Lidia Fire claim eligibility

The wildfires in California in January left a trail of destruction, particularly the Lidia Fire that damaged several parts of Los Angeles County, which has over 9.6 million residents. The wildfire started on January 8, 2025. The fire was active for three days and was finally contained on January 11, 2025, at 7:40 am, according to the Cal FIRE incident report.

Key impacted areas of the Lidia Fire:

• Evacuation warnings were given near Robinson Ranch Golf Course and Magic Mountain Wilderness Area.
• Roads were closed at Soledad Canyon Road. This was between Agua Dulce Canyon Road and Crown Valley Road.
• The Angeles National Forest was closed, both for public safety and to preserve natural resources. The closure was from 5 pm on January 8, 202,5 to 12 pm on January 15, 2025.

What caused the Lidia Fire

The exact cause of Lidia Fire is still under investigation, according to the Cal FIRE website. Based on early reports of strong Santa Ana winds on January 8, many have assumed that the winds contributed to the rapid spread of flames across the dry terrain.

Liability for wildfire damages may fall on any of the following parties. If the investigation found that the party was at fault, you may file a lawsuit against:

• Government actors (federal, city, or county)
• Public utility, phone, and telecommunication companies
• Manufacturers of industrial devices like electric generators
• Certain individuals

How to file a Lidia Fire claim: eligibility and requirements

You may qualify for a claim if the fire had damaged any of the following:

• your home
• your business location
• the home you rent
• your personal belongings
• your vehicle
• your pets
• your livestock
• your land

In case of property damage after a wildfire, these are the steps that can help you in filing an insurance claim:

1. Assess the damage.

• Keep a list of all the properties and items affected.
• Take photos or videos for documentation once the fire is contained.

2. Notify your insurance provider as soon as you can.
3. Save your receipts and track all expenses for the following:

• Temporary lodging
• Meals
• Costs incurred when you evacuated
• Lost business income or salary

4. Keep all records of communication.

• Save all emails, texts, and letters received from adjusters

5. Get in touch with a competent lawyer to advocate for you in this time of crisis.

• Ataxia Law can evaluate your case and help connect you with the best attorney.

You may face problems with your insurance if they act in bad faith or if your adjusters are giving unreasonable conditions. You may fall victim to misinformation by insurance company adjusters if you do not have a skilled representative. In a bulletin published by the California Insurance Commissioner, there had been reports of the following:

• Policyholders who wanted to rebuild their homes at another location were advised by their adjusters that they would not receive the full benefits owed.
• Policyholders who wanted to purchase a new home in another location were told they would not receive “building code upgrade costs.”
• Policyholders who wanted to purchase a new home in another location were told that the land value of the new location would be deducted from their full benefits.

Whether you want to rebuild your home or start from a new location away from the memories of the fire, we can connect you with the best representation to fight for just compensation and protect you from misinformation by policy adjusters.

How much compensation you can get for Lidia Fire damages

Every case will be different, so it is difficult to give an exact estimate without further documentation and investigations. To get help estimating the amount of compensation you can get for damages, contact Atraxia Law for an evaluation of your case. 

The Lidia Fire was not the only wildfire that damaged parts of California in January 2025. Accuweather estimated the damage and economic loss to be around $250 billion for the Los Angeles wildfires.

Wildfire damages should include the following:

• wrongful death
• personal injury
• emotional distress
• loss of crops
• business loss
• lost wages
• evacuation costs
• land value depreciation
• harm to pets or livestock
• damage to trees, underwood, or timber
• expenses of home repair

Lidia Fire claims statute of limitations

Keep in mind that the statute of limitations for insurance claims begins from the moment you were injured or the time your property was damaged. Typically, policyholders would have one year to file a claim with their insurance, but this can still change depending on your insurance policies or state laws. Lawsuits within California have different deadlines.

Within California law, these are the different filing deadlines based on the type of lawsuit:

• Personal injury. You must file within two (2) years from the date the injury (or death of a family member) occurred.
• Property damage. You must file within three (3) years from the date the damage occurred.
• Government actor claims. For cities, counties, and government actors, there are shorter deadlines.
• California government actor. You must file a written notice within six (6) months of the injury before filing a lawsuit.
• Federal government actor. You have two (2) years to file a suit, but you must make a pre-litigation claim before filing under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

While these deadlines must be daunting, especially when you are suffering damages, Atraxia Law has a team of professionals who can evaluate your case and find you the best representation to help you through these legal proceedings.

Atraxia Law can help you in filing your Lidia Fire claim

Losing the properties you’ve worked for and being disrupted by evacuations are some of the most devastating moments in life. One key to starting over is ensuring you have taken the best step forward - getting the maximum compensation for your claims that will allow you to recover the damages suffered. Get in touch with Atraxia Law for a free evaluation of your case. If you are eligible for a claim, we will connect you with the best personal injury lawyer to handle your case.