Southern California residents are highly susceptible to wildfires. In an instant, everything they have worked for can be gone. Even worse, they may suffer serious injuries or lose loved ones.
Many wildfires are preventable incidents that occur when people, companies, or government agencies act negligently or fail to respond appropriately to threats. At Belal Hamideh Law, P.C., we help individuals seek the compensation they deserve after they were injured due to the negligence of others. An experienced personal injury attorney can help determine all at-fault parties, establish liability, and fight for fair compensation. Contact us for a free case review.
How Can a Wildfire Lawyer Help?
Wildfires are devastating. They can lead to the loss of loved ones, severe injuries, and financial losses. Our wildfire lawyers can help with all aspects of your case, including:
- Identification of at-fault parties: Our experienced personal injury attorneys can thoroughly investigate your case to determine where the fire originated and who is responsible for it. We can identify the legal arguments to hold government agencies, businesses, and private parties responsible for the devastating injuries they cause.
- Evidence gathering: Our investigative team can gather mic da
- Damage assessment: A skilled personal injury attorney can help determine the damages you can include in your wildfire accident claim, including short- and long-term
- Claims handling: Our wildfire recovery attorneys can manage conversations with insurance companies. We can review your insurance policy for coverage and file appeals if your claim is wrongfully denied. We can even manage bad-faith insurance claims if your insurance company crossed the line in how it managed your claim.
- Settlement negotiations: You could recover compensation for the painful effects and
- Litigation management: If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, our California wildfire litigation attorneys can file a formal lawsuit to demand the compensation you deserve.
You have already lost so much. You should not have to go through the process of dealing with a complex legal claim on your own. Contact us today for a free consultation to explore your legal options.
Common Causes of Wildfires
Wildfires can be caused by various reasons. A small mistake can lead to a devastating mile that affects hundreds or even thousands of people. Common causes of wildfires include:
- Faulty power lines
- Unsafe fire-making behaviors
- Discarded cigarettes
- Unattended campfires
- Corporate error or malfeasance
- Slow response time
- Arson
- Trash fires that get out of control
- Defective products
- Poorly maintained vehicles
- Misused equipment
- Improper or illegal use of fireworks
- Failure to clear brush and other vegetation
- Failure to abide by other rules and regulations
A skilled wildfire lawyer can identify all at-fault parties that contributed to the accident, which may include
- Electric companies
- Utility companies
- Businesses
- Government agencies
- Private individuals
If you were injured in a wildfire caused by someone else’s negligence or misconduct, we can help manage your insurance claim.
Common Wildfire Injuries
Due to the intense heat, falling structures, and involvement of electrical lines, wildfires can cause catastrophic injuries, including:
- Head injuries and brain trauma: Collapsing roofs and flying debris can cause traumatic brain injuries. These severe injuries can lead to the loss of mobility, cognitive decline, and personality changes.
- Spinal cord injuries: If beams or other structures fall on victims, they can suffer from debilitating spinal cord injuries that compromise their mobility. Wildfire victims may suffer fractured vertebrae, paralysis, herniated discs, or other spinal damage.
- Broken bones: The force of the impact of falling structures can cause victims to suffer broken limbs, cracked ribs, or shattered hips.
- Soft tissue injuries: Wildfires and evacuation efforts can result in sprains, strains, and torn ligaments and tendons.
- Smoke inhalation: Inhaling smoke can cause victims to suffer serious lung and respiratory conditions that can lead to long-term consequences.
- Lacerations: Glass from windows can break, and metal debris can become projectile weapons. These hazards can cause deep cuts and lacerations, possibly resulting in disfiguring injuries and the need for reconstructive surgeries.
- Amputations: Limbs and other body parts may get stuck or severed after dwellings and other structures collapse, leading to traumatic amputations.
- Severe burns: Wildfires can lead to severe burns caused by the fire, harmful chemicals, and electrocution. These burns can cause significant pain and nerve damage, possibly necessitating skin grafts and plastic surgery.
- PTSD: Living through or losing a loved one can result in significant psychological trauma, often causing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other psychological challenges.
If you or a loved one suffered any of the above injuries, seek medical attention immediately. Then, contact an experienced wildfire injury lawyer for help.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Wildfire Case?
Negligence-based cases allow victims to recover compensation for the various losses they experience from the at-fault party, which may include:
- Medical treatment and ongoing care: You can seek compensation to pay medical bills you’ve already incurred due to the incident, including ambulance rides, emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, doctor’s visits, rehabilitation, and therapy. You can also seek compensation for ongoing medical care and future medical expenses.
- Lost wages: You can recover income you lost if you missed work or were unable to perform your job duties. This includes lost hourly pay and salaries, tips, commissions, bonuses, used employment benefits, and other forms of lost income.
- Reduced earning capacity: If you suffered permanent disabilities or impairments that interfere with your ability to work, you can recover compensation for your lost earning capacity.
- Property loss: You could recover compensation for your damaged home, vehicle, and personal property beyond what your insurance provider pays for. Many fire victims discover that they are underinsured, but they may be able to receive compensation for code upgrades, uncovered structures, and underinsured losses by filing a personal injury claim.
- Business losses: If your business was burned down or suffered other damage in the fire, you may be able to pursue compensation for your lost business revenue and business interruption losses.
- Agricultural crop damage and destruction: Wildfires can extend over hundreds of miles. California is one of the country’s largest agricultural providers, so these fires stand to cause the destruction and damage to agricultural crops. If you depend on these crops for your living, this loss can be devastating to you, your business, and your family. You can seek compensation for these losses.
- Destruction of native trees and vegetation: Wildfires can also cause considerable damage to native trees and vegetation. Trees can take years to fully mature. Wildfires can cause significant damage to the natural environment, including soil erosion, flooding, landslides, and mudslides. Insurance companies will seldom offer fair compensation for the loss of trees, vegetation, and residential landscaping, so it’s essential to have an experienced lawyer who can accurately determine their value.
- Evacuation and extra living expenses: After a wildfire, you may need to leave your home for some time before you can return. The residual smoke and soot can pose additional health concerns. You can demand compensation for the extra costs you incurred due to hotel costs, temporary rental expenses, transportation expenses, and pet boarding fees.
- Pain and suffering: In addition to economic damages, you can recover compensation for your physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish. You can also pursue compensation for your PTSD, psychological trauma, depression, and anxiety.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Wildfires can cause significant lifestyle changes, requiring you to refrain from enjoying your favorite activities and adversely affecting your relationships with loved ones. Our personal injury lawyers can help you seek compensation for the negative impacts on your life.
- Scarring and disfigurement: You could recover compensation for the painful effects and damage to your self-esteem caused by scarring and disfigurement.
Our personal injury attorneys know how to carefully assemble legal claims and pursue maximum compensation for them.
How to Prove Fault in a Wildfire Case
Recovering fair compensation after a wildfire often relies on presenting clear evidence of liability. Our legal team can help assemble your claim by gathering and preserving evidence, such as:
- Police reports: Reports from local police departments and other law enforcement agencies can reveal if there was any criminal or negligent behavior that contributed to the accident.
- Witness statements: Eyewitnesses may have seen the defendants acting negligently in starting the fire. Obtaining their statements can go a long way in proving liability in your case.
- Photos and video footage: These incidents are often widely publicized, so you may be able to obtain footage from surveillance cameras, bystanders, or news outlets that can help illustrate how the accident occurred and how the fire spread. You may also have photos of your property before and after the fire that can help show the damage.
- Medical records: Your medical records may show your injuries or that you breathed in smoke while trying to escape the vicinity. Your hospital bills, doctor’s notes, and therapy reports can show how the fire impacted your health. A detailed description of follow-up care can help demonstrate the seriousness of your injuries.
- Expert testimony: Expert witnesses may be necessary to establish how the fire started and where it originated. Medical professionals can testify as to the severity of your injuries. Economic experts can establish the long-term effects of the injuries on you and your family.
Let our dedicated legal team assemble the strong evidence you need to prove your claim.
What Is the Deadline to File a Personal Injury Claim After a Wildfire?
The deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit depends on the type of case you are filing and against whom. In general, negligence-based lawsuits must be filed within two years of the incident. Under California law, you must file a lawsuit against public agencies or employees within six months. For insurance claims, the terms of your particular policy dictate the deadline.
Contact Our California Wildfire Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a California wildfire, do not hesitate to reach out for legal assistance. An experienced California wildfire lawyer from Belal Hamideh Law, P.C. can review your situation and legal options during a free, no-obligation consultation. Contact us today to learn more.