The Sunset Fire was a fast-moving and destructive wildfire that affected Hollywood and Hollywood Hills residents. Residents faced a dangerous natural disaster and we want to help where we can. We have assisted many California fire victims in receiving fair treatment from homeowners insurance companies so they can begin rebuilding their lives. This includes securing support for smoke, soot, and ash damage that some insurers like to deny responsibility for.
Not everyone impacted by this fire will need an attorney. This page will cover when we can help, how we can help, if you need help, qualifying claims, and what to do next.
If you think you may need an attorney, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page and we will provide a free consultation to you.
Do I Need a Lawyer After Suffering Wildfire Property Damage?
In some cases, yes. If an insurance company refuses to provide you with enough settlement money to fully recover, you may need a lawyer. If an insurer values your damaged property far less than it’s worth, you may need legal help. A skilled California Wildfire Lawyer could help you protect your rights and demand the maximum in compensation for your damages.
The Sunset Fire burned dozens of acres across Los Angeles in January of 2025. Much of the damage was caused in areas north of Hollywood Boulevard and along Mulholland Drive. Other homes were threatened along Laurel Canyon Boulevard and in areas west of the 101. Many neighborhoods were under mandatory evacuation orders.
As homeowners and business owners return to their properties to assess the damage, they may be surprised to find how difficult some insurance companies will make it to file for support and start the rebuilding process.
How Can a Lawyer Help After a California Wildfire?
The higher the damage costs go, the harder some insurance adjusters will fight to avoid taking financial responsibility. And, unfortunately, even those who receive support won’t all receive the same level of compensation. Sometimes property owners have to fight to get a fair assessment and a fair settlement from giant insurance companies.
Our California Wildfire & Utility Claim Lawyers take action when insurers unfairly deny or reduce compensation to victims. We get aggressive against at-fault parties who are found to have caused a blaze, including utility companies whose negligence has been proven to cause wildfires in recent years.
These are just a few of the ways our lawyers can improve the outcome of your claim:
- Investigate the circumstances and those at fault
- Determine who is financially responsible for the wildfire
- Work to make sure responsible parties are held accountable (e.g., third parties, insurance companies, utility companies)
- Determine all damages eligible for compensation
- Determine the value of everything that’s been lost and the cost to replace
- Appeal wildfire claims that have been rejected
- File lawsuits if insurers refuse to accept responsibility for damages
- Demand more if you receive a settlement offer that doesn’t cover every loss
- Demand much more in compensation than you may have been able to secure by filing yourself
A skilled lawyer would handle the most frustrating parts of the claims process and work to secure the most in compensation possible for your hardships. This allows you and your family to focus on healing and rebuilding your lives.
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.
What Can I Receive Support For After a Wildfire?
Homeowners will be looking to repair or rebuild their damaged homes. Unfortunately, they may discover that insurance adjusters have valued their homes far less than the cost it would take to replace them. Business owners may be left without enough funds to reopen their doors so they can support themselves and their families.
A Sunset Fire Lawyer would be fighting to get all of these damages covered and more. A lawyer would also ensure that victims listed every hardship they’ve been through since a frightening fire evacuation. Anything left out of a wildfire claim is something insurers can ignore. These unmentioned damages become something victims would have to pay for out of pocket.
An experienced Wildfire Attorney would insist that you were fully compensated for these and other damages:
- The costs to rebuild a house, business property, and other buildings
- Repair of smoke, soot, ash, fire, and water damage
- The cost to replace yards, lawns, and landscaping
- Replacement of possessions, including cars, furniture, valuables, and keepsakes
- Compensation for the loss of property value
- Damage and losses caused by vandals and looters
- Costs incurred during evacuation
- Living expenses while without a home
- Loss of income and benefits while victims must miss work
In some cases, your guests injured in a fire would have their medical bills covered. Families who tragically lost a loved one to the fire may also be able to seek support for things like the cost of a funeral and enough to pay remaining medical bills. Close relatives should also receive help for the future if the loved one’s income had helped support the family.
Should Homeowners Insurance Cover Smoke Damage from a Wildfire?
Yes. Many 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.
Can a Utility Company Be Responsible for My Wildfire Damages?
Yes, in some cases. If the actions of a utility company such as Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), were found to be a contributing factor to the start of a blaze or the quick spread of a fire, those companies would be liable for the damages caused.
In recent years, several massive fires in Southern California have been blamed on companies that didn’t take reasonable preventative measures to reduce fire risks. Power companies and gas companies have been ordered to help victims rebuild their homes and businesses and pay for medical care for those injured in wildfires.
The investigation into the cause of the Sunset Fire continues. However, if a government agency or another business is found liable for contributing to the cause or spread of a wildfire, homeowners would have another source of support.
A Los Angeles Wildfire Lawyer can help you seek justice from these massive companies and corporations. Your lawyer can also even the odds when these companies rely on teams of lawyers to poke holes in your claim and deny you support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do to help build a strong wildfire claim after a wildfire?
Once your property is safe to visit, document the damage with pictures and video. Keep evidence of the wildfire’s destruction. Don’t throw away damaged items. Keep all documents and receipts that show the cost of finding a place to live and rebuilding your life. Keep your medical bills.
How Long Do I Have to File a Sunset Wildfire Claim?
Two Years. Victims have up to two years after a wildfire to file for damages and any injuries or loss of life. Certain funds set up for wildfire victims will be kept open longer. Check with an attorney to make sure you don’t miss deadlines.
Will I have to go to court to receive wildfire compensation?
Not usually. Most insurance claims are settled out of court. Insurance companies want to avoid the cost and bad publicity of a trial. When you have an attorney handling your case, insurers will be even more wary of the lawsuit. They often work even harder to get to meet all of your needs with a settlement.
What if I can’t afford to pay a Wildfire Lawyer?
If you decide we can help you earn more for your injuries and damages, you won’t need to have any upfront money to hire us. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money you are awarded.
Contact a Sunset Wildfire Lawyer Today
Maison Law of Los Angeles is ready to help victims make sure they receive the most support possible from homeowners insurance companies. We can also help victims file claims against utility companies if it’s discovered that negligence caused a wildfire.
Not every victim will need a lawyer’s help to get fair treatment from insurers, but it’s a good idea to find out what your claim is worth. Reach out to our lawyers for a no-risk, no-obligation free case consultation.
