and maybe beyond salvageable, you just destroyed evidence. Do not throw anything away until after you file, and the insurance company’s loss adjuster has had time to assess the damage. Instead, make a list of damaged items and gather together all records you have that prove their value.

Conclusion

While nothing will make a fire claim process pleasant the home insurance claim guide will help eliminate some of the unnecessary hassles. If you file your insurance claim on time and hire the best professional help available, the entire experience will be a lot less stressful. Having proper documentation and always cooperating with the insurance company’s requests for information are also essential to proper processing of your claim. Having a plan in place ahead of any incident will enable you to deal with a fire better than you would unprepared.

That having been said, once disaster strikes, professional help from a Loss Assessor such as Oakleafe Claims can make all the difference in the outcome of Fire damage claim In Your Home. If emergency accommodations are needed, you can apply for an advance through your insurance company and your loss assessor can help you with this. They can also help you find appropriate accommodations until the repairs on your home are completed. Accidents do happen and fire damage tends to be complex so in addition to having a home insurance policy, consider professional support for your claim.

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You may be a good negotiator but are you an expert in insurance? 
DON’T GO IT ALONE.

GET IN TOUCH

If you have been declined whilst trying to claim on your domestic or commercial insurance, we can help. We can also help with professional services, for example, Brokers, VAR Valuations and Managing Agents.

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