As a victim of a California wildfire, such as the recent Eaton Fires, you may have suffered significant and irreplaceable losses in a matter of minutes. While no amount of money can take back what happened, securing fair economic and non-economic damages with a wildfire claim can help you rebuild and restore your life as much as possible. Learn the difference between these two types of damages to better understand your legal rights throughout your Eaton Fire litigation or another wildfire claim.
Economic Damages in a Wildfire Claim
Economic and non-economic damages are both compensatory types of awards, meaning they are meant to compensate a victim to make him or her financially whole again. Economic damages are meant to replace the monetary, physical and tangible losses suffered by a wildfire victim. Examples of economic damages in a wildfire claim include:
- Real property, including homes or businesses
- Landscaping and gardening
- Personal possessions
- Furniture, appliances and electronics
- Designer clothing or handbags
- Jewelry and watches
- Special collections and rare items
- Family heirlooms and cherished valuables
- Irreplaceable personal items, such as photo albums
- Personal injuries and related medical care
- Lost income (business and personal)
- Uninsured or underinsured vehicles
Economic losses are everything you can calculate that you have lost out of pocket due to the wildfire. This can be difficult to list, as it may be every possession you have ever owned. A California wildfire attorney can help you with this long and often emotionally taxing process to ensure the amount you seek in economic damages is fair based on the extent of your losses.
Non-Economic Damages for a Wildfire Case in California
Non-economic damages in a wildfire case refer to the intangible, personal or invisible losses victims sustain because of the fire. Wildfires can cause a great deal of emotional distress, grief and mental anguish. This type of damage award seeks compensation for pain and suffering. Recoverable non-economic damages may include:
- Physical pain from injuries related to fire and smoke
- The grief of losing a loved one or pet in a deadly wildfire
- Mental and emotional suffering
- Psychological trauma and mental health treatments
- The difficulty of losing a home and meaningful possessions
- Zone of danger nuisances, such as an evacuation
- Discomfort, annoyance and inconvenience
- Displacement stress (short and long term)
- Depression or anxiety
Many wildfire victims in California suffer the loss of irreplaceable items that hold a tremendous amount of value to them, even if they have no value on the open market. Non-economic damages provide financial compensation for the destruction of items that are invaluable to the victim.
How to Recover Maximum Compensation for Your Wildfire Claim in California
Recovering and rebuilding from a wildfire can be extremely challenging, and not just financially. However, collecting fair financial compensation for your economic and non-economic damages is a great step forward. An experienced wildfire attorney will know how to negotiate or litigate your claim for the best possible results. An attorney can help you create a comprehensive list of your losses and connect you with experts to determine the full value of your wildfire claim. Then, your lawyer can handle communications with an insurance company on your behalf to fight for maximum compensation. Request a free consultation at Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian to discuss your specific wildfire case in detail.