ELEGIDO POR:

According to the U.S. Department of Interior, about 90 percent of fires in the United States are caused by careless people and profit focused corporations. For instance, some people do not properly extinguish their campfires; or while burning debris their fire expands out of control. Some utility corporations do not properly and timely maintain their power lines; careless people improperly discard their cigarettes or some criminals intentionally cause arson. It is hard to fathom that only about 10% of Wildfires are caused by natural elements such as extreme heat, lightning or lava.

Top 10 States At High To Extreme Wildfire Risk, 2019 (1)

Top 10 States For Wildfires Ranked By Number Of Fires And By Number Of Acres Burned, 2018

Source: National Interagency Fire Center.

When the utility companies are found liable for fires, they have to pay their victims for damages such as: 

• Physical/Emotional injuries;
• Medical and psychological treatment;
• Loss of life in Wrongful Death cases;
• Loss of property, which includes personal and real property, commercial and agricultural;
• Loss of income, and so on.

If you have and/or loved ones have suffered damages due to a fire, you may be entitled to compensation. However, fire cases are extremely complex and contentious. This is why not all lawyers are capable of properly dealing with them.  You need a team with years of experience, who diligently deals with fire claims. Here at Chosen Lawyers, we make sure that our Chosen Teams are highly experienced, exceptionally diligent and meaningfully compassionate to help you heal, physically, emotionally and financially.  Unfortunately, the Insurance Conglomerates do not voluntarily help you heal and rebuild. They are corporations for profit. As such, they will look for any excuse, most often in Bad Faith, to delay, defend and deny your claims.  Most often, the Insurance Coverage is not sufficient to recompense you for all your losses. What happens if you don’t have owner or renter insurance coverage? What happens if you’ve lost irreplaceable items such as family photos, children’s homemade arts & crafts, and so on? In such instances, your Chosen Lawyers can look into finding the culpable persons and/or entities who caused the fire and hold them to account for your losses.

Fires can be ferocious and destructive. They are capable of turning everything on their path into cinder.   Even the smoke and ash can cause all types of injuries; destroy homes, farms and businesses. Here is a partial list of economic and non-economic damages that fire victims often suffer:

• Smoke damage;
• Smoke damage;
• Structural damage;
• Loss of personal possessions;
• Loss of business income;
• Burns & bodily injuries;
• Roof collapse;
• Melting;
• Failing of crops;
• Plumbing damage;
• Water damage;
• Electrical damage;
• Loss of trees & landscaping;
• Emotional anguish;
• Stress;
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD);
• Depression;
• Anxiety;
• Relocation expenses;
• Inconvenience;
• Homelessness, and so on.

Most often Wildfires can be traced to a wrongful act or negligence of a gas or electric company, defective products or combustion of a vehicle. In such instances, the culpable parties must account for victims’ losses. However, many corporations try to “exculpate” themselves from liability by blaming others, such as “Force Majeure,” also known as “Vis Major,” or “Superior Force,” or “Act of God.” Chosen Fire Attorneys know how to overcome these frivolous defenses and obtain your just desert.

Do not sign any document such as a waiver, release, or “hold-harmless” agreements. Insurance corporations are quick to have victims sign releases, sometimes they are deceptively instigated to do so. Do not give any recorded statement unless your attorney is present. Let your Chosen Lawyer handle all settlement negotiations to ensure that you receive a Just Compensation for Your Losses. 

Fires can cause two types of serious injuries: smoke inhalation and burns. Victims of fire-related injuries may be able to claim compensation if they can demonstrate that another party’s negligent or wrongful act caused their injuries. One of the most prevalent injuries in a Fire Case is caused by smoke inhalation. Depending on items burned, smoke may contain particles or chemicals that can cause severe irritation in your lungs. The exact composition of the smoke depends on the substance that is burning. In addition to irritating particles, smoke may contain carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, benzene, toluene, styrene, acidic gases, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, metals, dioxins, or nitrogen oxides, aldehydes and more. These chemicals can cause serious injuries to your heart, lungs, eyes and other illnesses and injuries including death. Smoke and soot often remain in the air for days, weeks or even months; and they will usually contain particulate material that irritates the lungs, even though it may not be visible. It is the smallest particles that often cause the most serious health hazards, such as lung damage and difficulty breathing, asthma, and worsening heart disease. Fires can also cause painful, disfiguring burn injuries and death. 

In the United States, approximately 450,000 people suffer from burn injuries every year; 3500 of these victims die from their burns. If you or a member of your family has suffered a serious burn injury or smoke inhalation from a fire that was caused by someone else, Chosen Wildfire Lawyers are ready to help you obtain compensation. Chosen Wildfire Lawyers have the skill, expertise and the needed resources to conduct thorough investigations, which determine the cause of fire and to identify the party responsible for the fire that harmed you and/or your loved ones. Chosen Lawyers also know the tactics that insurance companies use to reduce or deny the extent of your compensable injuries and losses. Chosen Wildfire Lawyers are ready, willing and able to diffuse these bad faith acts and get you full compensation. 
So go ahead fill out the simple form below or give your Chosen Lawyer a call now. The call is Free and they will fully assess your case FREE. Should you decide to retain Chosen fire Lawyers, they will work on a contingency basis. This means, they will only get paid if You Win Your Case. 

Losing a loved one is always painful. Losing a loved one in a Wildfire is devastating. While no one can bring back a perished soul, Chosen Lawyers are experienced in helping you get through it by holding the wrongdoers accountable. Wrongful Death cases are often very complex and the path to recovery is pelted with impediments.  Fortunately, Chosen Lawyers have the experience to deal with them diligently and effectively. 

In California, only certain members of the family of a deceased person can file a wrongful death lawsuit.  The comprehensive guideline can be found in the California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 377.60 to 377.62. Here is a brief outline of the laws governing wrongful death cases:

1.    A surviving domestic partner or spouse can file a lawsuit for wrongful death;

2.    Children of the decedent are also entitled to file wrongful death claims;

If there is no surviving spouse, domestic partner, or children, then the following individuals can file a wrongful death case:

1.    Dependents of the decedent;

2.   A “putative” spouse (this is a spouse who did not have a valid marriage under the law for some reason but has a “good faith” belief that the marriage was valid under California law;

3.    Children of a putative spouse;

4.    Stepchildren;

5.    Parents.