Thousands of North Californians have been affected by the Dixie Fire, one of the largest wildfires ever in California. Many people were injured, displaced from their homes and communities, and burdened with financial issues they still bear today.
If you are among those people, you can file an insurance claim for compensation for your and your family’s losses. However, you may have already filed an insurance claim and are still waiting for your claim to resolve, or your resolved claim may not have covered all your losses. A lawyer from our firm can help you file a claim (or lawsuit), advance your claim, or appeal your claim and Dixie Fire settlement.
How Do I File a Dixie Fire Claim?
If you have property damage after the Dixie Fire, you can file a claim through your home insurance provider if you have property damage. You will have to provide proof of your damages. You should speak with them about how to file your claim since they may have a particular process you must follow.
The insurance claim could help you recover much of your losses. However, you may be unable to recover all your losses, so you should consider getting a wildfire attorney from our firm to help you.
Your attorney can help you determine all your damages, list and valuate your damages for the insurance company, and then gather proof of your damages. After that, your lawyer will present your claim to the insurer and negotiate your settlement on your behalf. You can be sure your lawyer will fight for a fair settlement, as all our lawyers do with their clients.
Providing Proof of Your Damages
It is important to provide the insurer with proof or evidence of your property damages and any other damages you have, like any physical injuries. For example, you can give a list of your property and possessions to show your property damages or provide medical records to prove any physical injuries.
A Dixie Fire attorney from our firm can assist you with gathering proof and evidence. Your attorney can also acquire corroborating evidence, such as a statement from a medical expert.
Can I File a Dixie Fire Claim with the Fire Victim Trust?
As of June 2022, the Fire Victim Trust does not assist victims of the Dixie Fire, so if you want to file a claim and would like assistance, you can turn to a wildfire lawyer from our law firm for help. Our firm serves all of Northern California and those who suffered damages from the Dixie Fire.
Should I File a Claim Through PG&E?
You can file your claim through PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company), the company responsible for the Dixie Fire, but this may not be your best course of action. PG&E might not treat your claim with the respect it deserves.
The company has an online portal that lets victims file claims for compensation through the company itself, but PG&E may devalue your claim, reducing your payout from them. A wildfire lawyer from our law firm can pursue a fair payout through other means, such as an insurance claim or lawsuit.
What Should I Do if My Dixie Fire Claim Has Not Settled Yet?
Your claim could take several months or longer to resolve and settle, especially if you filed through PG&E. The company and many home insurers often delay in resolving claims, leaving many claimants with financial issues and piling debt.
You may not have to wait so long for your claim to resolve. One of our firm’s attorneys could help you collect additional evidence for your case and then submit this evidence for consideration. By informing them we are prepared to take your case to court, we may also be able to put pressure on them to settle your claim soon.
What Should I Do if My Insurance Does Not Cover All My Losses?
Another issue many claimants have with their insurers is that they may devalue and even ignore some of the claimant’s damages. Yet, another issue is that some insurance policies do not cover certain damages. In either case, a claimant’s settlement amount may be too low.
If you believe your settlement will be or is insufficient, you can try to appeal your claim and Dixie Fire settlement on your own. However, this may be difficult, so you might want to leave appealing your claim to a Dixie Fire lawyer from our firm. Your lawyer can offer additional or corroborating evidence to support your case and fairly valuate your damages, so the insurer does not devalue them again.
Can I Sue PG&E for the Dixie Fire?
In addition to your claim, you should consider a lawsuit against PG&E. You could sue them if you suffered serious damages, if your insurance does not cover all of your damages, and if you want to hold PG&E accountable for their negligence.
One of our firm’s California wildfire attorneys can assist you with your lawsuit. In your suit, we will allege negligence and support this with evidence, such as how PG&E did not clear at-risk trees from high-risk power lines. We will also show how you are entitled to financial compensation from a utility like PG&E that was found responsible.
The Recent Dixie Fire Settlement Agreements With PG&E
In April 2022, PG&E agreed to pay $55 million in settlements for the Dixie Fire and the 2019 Kincade Fire. Much of this money will go to non-profit organizations (like fire departments) and Sonoma County. Five other Northern California counties will also receive compensation.
As a part of the settlements, PG&E also created their online claims portal that lets individuals file for compensation through the company. Still, we recommend pursuing compensation through other means, such as a lawsuit.
What Damages Can I Claim in a Dixie Fire Lawsuit?
In your insurance claim or a lawsuit, you or your attorney can claim any of the following damages and possibly more:
- The cost of repairing or replacing your home and property
- The costs of personal property
- Lost crops or livestock
- Harm done to your livestock
- Land value depreciation
- Business losses
- Lost wages
- Medical costs
- Emotional distress
- The cost of your evacuation
- Similar losses
Get Help Claiming a Settlement for the Dixie Fire by Contacting Our Office Today
The wildfire/mass tort attorneys from Nadrich & Cohen have handled many Dixie Fire claims and similar cases, so we know how to handle your case. Also, since we are located in California, we see how the fire affected people like you, which gives us insight into how to represent you. On top of that, we have experience handling utilities like PG&E, and many of our attorneys held leadership positions in prior PG&E cases.
Your attorney can manage your claim or lawsuit while you handle other matters. To learn about what our attorneys will do to help you claim a Dixie Fire settlement, contact us today for a free consultation and case review.
