Frequently Asked Questions

1.     I’ve suffered damages from the fire. What can I recover?

 

When someone is affected by a fire, there are many types of heat, soot & ash, and contamination damage to property, including to: 

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• Real Property Damage

  • Homes and other structures

  • Landscape and hardscape

  • Damages to crops

 

• Personal Property Damage

  • Contents of the home or business (whether property is rented or owned)

  • Contents of outbuilding

  • Vehicles or commercial equipment

 

• Evacuation and Alternative Living Expenses

  • Hotel/food/gas during evacuation

  • Rent and additional costs for temporary living

 

• Lost Income

  • Personal income (including loss of sick and vacation days)

  • Business income

 

• Personal Injury

  • Bodily injury

  • Respiratory injury

  • Stress-related physical occurrences (stroke, heart attack, etc.)

  • Exacerbation of illness (asthma, COPD, etc.)

 

• Emotional Damages

  • Fear for safety of yourself and others

  • Mental anguish, inconvenience, disturbance and annoyance over the lost home and/or personal property

  • Loss of cherished possessions

 

• Wrongful Death

 

2.     I have insurance.  Do I still need a lawyer?

 

Insurance does not cover all losses for three main reasons: 

• Most people are under insured.

• Property items are depreciated by the insurance company, so that the payout will not replace the lost items.

• Many categories of damages are outside the purview of insurance coverage  (like emotional damages, lost income, and damaged/destroyed landscaping and trees).

 

We have successfully fought to recover money for insured clients to compensate them for uninsured losses, including damages related to the stress and inconvenience caused by the fire and being displaced.

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3.     What if I do not have insurance?

 

We have helped many clients, both homeowners and renters, who did not have insurance at the time of the fire. If the fire was caused by a utility company's equipment, or by someone’s negligent, careless, or deliberate behavior, then you are entitled to compensation whether or not you had insurance.  

 

4.     I do not like the idea of lawsuits/I am not a litigious person.  Why do I need an attorney?

 

Right now, and for the next few months, you will be dealing with all kinds of issues that are not directly related to a lawsuit. For example, handling your insurance coverage, registering with government entities, and dealing with the County for cleanup and permitting. Our group of experienced fire attorneys will help you navigate through these issues. You will always have access to someone who can answer your questions and offer assistance. 

 

We DO NOT take a percentage of your recovery from insurance.

 

We will help you with your insurance claims without taking any portion of your insurance recovery.

 

To receive maximum compensation for your losses, you will need an attorney to help navigate the litigation process. Unfortunately, corporations have nearly unlimited resources and fight hard to minimize payouts to anyone who suffers fire losses. We hire experts in electrical engineering, metallurgy, fire investigation, tree valuation, erosion, home building, and other areas to establish liability and prove your damages.

 

5.     How are the attorneys paid?

 

You do not have to pay anything to hire us. There is no financial obligation to us. We work on contingency, meaning you do not pay anything unless we recover money for you. Further, we advance all costs ourselves. We will never ask you to pay money out-of-pocket to us.

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6.     Will the lawsuit be a class action?

 

No. Every case is different and one of our experienced fire attorneys will help you file an individual lawsuit based on the unique facts and individualized damages you suffered.

 

7.     What if I rented my house?

 

Renters who suffer damage to their possessions in a fire typically have significant personal property losses. It is costly to clean or replace furniture, cookware, clothing, and other items that we tend to collect over a lifetime. Renters also have intangible damages related to the stress and anguish caused by the fire and its aftermath.

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