In 2015, Washington state experienced some of the most significant wildfires in the state’s history. Burning over one million acres of land, the first were strengthened by the significant heat in the state. Washington experienced record-breaking heat, with temperatures between four and up to nine degrees higher than any past wildfire seasons. Throughout the season, there were over 1,500 wildfires total, causing a significant amount of structural damage across the state.
The wildfires spread over multiple areas in Washington, affecting various communities and destroying homes and businesses in their wake. The wildfires were declared a state of emergency in June, as more and more cropped up throughout the season.
Wildfire Insurance Coverage
Washington experiences wildfires every year, often resulting in damage that affects thousands of people and destroys their homes.
Most homeowners insurance policies cover damage related to wildfires. This includes both exterior and interior damage to homes, furniture, and other areas of your property. Because wildfires can cause homes to be completely destroyed in the most severe cases, many insurance policies also cover living expenses to help policyholders find a temporary place to live as they navigate rebuilding after a wildfire destroys their homes.
Filing a claim following a wildfire can be a stressful and taxing experience. It requires you to provide extensive detail on what was damaged during the fire and share all accurate and appropriate information to have your claim taken seriously by an insurance agency. Working with an insurance lawyer, you can ensure you include all appropriate information in your claim for fastest possible processing.
When Claims Don’t Go As Expected
Even though you’ve filled out your insurance claim appropriately and accurately, there is a chance your insurance agency will not respond the way you expect.
Especially during situations where many people are filing large claims in a short amount of time, insurance agencies may give customers difficulties and refuse to pay out the appropriate amount following claims submissions.
An insurance attorney can identify when these actions become unlawful and help you proceed with legal action following a bad faith claim. Insurance agencies are legally obligated to follow specific rules and regulations related to claims management, and going against these laws can be punishable by law. The law offices of Michael M. Raheb, P.A., have experienced Washington insurance lawyers available to support you in these efforts should you proceed with legal action against your insurance provider. These insurance lawyers will advocate on your behalf to ensure you get the money you need to start rebuilding your life after a wildfire, or any natural disaster that has caused damage to your home.
Insurance lawyers understand the difficulty of filing a claim following a natural disaster or severe storm. Working with an attorney to file your claim is one of the best ways to ensure you get the coverage you need, when you need it. This way, you can start rebuilding your life after a storm as soon as possible, without having to worry about your insurance provider.
