The devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles County on Tuesday and Wednesday have already destroyed over 1,100 structures and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. But for residents whose homes are endangered, another nightmare is one the horizon – haggling with insurance agents.
Several major insurers have pulled out of the state due to the high cost of covering wildfire damages, leaving many L.A. homeowners without fire insurance – and those who do still have insurance will face the daunting process of filing claims for all their earthly belongings.
State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara joined KNX News to break down that process. He advised residents who haven’t evacuated yet to take photos of their belongings to have on hand during the claims process.
“I want them to take note of any living expenses that they have currently, track all their expenses, document all their conversations with an insurer or an adjuster, and most importantly, not to rush into any decision, and to call the department if they need any help through the entire process,” he said.
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In the wake of natural disasters, fraudulent insurance adjusters often coerce customers into signing documents that promise them less recovery than they’re legally entitled to, Lara warned.
“Please do not sign anything under duress,” he said. “Call the department. We can verify who these folks are, if they’re licensed with the department, if they understand what their consumer rights are.”
Lara said the Department of Insurance can help homeowners review their policies to understand what’s covered, as well as connect uninsured residents with state and federal aid.
The Department of Insurance call line can be reached Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-800-927-4357.
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