Dave Jones Issues Formal Notice to Insurers for Mudslide Coverage to Survivors
In a recent press release by the California Department of Insurance, Insurance Commissioner Daves Jones issued a formal notice to insurers to encourage coverage for victims of the recent Santa Barbara/Montecito Mudslide. With that being said, survivors of the recent mudslide are strongly encouraged to file a damage claim with their property’s insurance provider. By doing so, these victims can receive mudslide coverage for their damages, pain, and suffering.
The Record-Breaking Thomas Fire
If you are a resident of California, you are probably aware of the chaotic past year our state had. First, we endured a fire so destructive, it went down as the most destructive fire ever recorded in modern Californian history. Having scorched thousands of acres, homes, businesses, cars, and vegetation, the nation was truly in a state of emergency.
Vegetation Loss
Shortly after the Thomas fire swept Ventura County, heavy rainfalls began to emerge. Though rain was flooding the city, not much vegetation was left to absorb the rainfall. Since such vegetation and wildlife was mainly destroyed by the recent Thomas Fire, all that was left in these regions was loose dirt, ash, soot, and other sediments. Since there was little vegetation to absorb such a heavy rainfall, the loose sediment then formed into mud everywhere.
Recovery Efforts
The Montecito Mudslide left many missing, and at least 20 individuals dead. Thousands of properties were destroyed, and many are still left seeking recovery options. Given the extremity of California’s recent disasters, it’s safe to say our home needs all the help it can get. Generally, many homeowner insurance policies often exclude flood, mudslide, debris flow, and other similar events ” but given the situation, insurance commissioner Dave Jones sent the formal notice on January 29, 2018.
“Californians have suffered greatly with all of the devastating losses from wildfires that struck the state in the last three months of 2017,” said Commissioner Jones. “Preliminary indications are that the Thomas Fire burned vegetation which would otherwise have absorbed rainfall and held soils in place, which in turn resulted in the mudflows, mudslides, debris flows or landslides. If the evidence shows the Thomas Fire or another peril covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy was the efficient proximate cause of mudflow damage, I expect insurance companies to step up and cover these financial losses.”
Filing Your Claim
Business owners and residents of the affected Santa Barbara County are strongly encouraged to file a claim with their insurance company. While this is important, time is essential. The faster you start pursuing your claim, the faster you’ll start to see results for your recovery options. Another feature victims might want to face is whether or not to go about this damage claim alone.
For questions on your matter, or for assistance in filing your claim, our firm is here to help. Here, our firm can help victims:
- • File their damage claim with the appropriate insurers
- • Analyze the extent of damage by sending out our own adjuster(s)
- • Seek temporary options (hotel, rental car, etc.)
- • Begin the repair process; and
- • Negotiate a fair and worthy settlement with the responsible insurers.
Read more about the tragedy in our latest Montecito Mudslide article.
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