Fierce wildfires ravage California with ever-increasing frequency. Properties are destroyed, people are injured, and lives are lost. Most fires are started by human agency, and this means that if the liable party can be identified, a wildfire lawyer in California can help you recover compensation.
Since 2011, The Ryan Law Group has represented many families who have lost everything in California wildfires, fighting large companies that prioritized profits over safety. Read about our work in the lawsuit for the victims of the Eaton fire in Altadena, and consult our Southern California personal injury lawyers for a personalized opinion on what a wildfire lawsuit could mean for you.
Damages You Can Claim After Wildfire Losses
When another person or a company is negligent, and you are harmed, you can claim compensation for a variety of damages you suffered. Although wildfires mean damage on a massive scale, your personal losses still matter. They may include:
- Damage to your property and possessions.
- Medical bills and the cost of future treatment.
- Pain and suffering if you are hurt.
- Trauma and distress after facing a terrifying disaster.
- Relocation or temporary accommodation costs.
- In a few tragic instances, the wrongful death of a loved one.
The theory behind this is simple. Somebody was negligent. Their negligence caused a wildfire. The wildfire caused you damages, and you should be compensated. In practice, however, these cases are extremely complex and are hard-fought. You will need a strong lawyer to represent you.
Why Your Case Requires a Strong California Wildfire Lawyer
In a single case in which a family loses everything, a party that is found liable would face high compensation costs. Resistance is to be expected. In wildfire cases, on the other hand, many people have been harmed. A party that is found liable faces millions, even billions, in damages to pay.
As a result, they will do everything in their power to show that they are not liable, claiming that a wildfire was a purely natural disaster for which nobody can be blamed. You can be sure that the opposition will be fierce, but that does not mean you should relinquish your rights.
In 2025, for example, LA County sued Edison over the Eaton Fire, and several cities and private individuals added to a rising conflagration of lawsuits against the utility company. It has admitted that it expects “significant losses,” which are estimated to run into hundreds of millions of dollars. The stakes are high, and victims will need strong representation.
Misconceptions May Prevent Victims From Claiming Their Rights
In the face of such widespread devastation, many people believe that their losses will be ignored. Without decisive action, they may well be. Nevertheless, each wildfire victim has rights, and a lawyer can advise you on your options after a wildfire. Other misconceptions include:
- Believing that there is no recourse if your insurance company has already paid you. It is likely that your losses exceed your insurance policy, and you should not have to absorb them.
- Rental tenants believe that only the homeowner can sue. You were also harmed and lost much. Apart from the loss of your belongings and any injuries, you have experienced trauma and have been forced to relocate.
- Thinking you cannot claim for material losses because evidence of ownership was destroyed or did not exist. If you were living in a home that was destroyed, it is reasonable to suppose that your personal possessions were inside it. You do not need evidence of ownership for every single item you lost.
- Mistakenly thinking that you cannot file a lawsuit if you were not physically hurt. There are many other forms of loss you may have suffered and may be compensated for.
Finally, there is some fear factor involved. In a case of this significance, where you may face powerful companies, you may feel discouraged and give up without trying. The magnitude of your personal loss calls for compensation, and an experienced wildfire attorney in California from The Ryan Law Group can fight on your behalf.
Liability in California Wildfires
Liability in California wildfires is a complex issue, and multiple parties may be held responsible. Even if a wildfire begins due to a natural event, such as a lightning strike, circumstances that allow the fire to spread may have human origins.
For example, California Government Code Section 51182 requires certain property owners to keep a defensible space of 100 feet clear around structures in high fire hazard zones. Should they fail to do so, a fire can not only destroy their properties but also gain a foothold and spread.
It is not always easy to identify liable parties, and a California wildfire attorney who is willing to investigate fires and consult expert witnesses may be needed to discover who is at fault. There will be a lot of information to sift through, but our team will undertake a systematic investigation.
Each Case Should Be Examined Individually
Huge disasters have individual victims, all of whom have their own stories to tell and losses to mourn. As attorneys, we believe that each of these cases has significance and should be handled accordingly. You should not be lost in the crowd. Each person deserves consideration.
With a life to rebuild and terrible memories to process, you should receive compassionate representation and a lawyer who will seek solutions that are right for you. While you need a fighter who will take up your cause, you also need a lawyer who will work to understand you and your needs.
Our results show that our law firm has the track record you need from a lawyer facing such a complex case. Although we are high-profile lawyers often mentioned in the news media, we have not lost touch with our primary mission: helping people after they have been harmed. Request a free consultation today.
When Disaster Strikes, Let Us Advocate for You
The Ryan Law Group is passionate about protecting the rights of each individual who approaches its wildfire lawyer in California. We want to see our clients gain the compensation they need to rebuild their lives from the ground up.
More than this, our founding attorney, Andrew T. Ryan, works to foster safer communities by taking on big companies whose negligence causes harm. As for the undervaluation of your claim, your attorney will not accept attempts to reduce settlements without a fight. Fearless in the courtroom, we are trusted by our clients. Contact us to explore your options.