The Lidia Fire is currently causing serious damage across over 340 acres in Los Angeles County, and Maison Law is here to help. We’ve successfully handled many fire-related claims in the area and are ready to support victims affected by this disaster. This includes securing support for smoke, soot, and ash damage that insurers like to deny coverage on.
Not everyone impacted by the fire will need a lawyer, but if you’re unsure, this page explains when we can help, how we assist, the types of claims that qualify, and what steps to take next.
If you think you might need legal assistance, fill out the form at the bottom of the page, and we’ll offer a free consultation.
What’s the First Step After a Wildfire?
Contact an attorney.
After a wildfire you “shouldn’t” need a lawyer to file a claim and gain wildfire support, however, there are 2 problems that often arise.
- Your attorney or public independent adjuster is almost definitely going to arrive at a different number than your insurance company’s adjuster. We know this as we’ve handled many California wildfire claims before. Our expert adjuster always finds things left out and overlooked. Historically, we help people obtain substantially more money for their claim than they receive without us.
- It is very likely a third party, such as an electric company, will be held liable for these fires. You need an attorney immediately to file a mass tort action (many victims filing a single lawsuit) against the third party who is responsible for the fires.
These are two completely different issues. We’d like to think a claim would go through with no problems and you do not need an attorney. However, that just has not been our experience helping our wildfire clients.
How Maison Law Helps Victims of the Lidia Fire
The Lidia Fire is a frightening event, threatening your home, property, and safety. If you’ve suffered burn injuries, property damage, or other losses, you may need to file a claim with your insurance company to get financial support that aids in your recovery.
Filing these claims correctly can be overwhelming, especially if you’re dealing with multiple issues at once. That’s where Maison Law’s team of Wildfire & Utility Claim Lawyers can help. Here’s how:
- Identifying all the damages you can claim
- Calculating the value of what’s been lost and the cost to replace it
- Determining who is financially responsible for the wildfire
- Holding all responsible parties accountable, including insurance companies, utility companies, and third parties
- Appealing denied wildfire claims
- Filing lawsuits if insurers refuse to take responsibility
- Demanding a higher settlement if an offer doesn’t fully cover your losses
- Getting you more financial support than you could potentially get on your own
In many wildfires, multiple parties could be responsible, but it’s difficult to even gauge the damage since the fire is ongoing. Our lawyers will make sure you have everything you need to file a strong claim and get the financial support you need to recover.
Should I Receive Insurance Money to Cover Smoke Damage from a Wildfire?
Yes. Insurance companies like to limit the support wildfire victims receive to clean up and fix smoke, ash, and soot damage.
Maison Law helps people with Smoke and Ash damage claims. We have helped many clients receive substantially more compensation for their smoke and ash remediation claims with fires such as the Santa Clarita Fire in 2016.
We have experts we use when necessary, including an adjuster, and work to uncover damages and losses often overlooked. We work on your behalf to maximize compensation and settlements.
What Can You Do If You’re Being Impacted by the Lidia Fire?
Looking at the devastation of the Lidia Fire can leave you feeling helpless. There’s unfortunately little that can be done if the fire is in the path of your home or business, but there are a few different things you’ll need to do in the even you want to file an insurance claim if there’s any damage:
- Follow evacuation orders – No matter your situation, it’s crucial to follow all evacuation orders to ensure your safety. Avoid hazardous areas to protect yourself from further harm.
- Get medical care – If you’ve suffered burns, smoke inhalation, or other injuries, seek medical care right away. Prompt treatment will help connect your injuries to the fire and provide a record for your claim.
- Document your losses – Once it’s safe to return, assess the damage to your home or property. Take pictures, videos, and make note of anything that could support your claim.
- Keep all documentation – Save any evidence you gather, such as receipts or medical bills. Don’t make repairs or replace anything until you’ve documented it for your claim.
Even in a frightening situation like the Lidia Fire, the strength of your insurance claim depends on the evidence you can provide. Following these steps will help protect your ability to recover the compensation you need. From there, our lawyers can guide you through the claims process to make sure you’re fully supported.
Should Homeowners Insurance Cover Smoke Damage from a Wildfire?
Yes. Insurance companies like to deny wildfire victims the support they need to clean up and fix smoke, ash, and soot damage.
Maison Law helps people with Smoke and Ash damage claims. We have helped many clients receive substantially more compensation for their smoke and ash remediation claims with fires such as the Santa Clarita Fire in 2016.
We have experts we use when necessary, including an adjuster, and work to uncover damages and losses often overlooked. We work on your behalf to maximize compensation and settlements.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
It’s important to understand that not everyone that’s impacted by the Lidia Fire is going to need legal help. It might be hard to think about, but an insurance company has the right to refuse your claim, especially if it involves certain things like damage from smoke or soot. Still, there’s a few ways to figure out if you need a lawyer. If you’re facing any of the following, you should strongly consider reaching out to our team:
- Significant property damage
- An insurance company undervaluing your losses
- Serious injuries caused by the fire
- A settlement offer that doesn’t cover your needs
Insurance companies sometimes use tactics to minimize payouts. If you’re facing challenges like these, working with our wildfire lawyers may be the best way to secure the support you need. We’ll explain your options and then help you through them.
What Options Do You Have to File a Claim For Fire Damage?
It’s incredibly hard to pinpoint the overall responsibility for injuries or damage to your home from a wildfire. Sometimes, utility companies like PG&E might share some responsibility if they didn’t warn customers or adequately prepare for a fire. Ultimately, though, if you go through fire damage, you have one main option: filing an insurance claim with your policy.
After the Lidia Fire, you and your family may be able to recover financial support for the following:
- Property damage – This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your home, belongings, and other property destroyed in the fire. This can also include out-of-pocket expenses like evacuation costs.
- Medical expenses – If you were injured, you can claim costs for hospital stays, doctor visits, surgeries, medications, or long-term care.
- Lost income – If the fire or injuries caused you to miss work, you can recover lost wages. You may also claim future lost income if the fire has permanently affected your ability to work.
- Pain and suffering – This relates to costs for physical pain or discomfort from injuries like burns, breathing issues, or trauma caused by the fire.
- Emotional distress – This covers the emotional impact, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, caused by losing your home, possessions, or dealing with injuries.
- Reduced quality of life – If the fire has disrupted your daily life, hobbies, or relationships, you can get financial support for these lasting impacts.
- Wrongful death expenses – If a loved one died because of the fire, you may recover costs for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and the emotional toll.
If the Lidia Fire has impacted you, it’s still important to act quickly. You generally only have two years from the date of the loss to file a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who’s responsible for Lidia Fire damage?
Since it’s technically a natural disaster, nobody is squarely responsible for damage from the Lidia Fire. Still, utility companies, property owners, local government agencies, and others might share some responsibility if they didn’t do things they were supposed to do.
Can my insurance company deny my claim?
Unfortunately, yes. Your insurance company can deny your claim for any reason. When it comes to fire damage, they might say that you didn’t provide enough evidence, or other reasons. Our team can negotiate for you and fight to get you financial support from your insurance company.
What evidence can I use in my wildfire damage claim?
Mostly, you’ll want to focus on physical evidence like pictures, videos, and other things that actually show the damage that happened. Make sure to save this evidence, and don’t repair or replace anything until it can be documented.
Get Help from Maison Law After the Lidia Fire
If you’ve been impacted by the Lidia Fire, Maison Law is here to help. We’ll work to make sure you get fair treatment from insurance companies and hold anyone responsible for the fire accountable.
Not everyone will need a lawyer, but it’s always a good idea to know the true value of your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation to see how we can help.
