If your life gets turned upside-down by a wildfire, there are key steps you can take to protect your ability to recover financial compensation for your losses. One of these is to collect the right evidence to strengthen your insurance claim or legal action. Do your best to collect the following types of evidence for the strongest possible case with your California wildfire attorney.
Documentation of Your Assets
To process your claim and assess your damages accurately, an insurance company needs detailed information about your physical property and personal belongings prior to the fire. Compile a complete description of your damaged property, including:
- Total acreage
- Proof of building or home ownership
- The number of structures on your property (e.g., garages, sheds, barns, etc.)
- The square footage of each structure
- The number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- The number of stories
- Assessor parcel number (APN) of your property
- An inventory of your damaged or destroyed items (with descriptions, purchase dates and estimated values)
You can make an educated guess regarding square footage or hire a professional to survey your land. Knowing your acreage is especially important if your property exceeds 20 acres in size.
Evidence of Property Damage
Next, you will need to show how significantly your property was damaged by the fire. You can do this using photographic and video evidence, as well as records proving the monetary value of your losses. You can acquire these by getting professional appraisals and collecting receipts or proof of your purchases. Act as soon as possible to collect evidence of your physical damage, as proof may disappear or change over time. If your home or building has been only partially damaged, do what you can to mitigate further damage from occurring. Cover broken windows, for example, to prevent any additional water damage.
Evidence of Personal Injury
If you suffered physical injuries because of a wildfire, collect evidence documenting your injuries and recovery journey. This can include your medical and hospital records, treatment plans, health care bills, therapy or counseling records, photos of your injuries, an injury journal or diary, and an impact statement expressing how the wildfire affected you and your family. Building your personal injury case with this evidence can have a significant impact on the value of your claim.
Records of Evacuation Costs
As a wildfire evacuee, you may have incurred many expenses related to leaving your land, evacuating the city, and staying someplace else until you could safely return or rebuild what was lost. Keep evidence documenting all of these evacuation costs, including your meals, gas, clothing, replacement belongings, and hotel stays or alternative housing.
Proof of Lost Wages
Wildfires can have a substantial economic impact, not only from the destruction caused but due to lost income. Keep evidence that documents any wage losses, such as previous paystubs, emails or documents from your employer, and employment records. If you own a business that was interrupted by the wildfire, document your lost revenue and any inventory or property damage.
Contact a Wildfire Attorney
You have already been through a lot as a wildfire victim in California. Rather than taking on the insurance claims process alone – and risk receiving less compensation than you deserve – hire an experienced wildfire attorney to represent your rights and best interests. Victims of the LA fires can reach out to our Eaton Fire attorneys and Palisades fire lawyers to build their case. Your lawyer will fight for maximum financial compensation from an insurance provider for your wildfire claim, allowing you to focus on healing, picking up the pieces and rebuilding your life. For a free initial case review with a California wildfire lawyer, contact Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian.