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Alexander Hawes, LLP Attorney Offers Recovery Advice for California Wildfire Victims

Posted on: Friday, 2 November 2007, 12:00 CDT

In an interview with former CNN anchor Jane Akre for Injury Report, Alexander Hawes, LLP attorney Richard Alexander offered concrete advice to homeowners who lost their houses to wildfires.

1. Create an inventory of your belongings. Do not bulldoze the ashes and debris. Pitch fork through the wreckage, identify what burned and photograph it. The debris will also jog your memory of other items that were consumed.

2. Hire a public adjuster. They have experience in appraising property and operate like lawyers. They represent you in a contractual basis -- usually 10 percent. They know how to prepare and present a claim and will provide the guidance on how to document the claim. They interface with the carrier in a knowledgeable manner.

3. Rent a house FAST! The market is going to dry up very fast. There are not going to be 1,800 houses to rent. All California carriers have to pay the cost of hotels, meals and daily expenses you incur from the evacuation. But there might be a limit. Many people are going to find they are underinsured.

4. Put the insurance carrier and mortgagor on notice of the loss. Get a copy of the policy from the carrier, since it probably burned up in the fire. Have someone read it who understands coverage. That could be a public adjustor or an attorney with experience. Don't pick just any lawyer. It's very important to quiz them extensively about their experience. You want experience, experience, experience -- someone who knows exactly what to do, who's been there and done that.

5. Find and deal with a contractor. Most will be charging outrageous rates, which are to be expected because of the huge demand, and they will be coming in from all around the western United States. And you must understand the policy before the contract with the builder is negotiated. You want to make sure, especially in California, that you don't stipulate to arbitration. And obviously don't sign anything from an insurance company saying "general release."

6. Recognize that psychologically, you and your family will suffer substantial emotional distress. Keep your eyes open to post-traumatic-stress-syndrome. Get counseling if needed.

7. Protect your new house. Clear brush to at least 30 feet from the house. Consider using Barricade, a fire resistant emulsion that stops houses from catching fire at a cost of $350 to $500 a home. Make an inventory of your possessions, photograph them and keep the records off-site, in a safe deposit box if possible.

About Richard Alexander

Alexander has been a California attorney since 1972 and is among the most published in the country, authoring more than 200 articles on personal injury. Alexander is dedicated to public education and was the 35th lawyer to have a Web site -- www.consumerlawpage.com.

For more information and detail, please see http://tinyurl.com/2pmrsy or www.alexanderlaw.com.

Source: Business Wire

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