Claim Type — Fire & Smoke Damage
Fire & Smoke Damage Insurance Claims in Georgia
Fire claims can involve multiple layers that may not appear in an initial insurer estimate. Structural loss is the visible part. Smoke infiltration, soot deposition, odor remediation, contents inventory, and code-upgrade requirements are where settlements get cut short. Resurgens documents all of it.
Why Fire Claims Get Underpaid
The visible damage is only part of the loss.
When an insurer sends an adjuster after a fire, their estimate typically focuses on what burned. What it often misses: smoke that traveled through HVAC systems into rooms that look undamaged, soot that settled into insulation and wall cavities, odor that has penetrated framing and subfloor, and the additional costs triggered when damaged areas require code upgrades to rebuild to current standards.
The founder of Resurgens went through this firsthand. A gas water heater explosion in May 2024 caused major structural damage, asbestos-containing material disturbance, smoke infiltration throughout the home, and over $130,000 in documented damages. The experience of navigating that claim — every supplement, every dispute, every line item — is what this firm was built on.
Contents losses are another common gap. Your policy likely covers personal property at replacement cost, but insurers apply depreciation that the policyholder has to recover separately — and many don't know to file for it. A complete contents inventory, priced at current replacement cost, is a critical part of any fire claim.
Georgia's older housing stock — particularly pre-1980 construction in intown Atlanta — introduces asbestos and lead remediation costs that an initial insurer estimate typically misses. Resurgens documents each supported layer, from burn origin to the farthest room the smoke reached.
What Resurgens Documents in a Fire Claim
- Structural damage — framing, roofing, walls, floors
- Smoke and soot infiltration beyond the fire origin
- HVAC contamination and ductwork replacement
- Asbestos and lead remediation if materials are disturbed
- Code-upgrade costs required by current building codes
- Personal property contents at full replacement cost
- Additional living expenses during the repair period
- Recoverable depreciation on contents once repairs are complete
No Recovery, No Fee
Resurgens charges a 15% contingency fee. If there is no recovery, there is no fee. The complete terms are provided in writing before any engagement begins.
From the Case Files
A real fire claim, documented in full.
Resurgens was founded after the founder's own Atlanta home burned in May 2024. The 18-month claim — every payment, dispute, line item, and mistake — is documented publicly so Georgia homeowners can see exactly how a major fire claim works from the inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fire & smoke damage claim questions
Smoke can travel through HVAC systems and reach rooms that appear undamaged. Whether remediation is covered, and to what extent, depends on the policy language, testing, and documented migration. A public adjuster can document affected areas beyond the visible burn origin.
Service Areas
Serving metro Atlanta and all of Georgia
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