How To File an Insurance Claim After a California Wildfire

Wildfires are causing serious damage in Southern California, and Maison Law is here to help. Our California wildfire injury lawyers have handled many fire-related claims and can guide you through the insurance process. Not everyone will need a lawyer, but this page will explain how you can file an insurance claim and get financial support for your losses.

If you think you need legal support, fill out the form below for a free consultation. We’re here to make things easier for you.

How Can Maison Law Help With an Insurance Claim After  Wildfire Damage in California?

You don’t technically need a lawyer to file an insurance claim if you’ve suffered wildfire damage in California, but there are typically two problems that come up when you try to file your claim:

• Insurance company process – Having an independent adjuster or lawyer will likely find more damages than your insurance company’s adjuster. With our expert adjuster and our experience handling California wildfire claims, we consistently uncover overlooked losses, helping our clients get significantly higher payouts.
  
  
• Third-party liability – If a third party, like an electric company, is responsible for the fire, you’ll need our lawyers to help you join a mass tort action and hold them accountable.
  
  

While we hope your claim goes smoothly, our experience shows that legal support can make a big difference for wildfire victims. Here’s how we can help:

• Identifying all the damage you can claim
• Figuring out how much your losses and repairs will cost
• Determining who is responsible for the wildfire
• Holding insurance companies and others accountable
• Challenging claims that get denied
  
  

Wildfires are incredibly hard to deal with even before you get to the insurance process. While insurance can help, we’re here to make sure you get the financial support you need to start rebuilding your life.

How Do You File an Insurance Claim For Wildfire Damage?

When you live in California, a wildfire probably isn’t the first natural disaster you think of, but the reality is that incidents like the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire have become more and more common in recent years. Nobody wants to go through a situation where your home, business, family, and belongings are threatened, but this is exactly what happens in a wildfire situation.

That’s the main purpose of your insurance coverage, but to get a settlement offer, you’re going to have to file a claim. It’s relatively simple to file your claim, but it’s important to look at the overall process and how it works:

• Filing your claim – The process starts with actually filing your claim. Every company has its own procedure for doing this, but it generally involves you contacting your insurer and then telling them what happened. You typically do this yourself through your insurance company’s app or by contacting your agent.
  
  
• Investigation – Once your claim is filed, the insurance company sends an adjuster to inspect the damage. The adjuster will assess damage to your home, property, and anything affected by the fire, smoke, or water from firefighting efforts. They will probably ask for documentation to back up your claim, like receipts or proof of ownership to better understand your losses.
  
  
• Claim evaluation – The insurance company reviews the adjuster’s report and looks at your policy to see if the damage is covered. They will calculate how much you can be reimbursed, taking into account things like your deductible, the value of your property, and the cost of repairs or replacements.
  
  
• Claim decision – After evaluating your claim, the insurance company will decide whether to approve, deny, or partially approve it. If your claim is denied or not fully covered, you have the option to appeal or challenge the decision with the help of our team.
  
  
• Settlement offer – If your claim is approved, the insurance company will offer a settlement to cover your losses.
  
  

Filing your insurance claim is just the first step in the process, but it’s incredibly important. It’s where you tell your insurance company what happened. Obviously, a wildfire is a pretty traumatic and dangerous event, but it’s still important to take certain steps to strengthen your claim.

What Can You Do to Strengthen Your Insurance Claim?

Going through the insurance claims process after wildfire damage can be tricky, especially with the possibility of your claim being denied or undervalued. However, by following these steps, you can strengthen your claim and protect your interests:

• Report the damage – Let your insurance company know about the damage as soon as you can. Many policies have strict deadlines, and reporting right away shows you’re handling the situation responsibly. This helps prevent any delays or issues with your claim.
  
  
• Document everything – It’s all about documentation, so take clear pictures and videos of the damage from different angles. Keep all repair estimates, receipts, and any communications with contractors. The more evidence you have, the harder it will be for the insurance company to deny or undervalue your claim.
  
  
• Know your policy – The better you understand your insurance policy, the easier it will be to avoid surprises. If you’re unsure about what’s covered, ask your insurance agent or a lawyer to explain it so you don’t end up filing for something that’s not included.
  
  
• Be honest and accurate – When filing your claim, make sure all the information you provide is correct. Double-check details like dates and descriptions to avoid mistakes that could delay or cause your claim to be denied.
  
  
• Keep track of communications – Keep a record of all your interactions with your insurance company, including calls, emails, and meetings. Save letters or emails they send you. This helps build a paper trail to support your claim.
  
  

When you suffer damage from a wildfire, it can be difficult to even take measure of what you’ve lost or are going to lose. Your top priority should always be your health and safety, so follow evacuation orders and don’t go back to your property or business until it’s safe. By taking these steps, you can form a strong foundation for your claim.

What Do You Get in an Insurance Claim For a Wildfire?

No one wants to face property damage, whether it’s to a home or business, especially after a wildfire. However, having an insurance policy can provide crucial financial help–called damages–when you file your claim. While every situation is different, you can potentially recover things like:

• Property damage – This is the main piece of support, covering repairs or rebuilding for your home, businesses, and things like sheds or fences. It might also include replacement or repair of personal items (furniture, appliances, clothing) and may cover landscaping (trees and shrubs).
  
  
• Additional Living Expenses (ALE) – This pays for temporary housing, meals, laundry, and extra transportation if your home is uninhabitable during repairs.
  
  
• Loss of use of property – This covers costs relating to not being able to live in or use your property. This can also include lost income if the property was a rental.
  
  
• Debris removal – This covers clearing ash, debris, and hazardous materials left behind by the wildfire.
  
  
• Water damage – This pays for damage caused by firefighting efforts, such as water-soaked walls, floors, ceilings, or personal belongings.
  
  
• Smoke or soot damage – Similarly, this covers cleaning or replacing items like carpets, furniture, and HVAC systems damaged by smoke or soot.
  
  
• Emergency repairs – This provides financial support for urgent fixes, like tarping roofs, boarding windows, or stabilizing structures to prevent further damage.
  
  

Each of these benefits helps ease the financial and emotional toll of wildfire recovery, and that’s really the main purpose of having insurance in the first place. But wildfire damage can go well beyond property damage. Our team will be there to support you throughout the whole process and get you a settlement or take further action to make sure all of your losses are taken care of.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my insurance company deny my wildfire damage claim?

Unfortunately, yes. Your policy might have exceptions or the adjuster can simply say you haven’t provided enough evidence for your claim. What’s more likely to happen, though, is that they only partially approve it, and you’ll have to negotiate for a higher settlement. We can help you with this.

Can I file a claim while the wildfires are still ongoing?

Yes. You can file an insurance claim at any point (so long as you meet your policy’s deadlines, which is typically two years from the date of the loss.)

What if a third-party is responsible for my wildfire damage?

If a utility company (like your power or water company) didn’t do what they were supposed to do and it contributed to the damage from the fire, you can also file a claim with their insurance company or file a lawsuit against them. Our team can guide you on the best steps there.

Get Help with Your California Wildfire Insurance Claim

If you’ve suffered losses due to a California wildfire, Maison Law is here to help you through the insurance claim process. Dealing with insurance companies can be challenging, especially when trying to get the full value of your claim while also rebuilding your life. Our team will stand up for your rights to make sure your settlement covers your losses. Contact us today for a free consultation to understand your claim’s true worth and learn how we can help you.