Palisades Wildfire Insurance Lawyer
INSURANCE LAWYER FOR PALISADES/PASADENA/LOS ANGELES FIRE SURVIVORS
The fires in Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and Los Angeles are having a devasting impact on homeowners, local businesses, condominiums, apartment buildings, and time-share properties. Fire insurance, property insurance, and business interruption insurance is designed to provide coverage for the substantial losses suffered in connection with these fires. However, securing payment from insurance companies for these losses is not always simple. Often it can take a dedicated Palisades Wildfire Insurance Lawyer to recover the full value of these losses from an insurance company following a denial of insurance benefits or an unreasonably delay in the payment of those benefits.
Fires can turn homes, condominiums, apartment buildings, time-share properties, and businesses into ashes in a matter of minutes. Most victims are happy to escape with their lives. They trust that their fire insurance or property insurance will help them rebuild and start over. Sadly, however, many fire survivors are victimized by their own insurance companies that
refuse to pay the full value of their insurance policies. Other insurance companies will delay payment of benefits, forcing survivors to delay rebuilding their property. Our Palisades Wildfire Insurance Lawyer specializes in helping obtain full benefits from insurance companies.
Experienced Wildfire Insurance Attorneys Serving Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Palisades
Furthermore, many of the condominiums, apartment buildings, time-share properties, and businesses that have suffered damage from the Palisades, Pasadena, and Los Angeles area fires have business interruption insurance, sometimes called business income insurance. This insurance is particularly important to help a business weather difficult times. Businesses that have been unable to continue operations as a result of the fires stand to lose millions in income and lost profits. The businesses’ bills, expenses, and payroll do not stop, even if that business’s revenue does. We can help ensure that your business interruption insurance provides a safety net for losses in revenue or income as a result of the Palisades, Pasadena, and Los Angeles area fires.
Insurance companies often attempt to minimize the losses suffered from fires in order to deny the payment of benefits. Even if an insurance company does not deny benefits outright, they will often force the policyholder to undergo a complicated and unnecessary claim process that results in long delays in the payment of policy benefits. Those delays can ruin a business. Do not let that happen to your business. If your resort, condominium, apartment. building, time-share property, homeowners association, or business has suffered a loss in connection with the Palisades, Pasadena, and Los Angeles area fires, you need to take action to ensure that your insurance claims are timely paid and are paid in full. Our Palisades Wildfire Insurance Lawyer can help.
Contact Our Palisades Wildfire Insurance Lawyer Today
The lawyers at Pillsbury & Coleman LLP specialize in securing insurance benefits for the survivors of fires like the Palisades, Pasadena, and Los Angeles area fires. Pillsbury & Coleman LLP represents policyholders throughout California and has recovered over $1 billion for its clients. Pillsbury & Coleman has decades of experience in insurance coverage law.
To discuss your insurance claim in connection with the Palisades, Pasadena, and Los Angeles area fires, please call our office at (415) 433-8000 or visit our website at www.pillsburycoleman.com.
Insurance Tips For Palisades/Pasadena/Los Angeles Fire Victims
- Contact your insurance company or broker immediately and report your loss.
- Obtain a current copy of your policy if you don’t have one.
- Start documenting your loss as thoroughly as you can: prepare descriptions; contact credit card companies and retailers; and collect any photos or videos of your home or possessions.
- Keep detailed notes of all conversations with insurance company representatives: write down names, dates, phone numbers, job titles, and a summary of the conversation.
- Do not start repairs or rebuilding without first getting instructions from your insurance company.
- Develop a “Scope of Loss” along with your insurance company.
- Get an independent estimate of the cost of replacing or repairing your home.
- Make sure any contractor you contact for a bid is licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
- Keep all receipts for your additional living expenses.
- Confirm all agreements in writing.
- Do not give recorded or sworn statements about your property or coverage until you understand your rights.
- Do not sign any releases or waivers without knowing your rights.
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR PALISADES/PASADENA/LOS ANGELES FIRE VICTIMS
We can’t find our policy, or it was lost in the fire. What can we do?
Answer: Don’t worry, if you purchased your policy through a broker, contact your broker for a copy of your policy.
If you purchased it directly from an insurance company, contact them for a copy of your policy.
Once you have done this, you will be put in touch with a Catastrophic Adjustor who will work with you on your claim.
Start documenting your claim losses as thoroughly as you can.
Get in the habit of taking notes of who you talk to and when.
We have a copy of our policy but aren’t sure what the limits are. How do we find out?
Answer: These coverages are usually set out on the Declarations Page of your policy.
Typical Homeowner’s policy will have the following coverages:
- Dwelling Coverage
- Other Structures (typically detached garage); usually insured for up to 10% of the Dwelling Limits
- Contents (Personal Property); usually insured for up to 70% of the Dwelling Limits
- Additional Living Expenses; usually cover a period of 12 months but could be limited to 10% of the Dwelling Limits
We are worried that the insurance won’t be enough to rebuild. What then?
Answer: Potential underinsurance is a difficult problem frequently encountered by wildfire victims. It is important to first understand the limits that do apply. This can only be done by obtaining a complete copy of your policy, with all endorsements and riders. If you do not have a complete one, ask your broker or agent for a copy. It will take some months to figure out how much it will cost to rebuild. The insurance company may bring in contractors from outside the area to estimate the cost of rebuilding your home. You should also bring in your own contractor and get a bid.
We need to find emergency shelter and need meals and transportation. How are these covered, if at all?
Answer: These expenses should be covered under the section of your policy called “Additional Living Expenses.” You most likely will be able to get cash advances to pay your expenses.
If you don’t have a place to stay, you may have to get rental housing. All this is generally covered by your policy.
Possible items covered under “Additional Living Expenses”:
- Food costs
- Housing Costs
- Furniture Rental
- Relocation and Storage Costs
- Transportation Costs
Keep all receipts.
The most important thing is to get your family taken care of right away. Keep track of your expenses and submit them to your insurance company.
Are there any exclusions or conditions in the policy we need to be concerned about?
Answer: Generally no. We don’t anticipate that there will be any exclusions or conditions that you will have to worry about. However, it is important for you to communicate with your insurance company and keep them informed about your loss.
My neighbor tells me we may have to upgrade our home when it is rebuilt. If this is necessary, is this covered?
Answer: Many policies will provide coverage for code upgrades. Find out if your policy has that. Some insurance companies will pay for that anyway even if it is not covered by the policy.
Our home was entirely destroyed in the fire. How can we ensure that it will be rebuilt for the amount the insurance company wants to pay us?
Answer: It will take some months to figure out how much it will cost to rebuild. The insurance company may bring in contractors from outside the area to estimate the cost of rebuilding your home. You should also bring in your own contractor and get a bid.
It is important to develop a written “Scope of Loss” (a detailed breakdown of all the items and services necessary to rebuild or repair your house) so everyone is on the same page as to exactly what damage is to be repaired/rebuilt. Ideally, you should get the same quality that you had.
There may be some Loss Adjustment that takes place between you and the insurance company. We can help you with that process when the time comes.
We lost a lot of our contents, or they were smoke-damaged and unusable. Can we replace them? Will this be covered?
Answer: Destroyed or smoke-damaged items are covered under the Replacement Coverage section of the policy. Most policies have this coverage.
If you elect not to replace these items, the insurance company most likely will give you their depreciated value, but that may only be 30% of their value.
You may not receive a check for replacement costs for at least 180 days.
Our cars were destroyed in the fire. How are these covered?
Answer: Your auto is covered by your auto policy. The contents of your auto are typically covered by your Homeowner’s policy.
Are there time limits in the policy we need to be concerned with?
Answer: As long as you notify your insurance company about your loss and keep good records during the process of determining your loss, you shouldn’t have a problem with time limits.
What if the insurance company doesn’t promptly respond to our claim? Do we have any recourse?
Answer: Yes, you do. The California Department of Insurance has issued laws stating that insurance companies have to respond within a reasonable time-typically 15 days. If the insurance company does not respond, call the Dept of Insurance or an attorney to help you. 1-800-927-HELP (4357)
Can we have money advanced by the insurance company to pay for our immediate needs? What will they typically advance?
Answer: Every insurance company is different. All will generally advance money to rent a hotel room and to buy clothes. You can expect an advance of around $1,000. If you ask for more than that, be prepared to explain why you need more and be prepared to negotiate.
When it comes time for rebuilding, who will help us? Do we have to rely entirely on the insurance company?
Answer: You don’t have to rely solely on the insurance company. You can call in a general contractor of your own. Sometimes it is hard to find one, especially in a disaster of this size since they are so busy with other requests for help.
Get written estimates.