Wildfires are perhaps the single biggest threat to homeowners in California, causing over a billion dollars of damage annually since 1980. If your home and personal property are damaged in one of these destructive events, you can seek compensation by filing a claim with your homeowners’ insurance provider. However, you should also know that insurance companies are big businesses whose profits depend on denying any claim they can and minimizing the payouts in those they accept. As such, you’re going up against a major corporation that’s invested a lot of money into making sure you don’t get your fair share.
Instead of going up against them alone, even the playing field by hiring a California wildfire claim lawyer. They know how to navigate these complex claims and advocate for your rights, standing up to big insurance companies so you don’t have to. With a lawyer’s assistance, you stand a better chance of getting the financial support you need to repair or rebuild your home after a California wildfire.
How Common Is Wildfire Damage in California?
Wildfire risks in California have become an increasingly critical concern in recent years, posing significant threats to communities up and down the state. The following points provide a statistical overview of the wildfire damage risk in California, highlighting the extent and severity of this ongoing challenge:
- Wildfires in the Western United States, including California, tend to be larger and more destructive than in the East, where they are more common.
- In 2022, more than 20,000 wildfires burned around 5.8 million acres in the West, compared to the 48,000 fires in the East that burned just over 1.8 million acres.
- That same year, more than 2,700 structures burned in wildfires throughout the U.S., the majority in California.
- Over half of California’s wildlands, amounting to more than 25 million acres, are classified as areas with very high or extreme wildfire threats.
- California’s most destructive wildfire season on record was in 2018, with 7,571 fires burning nearly 1.7 million acres, resulting in over 23,300 damaged or destroyed structures.
- Since the 1980s, there has been a notable increase in both the size and intensity of wildfires in California. Fifteen of the 20 largest wildfires in the state’s history have occurred since 2000
- Ten of California’s most costly and destructive fires in terms of impact on life and property have occurred since 2015.
Common Types of Wildfire Damage
Wildfires in California can have a devastating impact on homes and other properties. Here are some typical forms of damage that California homeowners frequently include in their insurance claims after a wildfire:
- Structural Damage: Wildfires often cause direct damage to the structure of homes. This includes burnt roofs, walls, and foundational elements. The intense heat can also weaken the structural integrity of buildings, making them unfit for habitation.
- Smoke Damage: Smoke can permeate a home, leaving behind a persistent odor and residue. This type of damage affects walls, ceilings, and personal belongings and is difficult to clean.
- Water Damage: Firefighters using water to extinguish fires can cause significant water damage in homes. This includes damage to floors, walls, and furniture.
- Loss of Personal Property: Wildfires frequently result in the loss of personal property such as furniture, electronics, clothing, and other personal items to fire, smoke, or water.
- Landscaping and Yard Damage: The flames and heat from wildfires can destroy landscaping, gardens, outdoor structures, and other features in a yard.
- Utility Damage: Fires can damage utility systems within a home, including electrical wiring, plumbing, and HVAC systems. This damage is often expensive to repair and frequently requires extensive work.
- Secondary Damage from Exposure: Wildfire-damaged homes often sustain additional damage from exposure to the elements, such as rain or wind, especially if protective structures like roofs or walls are compromised.
What to Do If a Wildfire Damages Your Home in California
Dealing with the aftermath of a wildfire can be overwhelming. Still, it’s important to act swiftly and carefully to manage the situation effectively. Here’s what you should do:
- Before anything else, make sure you and your family are safe and accounted for.
- If necessary and practical, call 911 or local emergency services for immediate assistance.
- Adhere to evacuation orders from local authorities and do not return home until it is safe.
- Inform your homeowner’s insurance company about the damage as soon as possible.
- Take photographs or videos of all wildfire damage to your property or personal items.
- Create a detailed inventory of all damaged or destroyed property.
- Save receipts for all expenses related to the wildfire, including lodging, meals, and supplies.
- Take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage, like covering damaged windows or roofs.
- Contact an experienced California wildfire claim lawyer for legal advice.
- Ask your insurer for a complete copy of your insurance policy if you don’t have one on hand.
- Wait until an insurance adjuster has reviewed the damage before starting permanent repairs.
- Maintain a log of all communications related to your claim, including dates, names, and details.
- Review any settlement offers from your insurance company with your lawyer before accepting.
Filing a Wildfire Damage Claim in California
If you’re lucky, your insurer will honor the terms of its policy and pay you fairly once you submit your claim. More realistically, you might have to fight them to get the money you need. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare and protect your interests.
First, the insurance company will assign an adjuster to assess the damage to your property. Remember, this adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. They will inspect your property, review the damage, and estimate repair costs. However, their estimates might not reflect the true extent or expense of the damage, especially if the inspection is cursory or they’re undercounting labor or material costs.
This is where a lawyer comes in handy. A California wildfire claim lawyer understands these tactics and can prepare your claim accordingly. They can help you understand your policy’s coverage, limitations, and exclusions, which can be complex and confusing to the layperson. They can also communicate and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, ensuring that it handles your claim fairly and demanding the compensation you are due.
If Your Insurance Company Won’t Cooperate‚ Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers Will
As Californians‚ we have it rough when wildfire season rolls around. Each new year seems to be the worst yet for California residents and homeowners‚ with lives and property threatened at nearly unprecedented levels.
If you or your loved ones have been impacted by the wildfires‚ you are going through one of the most traumatic events of your lives. It’s important at a time such as this to have an advocate on your side who can help you navigate the issues you are facing and make sure that your family’s future is protected. The experienced and compassionate team at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers has a proven track record in taking on insurance companies that want to withhold the full amount that they owe.
The Worst Fire Year on Record?
According to a report from CNN‚ the fires in 2018 are officially the largest in California’s recorded history. The most prodigious blaze was the Mendocino Complex in Northern California‚ made up of two neighboring fires: the Ranch and River fires. Together‚ they burned at least 300‚000 acres. No fatalities resulted from the Mendocino Complex‚ but hundreds of homes were destroyed.
Unfortunately‚ the Carr Fire in Shasta County claimed at least seven lives. Thousands of people have been adversely affected by fires throughout the state‚ and more will be affected come next year’s fire season.
Who Can Wildfire Victims Turn to for Help?
People who have had their lives turned upside down by a wildfire believe that they have the consolation of being protected by their homeowners’ insurance. But many victims soon realize that their policies‚ especially older ones‚ won’t come close to providing the financial compensation they need to put their lives back together. In the worst cases‚ they won’t be protected at all.
Insurance companies are notorious for doing everything they can to avoid paying out large settlements. This may be a good policy for their shareholders‚ but not for the customers who trusted them. We at Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers believe that insurers have an obligation to provide full and fair financial indemnity to policyholders. That’s why we have dedicated our careers to taking on unscrupulous insurance companies.
Who Can Be Held Responsible?
Every fire is unique and has its own cause. In some cases‚ the fire may have been completely natural in origin. Others are freak accidents. But in some circumstances, wildfires are caused by someone’s negligence. For instance‚ in 2015‚ Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) was accused of starting that year’s wine country fires when a tree fell into one of their power lines. The Thomas Fire in 2017 was blamed on Southern California Edison.
It can take years to resolve who was at fault for a wildfire. In the meantime‚ victims are left trying to put the pieces back together all on their own, and some insurance companies aren’t helping. Our goal is to assess the situation and find a quick and meaningful solution that can help protect your future.
We Want to Help
Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers are actively looking at each and every one of the wildfires currently scorching California homes. Our San Diego mass tort lawyers are ready to help victims secure the compensation they are entitled to‚ so that they can concentrate on what’s really important – making sure their loved ones are safe. Call us today at (888) 233-5020 to schedule a free consultation.