Losing your business because a company’s negligent actions caused a wildfire in California leaves people feeling devastated, overwhelmed, and angry.
Wildfires caused by a company's negligence create massive amounts of destruction in a local area, devastating businesses, homes, and lives. The repercussions of such an event cause long-lasting damage to a business's viability.
Working with a dedicated disaster recovery litigation lawyer after a wildfire destroys your business will help ease the heartbreaking and infuriating burden of your situation.
A diligent California wildfire attorney will protect your rights and maximize your chances of recovering compensation for all the damages your business incurred from the wildfire.
Contact our trusted team of lawyers today at Bernheim Law Firm at (310) 975-4728 for your free evaluation.
Common Causes of Wildfires in California
Wildfires have become more common in recent years, increasing the total amount of destruction they leave behind.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) identifies common causes of wildfires in California as:
- Arson
- Debris and open burning
- Equipment fires, commonly caused by catalytic converters, electrical components, or powertrains
- Misuse of fire by a minor
- Railroad operations and maintenance issues
- Recreation and ceremony, including barbeques, gender reveals, and campfires
- Smoking
- Vehicle issues
Additional causes and contributing factors of wildfires in California include:
- Poorly maintained power lines by electrical providers
- Lightning
- Climate change
Contact our team at Bernheim Law Firm today if a wildfire caused by a company’s negligence damaged your business.
Common Wildfire Damages to Businesses
When a wildfire ravages a physical property, it damages more than just the business’s building.
Common types of business damages caused by wildfires include:
- Property damage - Wildfires cause physical property damage to businesses, including damage to buildings, equipment, and other physical assets.
- Lost inventory - Retail businesses and others with substantial physical goods frequently lose all or most of their inventory in a wildfire.
- Business interruption - Wildfires lead to business closures that result in lost revenue. When an area suffers vast destruction, local residents, customers, and clientele are often slow to return to the region and patronize a business.
- Additional operational costs - Some businesses incur extra expenses to mitigate the wildfire damage or stay operational, such as relocating to a temporary space or hiring additional staff.
- Personal injuries - People often suffer injuries, burns, or smoke inhalation when trying to protect their property from a wildfire or during their evacuation.
- Emotional suffering - Many people suffer from post-traumatic stress after living through the terrifying experience of escaping a wildfire and then returning to see the destruction it caused.
Contact our trusted team at Bernheim Law Firm today to schedule your free case evaluation if a wildfire damages your business. Let us help you get the justice and care you deserve after a wildfire damages your business.
Wildfires in California
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), 7,386 wildland fires burned in California in one recent year, destroying more than 330,000 acres of land.
A recent report published by the Auditor of the State of California identified utility companies as the cause of two of the ten largest wildfires in California from 1932 through 2021. The Thomas Fire in December 2017 burned 282,000 acres of land. The Dixie Fire in July 2021 destroyed 963,000 acres of land, making it the second-largest fire during that time.
Wildfires caused by electrical providers account for 19 percent of the total acreage burned in recent years, according to CAL FIRE.
UC Santa Barbara’s emLab reports that California wildfires caused about $5 billion in structural losses in one recent year.
What Do I Do After a Wildfire Damages My Business?
Business owners often feel angry, distraught, and overwhelmed after a wildfire started by a negligent company damages or destroys their business.
They are often unsure what steps to take to seek justice for their losses.
If a wildfire damages or destroys your business, to protect your rights and maximize your chances of recovering full compensation for your damages:
Maintain Documentation
Maintain a detailed list of documentation for all items associated with the wildfire damage, including:
- A journal detailing what you recall from the wildfire, including preparations made, evacuation details, and any pain and suffering that has resulted
- Photographs and videos of the damage
- Documentation detailing economic losses to your business
- Doctors’ notes and medical treatment plans, if applicable
- A list tracking all expenses from the wildfire, including any medical expenses, property damage, lost income, increased operational costs
- Records of any lost or damaged inventory
- Notes demonstrating lost business hours or reduction in clientele as a result of the fire
Seek and Follow Medical Advice
Seek professional medical treatment immediately after the wildfire if you suffered any physical injuries or emotional distress from the event and evacuation.
Follow all medical advice and treatment plans provided by your medical team.
Do Not Accept Any Initial Offers
When a corporation’s negligence causes a wildfire, it will often try to settle any potential damages as soon as possible.
Do not accept any settlement offers, especially initial offers, unless a lawyer approves them.
Doing so could put your business at a legal and financial disadvantage.
Work With an Attorney
Contact an experienced disaster recovery lawyer as soon as possible after a wildfire damages or destroys your business to make sure you meet California’s statute of limitations for your case.
Working with a trusted and compassionate disaster recovery litigation lawyer will help protect your rights and maximize your chances of recovering total compensation for the devastating damages the wildfire caused your business.
Contact our experienced team of attorneys today at Bernheim Law Firm to schedule your free case evaluation.
Why Work With a Disaster Recovery Litigation Lawyer After a Wildfire?
Wildfires have devastating effects on both the land and the communities they touch. The aftermath of these disasters is particularly overwhelming for business owners, especially when a negligent company starts a wildfire.
Seek professional legal guidance when a wildfire started by a negligent corporation damages your business.
A diligent disaster recovery litigation lawyer will take the proper course of action to protect your rights and maximize your chances of recovering total compensation for all of the damages caused to your business by the wildfire.
Your skilled lawyer will navigate the complexities of liability laws and establish a clear connection between the negligent corporation's actions that started the wildfire and the damage they caused to your business.
They will assess the full extent of your damages and help you pursue fair compensation for all of your damages. Your trusted legal team will evaluate all avenues of compensation recovery.
Filing an Insurance Claim
Filing an insurance claim after surviving a wildfire leaves most business owners feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated.
Insurance companies commonly attempt to delay the claim process and even use the claimant's words and statements against them during settlement to minimize or eliminate the compensation they must pay to the claimant. A skilled and knowledgeable disaster recovery litigation lawyer will protect you from the insurance company's tactics.
Your legal team will handle the entirety of the insurance claim process for you, including filing the initial claim, managing all correspondence with the insurance company, accepting and negotiating the settlement offer, and filing a wildfire lawsuit if necessary. They will diligently prove that the fault of your case lies with the negligent company that started the wildfire.
A trusted and diligent truck accident attorney will keep you updated throughout your claim process, promptly and clearly answer any questions, and address any concerns you have.
Working with a reliable attorney will put you on the best path forward to recovering maximum compensation for the damages caused to your business by the wildfire. They will advocate on your behalf to include all damages you and your business suffered in your settlement.
Seeking Government Reimbursement
Your trusted lawyer will advise you on any government-funded opportunities to seek reimbursement for the damages caused to your business by the wildfires.
Available options may include California’s Office of Emergency Services, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Pursuing Legal Action
Your disaster recovery litigation lawyer might pursue legal action when a company’s negligence results in a wildfire damaging or destroying your business.
Your experienced legal team will take care of every aspect of the lawsuit for you, from initiating legal action to managing all communication with third parties and negotiating any settlement offers. They will inform you at every stage of the process and address any questions or concerns you may have about your case.
Your dedicated disaster recovery litigation lawyers will fight so you receive compensation for all damages caused by the negligently started wildfires.
Working With Bernheim Law Firm After a Wildfire in California
Wildfires wreak mass destruction across any land they touch. Businesses in California are a common casualty of wildfires caused by a company’s negligence.
At Bernheim Law Firm, we know how devastating a business's loss can be when a wildfire caused by a negligent company causes damage and destruction. Our team strives to hold all negligent corporations responsible for the damage they caused by starting a wildfire in California.
We work tirelessly to deliver favorable settlements to our clients through our assertive legal measures, exceeding their expectations of simply recovering eligible insurance benefits.
Our team has successfully recovered millions of dollars in settlements for our clients, including:
- $20,000,000 against an insurance company
- $18,000,000 against an insurance company
- $14,500,000 against an insurance company
- $10,100,000 against an insurance company
- $6,000,000 against an electric utility company
- $4,400,000 against an electric utility company
Our clients often leave us positive reviews expressing gratitude for our dedicated assistance with their cases.
Angelo appreciated how our team looked after his best interests throughout his case.
A local homeowner's association was grateful for how consistently our firm prioritized their needs. We made their association's case a priority and delivered positive results above their expectations.
Contact us today at Bernheim Law Firm to schedule your free case evaluation with one of our experienced team members. Let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve after a negligent corporation started a wildfire that damaged your business.
What Compensation Can Businesses Seek After a Wildfire?
Wildfires destroy everything in their path, including businesses. Business owners often suffer significant damage from wildfires.
You can recover compensation if a wildfire damages your business.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identifies eligible Business Loss Compensation as:
- Increased expenses caused by the fire
- Income losses from temporary closure during and after the wildfire
- Additional expenses for hiring temporary labor because of the wildfire
- Costs incurred to mitigate losses, including advertising closures, transitioning business to online sales and platforms, and changing business hours
- Losses caused by inventory that is either damaged or destroyed and unable to be sold
- Disruptions in the supply chain or canceled contracts that harm the business
- A business that is forced to close permanently because of the fire
- Grants to nonprofits that are permanently canceled because of the wildfire
Working with a skilled and assertive disaster recovery litigation lawyer will help you recover compensation for the additional damages caused by the wildfire outside of FEMA’s eligible items, including:
- Physical pain and suffering caused by the fire
- Emotional distress
- Medical treatments, both physical and emotional
- Property damage
- Reimbursement for cleanup costs after the wildfire
- Lost future earnings and business growth potential
- Evacuation and relocation costs
- Increased living expenses
- Punitive damages
- Wrongful death
Contact our compassionate and diligent team of disaster recovery litigation lawyers today at Berheim Law Firm to schedule your free case evaluation. Let us help you attain the just compensation you deserve after a wildfire started by a negligent company damages your business.
Work With a Dedicated Disaster Recovery Litigation Lawyer
Most business owners find recovering from a wildfire daunting and distressing. They worry whether their business will be able to survive the damages, losses, and closures and are unsure of who they can turn to for help.
Working with a dedicated disaster recovery litigation lawyer will ease the stressful burden of your complex and upsetting situation, allowing you to focus better on getting your business back on track.
Call our team at Bernheim Law Firm today at (310) 975-4728 for your free case evaluation. Our office is conveniently located in Altadena near El Prieto Canyon.