Your insurance company promised to pay for damage to your home or business. Yet, a claim can get delayed, cut down, or denied after a fire, storm, or flood. When that happens, you need a straight answer. You need to know if the number on your check is fair before you sign anything, and you need to know what to do if it is not.
At Shaver Legal, APC, we work as a Fresno property insurance lawyer for homeowners and business owners across Fresno County. We compare your policy, your insurer’s timeline, and your damage estimate against what California law requires.
Tell us what your insurer offered and what your policy says. We will tell you where your claim stands and what you may be able to do next.
| No Fee Unless We Win | 20+ Years in the Insurance Industry | Licensed by the State Bar of California Since 2017 |
Property insurance claims in Fresno County take many forms. Insurers use different tactics depending on the type of claim. Every type below comes with its own paperwork, deadlines, and insurer excuses. Here is what we handle for policyholders across the county:
The Law Doesn’t Wait
You Shouldn’t Either
Insurance companies have a legal duty to treat you fairly. This duty is called acting in good faith. Under California’s Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, your insurer must acknowledge your claim in writing within 15 calendar days of getting notice of it. After that, it generally has 40 days from your proof of loss to accept or deny the claim, in whole or in part.
Many insurers miss that deadline. Some deny a valid claim without a real investigation. Others offer a fast payout that is far below the real cost of repair. For example, an insurer might say fire damage to a roof is cosmetic, when a licensed contractor says it needs full replacement.
Your insurer offered you a number that does not match your real repair costs. That gap between the offer and your real repair cost doesn’t automatically mean your insurer acted in bad faith. Insurers are allowed to disagree with your contractor. But it can be a sign your claim needs a closer look, especially if the insurer skipped a real investigation or won’t explain its number.
Every day a claim sits unresolved is a day you cannot rebuild, restock inventory, or repair what a fire or storm destroyed.
We Fight to Rebuild What You Lost.
Your Property. Your Policy. Your Money.
You do not need a lawyer to file a claim. You may need one once your insurer denies your claim or offers less than it is worth. An attorney reviews your policy, your insurer’s response, and California law together.
Property insurance claim cases are often handled on a contingency fee. That means you pay no upfront cost. Your attorney is paid a percentage of what is recovered, only if the case succeeds. If there is no recovery, you typically owe no attorney fee for the work itself. We review your policy and claim for free before you decide anything. Always confirm the exact fee terms during that free consultation.
You can ask your insurer, in writing, for the specific reason for the denial. California law requires insurers to give you that reason in writing. You can request a review from the California Department of Insurance’s Claims Services Bureau. You can also have an attorney review the denial against your policy and state law.
High wildfire risk has led many private insurers to drop coverage or refuse to renew policies in Fresno County. This has pushed some homeowners toward the California FAIR Plan. California law provides a one-year moratorium on policy non-renewals for properties in or adjacent to declared disaster areas after a state of emergency. Properties that suffer a total loss are guaranteed at least two annual policy renewals from the date of loss. But none of these protections stop an insurer from delaying or underpaying a claim once it’s filed.
Yes. California policyholders can file a bad faith lawsuit against an insurer that mishandles a valid claim. These cases are filed in civil court, often in Fresno County Superior Court for claims tied to property in this county. A bad faith claim can result in a recovery of the original claim value plus additional damages. It is worth having an attorney evaluate your claim before you file anything on your own.
Photos and video of the damage, taken as soon as it is safe, matter. Repair estimates from a licensed, local contractor help show the real cost to rebuild. Your policy documents and every letter or email from your insurer matter too. Keep a simple log of every call, with the date and what was said. We help Fresno County clients organize this evidence so the full value of the loss is clear.
You already have enough to deal with after a fire, storm, or flood. You should not have to face your own insurer alone. Contact Shaver Legal, APC, and tell us what your insurer has offered and what your policy says. We will tell you plainly whether that number is fair and what your options are now. The longer a delayed or underpaid claim sits, the harder it can be to recover the full value of what you lost. A short conversation can tell you whether your claim is being handled the way California law requires, before you sign a release or accept a final check.
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