Evacuating from a wildfire can be one of the most frightening and traumatic events of your life. Depending on how close the fire is to your area, you may be evacuating into dangerous conditions that can quickly escalate into accident and injury risks. If you sustain injuries during a wildfire evacuation in California, you may be able to seek financial compensation. Contact our California wildfire lawyers today.
Examples of Wildfire Evacuation Injuries
Wildfires can start and spread quickly, often with little to no warning. This can result in dangerous and chaotic evacuation conditions, especially if you are not prepared. Several injury hazards could put you at risk as you evacuate from the danger zone, such as:
- Smoke inhalation: smoke from a wildfire can cause lung damage, respiratory conditions and cardiac arrest. You may also inhale dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
- Burn injuries: fast-moving flames can encompass your yard or property in a matter of minutes. Direct contact with flames or hot surfaces can cause first-degree to third-degree burn injuries.
- Heat-related illnesses: exposure to extreme heat can lead to illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
- Car accidents: trying to flee in your vehicle could result in a car accident if you can’t see where you’re driving due to smoke or if the fire abruptly changes direction and moves into the road.
- Slip, trip and fall accidents: fleeing in a hurry can come with fall accident risks, especially if the fire has caused debris to land in walkways or there is standing water from firefighting efforts.
People who find themselves in the position of having to evacuate their homes due to a wildfire can also suffer emotional injuries. Frenzied evacuations can result in post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic anxiety, panic attacks and depression – especially if an evacuation is followed by substantial wildfire losses.
Who Is Responsible for Wildfire Evacuation Injuries?
If an investigation finds that someone negligently caused or contributed to the wildfire, this party could be held accountable for your evacuation injuries. The party at fault for causing the wildfire can be held liable for all subsequent damage to those involved, including injuries sustained during an evacuation. If a utility company failed to properly maintain its electrical equipment, for example, and this sparked a wildfire that forced you to evacuate, you could hold the company liable (financially responsible) for subsequent evacuation injuries. If dangerous conditions caused your evacuation injuries, this could lead to additional liability options. A property owner could be held responsible for blocked exits, for example, or the municipal government could be liable for failing to provide a timely warning or safe evacuation route.
What to Do if You Are Injured During a Wildfire Evacuation
If you or a loved one suffered wildfire evacuation injuries in California, you may be able to hold a property owner, business owner, employer, utility company, government agency, motor vehicle driver, product manufacturer or another party responsible. A successful insurance claim or lawsuit could lead to financial compensation for your medical costs, property repairs, and more. In this situation, the best way to protect your legal rights is by speaking directly to a wildfire litigator near you. A lawyer will work for you and only you. This means you can trust your lawyer to act in your best interests. Our wildfire litigators, including our team of Eaton Fire lawyers, have a track record of successfully recovering damages to victims of wildfires. You can seek medical attention and focus on your recovery while your attorney fights for maximum compensation on your behalf.