With more than 8,600 fires burning across millions of acres, 2020 has been a record-breaking year for California wildfires. If you have suffered injuries or property damage related to 2020 California wildfire damage, including the SCU Lightning Complex Fire, you may be entitled to compensation for fire-related costs.
Did You Experience Injuries or Property Damage From the SCU Lightning Complex Fire?
The Santa Clara Unit Lightning Complex fires, or SCU fires, burned in Northern California in August and September 2020. The wildfires, which began on Aug. 18. and were not contained until October 1, impacted nearly 400,000 acres in multiple counties — Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus.
According to Cal Fire, the state’s forestry and fire department, some 250 structures were damaged or destroyed, including many homes and commercial buildings. At least six people suffered physical injuries, including both firefighters and civilians. No deaths have yet been reported.
What Caused the SCU Lightning Complex Fire?
Heat and drought in California make the state vulnerable to wildfires. Stray sparks from degrading electrical equipment, abandoned cigarette butts, campfires, or thunderstorms may also spark fires. The SCU Lightning Complex Fire initially began as 20 separate wildfires sparked by lightning strikes on Aug. 16. Two days later, the individual fires combined to form the complex fire. In addition to destroying more than 220 structures, the fire also engulfed the surrounding areas in thick smoke, resulting in mass evacuations. The SCU Lightning Complex Fire is the third-largest wildfire in California history, surpassed only by the 2018 Mendocino Complex Fire and the 2020 August Complex Fire.
Can You Purchase Insurance for Fire Damaged Property?
Despite having fire insurance, it may be difficult for those affected by California wildfires to ensure they are receiving all of the compensation to which they are entitled. Even if you already received a payout from your insurance company, speaking with a qualified attorney may be helpful in ensuring that you have received a fair settlement.
Many types of property damage qualify for insurance payouts after fires. In addition to damage to homes, businesses, garages, sheds, or outbuildings, property owners may also be entitled to reimbursement for damage to fences or landscaping. Since fires can cause soil erosion, which can in turn damage yards, fields, or farmland, landowners may also be entitled to compensation for this type of damage. Many Californians live on ranches or other types of farms, making insurance for soil erosion and fence damage an important consideration.
Due to the uptick in California wildfires, many insurers are leaving the state or increasing premiums. According to the California Department of Insurance, nonrenewals or policy cancellations by insurers increased by more than 30% in 2019, according to Fox Business. In areas of the state where wildfires are more likely, the rate of nonrenewalswas twice as high.
As California wildfires began to grow in 2017 and 2018, insurance companies were responsible for paying out tens of billions of dollars. Now California homeowners claim that it’s hard to find affordable insurance or any insurance at all. “In a blink, my insurance went from $1,500 per year to over $4,800, more than triple what I was paying previously,” a resident told CBS News.
California homeowners who cannot find an insurer willing to cover their home or property may be forced to purchase coverage through the state’s Fair Plan, last resort insurance offered to residents who can’t find insurance through another carrier. Rates for Fair Plan insurance policies may be double or even triple the cost of coverage from other insurers.
How Can You File a Fire Damage Claim?
Even if you have already submitted a fire damage claim to your insurance company, you may be eligible to speak with a qualified attorney partnered with Top Class Actions to determine whether you are entitled to additional compensation. In other cases of California wildfire property damage, corporations have been found responsible for unintentionally igniting the blazes, and victims of wildfire damage may be entitled to additional money in these cases.
Join a Free California Wildfire Property Damage Lawsuit Investigation
If you experienced property damage or tree damage during the California wildfire 2020 season, your insurance company should cover your losses.
If you believe your insurer underpaid you for your losses, or if you were underinsured, it is not too late to fight for the compensation you deserve.
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