[ad_1]
Homeowners dealing with loss or destruction of their homes due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County may want to consider their insurance options next.
Many Altadena and West Los Angeles residents suffering losses during the devastating fires should consider their insurance options when they are ready. To help fire victims navigate what may seem like a daunting process, insurance attorneys have provided helpful guidance.
Advice from an insurance lawyer
Michael Cohen said getting organized is the first step for anyone who has lost their home in a fire.
“Keep receipts for everything you start right away,” he advised. “Toothbrushes, paper clips, everything.”
Mr. Cohen also provided the following guidance to fire victims:
Call your insurance company immediately and file a claim as soon as possible. Organize and record all your purchases. Keep receipts for all purchases. Use a single notebook to keep detailed notes. Ask your insurance company for an immediate advance payment for your additional living expenses. If your home is a total loss, request a four-month advance payment. If access to your home is restricted, please apply at least two weeks in advance. Ask your insurance to pay 30% of your belongings limit (homeowners whose home is a total loss are eligible for this insurance; the home must have been furnished at the time of the total loss) ).
Cohen said insurance companies will have to cover the costs of people who choose to move elsewhere instead of rebuilding their homes.
“The law says the insurance company has to provide additional funds even if you don’t rebuild or buy in the same location,” he said.
I get it from people who have been there.
Rami and Diane Brosh, whose home was destroyed in the 2018 Woolsey Fire, said they first called their insurance company after realizing their new reality.
“We did a very smart thing by calling our insurance company right away,” Rami Brosh said. “It’s first come, first served, so apparently they arrived quickly within a few days.”
The couple also hired a public adjuster to guide them through the insurance application process.
“We didn’t even know what the insurance policy was…we had no idea what the coverage was, but he looked it up for us,” said Diane Brosh. Ta.
Teams hired by insurance companies are being sent to Los Angeles County communities affected by wildfires to defend homes. Alex Rozier reports on NBC4 News on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 at 6 p.m.
“He continued to hold our hands,” Rami said.
The pair also assured the fire victims that while everything may seem difficult right now, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“We’re home now, and our house is beautiful,” Diane said. “We were able to do something with it that we never would have done.”
Click here for more information on how to process your insurance claim.
[ad_2]Source link
