Wildfires and Natural Disasters
Natural disasters such as fires, floods and mudslides have become a regular part of life in some areas of California, which is bad news for homeowners. These disasters show no mercy and have impacted large residential areas in and around San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Napa Valley and beyond.
Dedicated to Representing Victims of Wildfires
California continues to experience devastating wildfires across the state, destroying entire communities. Kabateck LLP continues its legacy of holding responsible parties accountable for fire-related disasters — we are currently representing our community following the catastrophic Eaton Canyon Fire in a mass action against Southern California Edison. The firm has also expanded beyond California and is representing Maui wildfire victims seeking justice for the devastating Lahaina fires.
Why Filing a Lawsuit After a Wildfire Could Help You Recover More
Even with insurance, many wildfire victims find out too late that their coverage isn’t enough to fully rebuild or replace what they’ve lost. A lawsuit against a utility company responsible for the fire can help cover the true extent of your damages — beyond what insurance alone provides.
Legal action may allow you to recover compensation for things insurance doesn’t cover, such as emotional distress, personal injury, nuisance, and wrongful death.
If a utility company’s negligence caused the wildfire that damaged or destroyed your home or property, you may have the right to hold them accountable and secure the full support you need to recover.
Kabateck LLP’s Wildfire Litigation Experience
Kabateck LLP was forged in the wake of disaster, with roots tracing back to the Northridge earthquake where the firm led significant litigation against insurance carriers. The firm has established itself as a leader in wildfire litigation with a proven track record against both utility companies and insurance providers.
Kabateck LLP represented more than 2,500 homeowners who suffered damage from the 2009 Station fires, successfully litigating hundreds of cases where Farmers Insurance systematically refused to pay or severely underpaid valid claims. The firm also achieved significant settlements for victims of the 2017 Thomas and Camp Fires and the 2018 Woolsey Fire in litigation against Southern California Edison.
The firm’s dual expertise in disaster litigation and insurance bad faith allows it to pursue claims against both responsible utility companies and insurers that delay, deny, or underpay valid claims. With over $2 billion recovered for clients, Kabateck LLP has the experience and resources to hold powerful institutions accountable when their actions cause widespread harm to California communities.
Wildfire and Natural Disaster Consultation Form
Mudslides
The shocking images of destruction left in the aftermath of the deadly Montecito, CA mudslides offer a stark reminder of the damage caused by mother nature. Mudslides are dangerous because they destroy everything in their path and sometimes leave beyond several feet of sludge to dig out of, meaning having a homeowner’s policy with adequate coverage is vital. Mudslides cause almost $2 billion in damage and kill 25-50 Americans every year.
A mudslide is a mass of mud and other earthy material that falls down a hillside or slope. Most homeowner’s insurance policies exclude flood, mudslide, landslide and earthquake insurance and so supplemental insurance must be expressly purchased. Mudslide insurance can cost in the range of $1,000 per year depending upon the value of the home where the mudslides occur. Areas recently impacted, such as Montecito, may see a sharp increase in this type of insurance. It is also important to note that landslides, mudslides and mudflows are all considered different perils and each requires a different type of coverage.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes are all too common for California residents and when it occurs in densely populated areas the impact may cause a severe burden for both residential and commercial property owners as well as the entire regional economy. In light of the fact that building codes in California have steadily made structures more earthquake resistant and the number of homeowners with earthquake coverage is so low, it is time to take a renewed look at the regulatory scheme and identify methods to substantially increase coverage rates in California.
Following the 1994 Northridge earthquake, virtually all insurance companies in California stopped offering full coverage or guaranteed replacement cost coverage policies. Instead of offering replacement cost coverage after a loss, such as an earthquake or a fire, the carriers transitioned to limits based policies. Now, during the underwriting phase of buying a homeowner policy, carriers endeavor to set the value of the asset being insured and identify that value as the maximum coverage limit the insurance company will pay in the case of a total loss. Under this paradigm, if a homeowner suffers a total loss of their home they might not be put back in a position where they can rebuild their home, i.e. they are much more likely to be underinsured.
Hurricanes
Heavy waters may be defined as flood insurance, so knowing the exact specification of the disaster you have suffered will make a big difference. The National Flood Insurance Program from FIMA offers flood and mudflow coverage up to $250,000 for homeowners and $500,000 for businesses. Some homeowner’s policies may not provide adequate flood insurance and so again, supplement insurance is important.
In August and September 2004, Hurricanes Charlie and Francis hit Volusia County, Florida, leaving a trail of destroyed homes and other properties. When these hurricanes occurred, many homeowners believed their insurance coverage would provide help to rebuild and start over. Unfortunately, many insurance companies did not honor their agreements. Kabateck LLP filed multiple bad faith actions against the insurance companies, and recovered millions of dollars that these insurance companies initially refused to pay the homeowners associations, allowing homeowners to begin rebuilding their homes.
The last line of defense for most Californians is hiring an attorney once something goes terribly wrong, but it may be useful for any homeowner to contact an attorney with insurance experience to review a policy and see if they’ve purchased the proper amount of coverage.
A mass disaster tort is a civil action that involves a large group of plaintiffs who’ve suffered injuries and consolidate their cases to sue one or a few corporations in state or federal court.
KBK has many years of experience handling mass tort cases and multi-district litigation.
If you or a loved one has experienced injuries due to a disaster, a dangerous drug or a defective product, contact one of our experienced attorneys at Kabateck LLP to learn more about recovering damages and to explore your options.