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Types of Compensation in Wildfire Claims Resulting from Recent SoCal Fires


Types of Compensation in Wildfire Claims Resulting from Recent SoCal Fires sue liability incident compensation

California is known for its wildfires. A combination of dry conditions (including dry brush) due to long periods without rainfall and high winds result in seemingly small brush fires exploding and spreading – threatening entire communities.

The Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire

Both the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire have devastated Los Angeles County. These fires started on January 7, 2025, along with multiple other fires. Because of the severe wind conditions, the fires spread aggressively over both affected areas. Within just 24 hours, the results of the fires were already catastrophic.

The Palisades Fire – in just over a week, the Palisades Fire has burned approximately 23,713 acres. The fire is only 19% contained. So far, approximately 5,316 structures have been burned. There have been 9 deaths associated with the Palisades Fire.

The Eaton Fire – in just over a week, the Eaton Fire in the San Gabriel Valley has burned approximately 14,117 acres. The fire is only 45% contained. An estimated 7,081 structures, including vehicles, have burned. There have been at least 16 deaths associated with the Eaton Fire.

Since both of these fires still remain active, it is possible that the number of structures burned and the number of deaths will increase.

Types of Compensation in Wildfire Claims Resulting from Recent SoCal Fires sue liability lawyer attorney
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Can I File a Lawsuit?

Yes – you could have grounds to file a lawsuit relating to the recent California wildfires. Below, we will go over the different types of claims that could arise.

You could pursue a claim and recover compensation for the following:

  • Physical injuries
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Personal expenses or business income loss
  • Wrongful death
Physical Injuries

Unfortunately, because of the strong winds, wildfires can spread quickly and through residential areas, not giving residents enough time to evacuate safely. On the contrary, some residents may not evacuate quickly enough, as they might have believed that the fire would not affect them. Whatever the case, affected individuals can potentially suffer significant injuries, some of which can be life-threatening. Examples of these injuries can include the following:

  • Severe burns, ranging in degree
  • Muscle injuries
  • Ligament injuries
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Smoke-related injuries, which may include internal burns to respiratory tract and other respiratory system damage, injuries to lungs, etc.
  • Amputations or severed limbs
  • Injuries to eyes and ears
  • Injuries caused by explosions or blasts
  • Infections
  • Long-term health complications
  • Permanent disability
  • Catastrophic injuries
  • Death (which could be considered wrongful death)

You and your family, along with other individuals affected by wildfires, could be eligible to recover compensation for all medical expenses resulting from an injury (including costs for treatment, surgeries, prescription medications, rehab, physical therapy, and more).

Pain and Suffering

Without a doubt, wildfires can result in much more than economic losses. If you have grounds to pursue a California wildfire lawsuit, you could include all noneconomic losses that you and your family suffered as a result of the fires. These include all intangible losses, or damages that do not necessarily have a specific value attached to them. These damages fall under the category of pain and suffering.

Experiencing wildfires firsthand, from having to evacuate, losing homes, sustaining injuries, etc. can result in psychological trauma. You could potentially have grounds to recover compensation for pain and suffering for some of the following:

  • Physical pain and discomfort resulting from injuries (including nerve damage, chronic pain, etc.)
  • Distress resulting from sudden changes like loss of vision, loss of hearing, homelessness, etc.
  • Grief due to the losses resulting from the fire
  • Emotional distress and mental anguish related to the fires and all losses
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, etc.
  • Loss of consortium (or the lost ability to have a normal relationship with a loved one due to their death)
  • Reduced quality of life or enjoyment of life
  • And more

If the injuries and losses resulting from the fires have affected you on a psychological level, you could list pain and suffering in your lawsuit. To prove pain and suffering, you may require medical records, diagnosis from a psychologist or psychiatrist, notes from a therapist, testimony from family/friends, etc.

Property Damage

Undeniably, devastating property damage could occur because of wildfires. Based on statistics released by the Insurance Information Institute, in 2020, a total of 58,950 wildfires burned approximately 10.1 million acres of land in California. In the same year, California had six fires that made it into the top twenty largest wildfires in the state’s history.

Examples of the property damage that could result from wildfires can include the following:

  • Damage to outdoor areas, including landscaping, trees, gardens, etc.
  • Damage to plumbing
  • Electrical damage
  • Injuries or death to pets and/or livestock
  • Melting and warping
  • Roof collapse
  • Smoke and ash damage
  • The loss of a family home
  • The loss of businesses
  • The loss of personal possessions, including clothing, electronics, and more
  • The loss of sentimental items, like photographs and family heirlooms
  • The loss of structures, including detached garages, sheds, barns, etc.

The truth is that even properties that are not burned to the ground can sustain significant damage during wildfires. Of course, homes can be partially burned. However, even homes that are untouched by flames can sustain damage due to smoke and ash. Homes that were ablaze and were saved by firefighters could sustain extensive water damage which could lead to smoke and wood rot, for example.

Are pets and livestock considered property? You might have notices that injuries or death to pets and livestock is listed above as an example of the property damage that could result due to wildfires. In California, pets and livestock are considered property, which makes any injury or death to them a compensable loss. Of course, regardless of the fact that pets and livestock are considered property by law, we have emotional attachment to them; this means that victims that lose pets and livestock to wildfires may be awarded compensation for emotional distress.

Personal Expenses and Income Loss

Without a doubt, those impacted by wildfires may experience significant monetary damages. Affected individuals may experience the following:

  • Unexpected expenses due to evacuations (i.e., having to rent a hotel room, a motel room, an Airbnb, an apartment, etc.)
  • Extended living arrangements while your home is uninhabitable during repairs or while it is being rebuilt (this may include the costs of more long-term rentals)
  • Lost wages resulting from having to take time off of work to receive medical care for any injuries, visit your damaged home to assess property damage, or deal with the insurance claim
  • Damage to your business (including damage to property and loss of business revenue
Wrongful Death

Unfortunately, wildfires have resulted in many deaths. California has had many fatal wildfires. The deadliest wildfire in the state’s history has been the Camp Fire, which caused 85 deaths. As briefly mentioned above, both the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire have led to multiple fatalities.

If you lost a member of your family in the Palisades Fire, the Eaton Fire, or any of the other recent SoCal fires, you could pursue a wrongful death claim and potentially recovery the following damages:

  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Lost earnings or loss of financial support
  • Loss of consortium
  • The decedent’s medical costs incurred prior to death (if there was treatment), their pain and suffering before death, their property losses, etc.
  • Surviving family’s mental anguish as a result of the death
  • And more

There is no question that money does not fill the void left by the sudden death of a loved one because of a wildfire. However, recovering financial compensation can cover all costs associated with the death and give family peace of mind about anything financial, allowing them to focus on grieving their family member.

Types of Compensation in Wildfire Claims Resulting from Recent SoCal Fires lawyer attorney compensation
The Downtown L.A. Law Group Can Help You

Our law firm is dedicated to representing our community and helping them get justice. If you were affected by the Palisades Fire or the Eaton Fire, you might have grounds to pursue a lawsuit and recover monetary compensation. If you are ready to explore the legal options available to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm. The Downtown L.A. Law Group has decades of experience and is more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights.

We offer free case evaluations. These include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our experts will be available to answer all your questions and address all of your concerns, ensuring that you have access to all the information necessary to begin or even continue your claim (if you have already started your claim with another firm, that is). To schedule a free case review, contact us today,

Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will not be required to pay any upfront legal costs for any of our legal services. In addition, our law firm works on contingency, meaning that you will not be responsible for paying any legal costs if your lawsuit is not successful. If you do not win, you will not pay anything at all.

Contact us today for more information about the type of compensation that you could recover if you file a wildfire lawsuit.


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