Sunset Fire claim eligibility

On January 8, 2025, the Los Angeles Fire Department received the first report of Sunset Fire at about 5:30 pm in the 2300 block of North Solar Drive, Hollywood Hills. Just 45 minutes after the first report, the fire had burned over 40 acres of vegetation, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire peaked at 60 acres before being fully contained with the help of helicopters.

Key impacted areas of Sunset Fire:

Evacuation warnings were issued for the following areas. The orders were lifted on January 9, 2025.

• Laurel Canyon Blvd (West)
• Hollywood Blvd (South)
• Cahuenga Blvd/101 Fwy/Highland Ave (East)
• Mulholland Drive (North)

What caused the Sunset Fire in California

According to a CBS News report, the Sunset Fire started as a brush fire, fueled by windstorm conditions as Santa Ana winds swept through Los Angeles.

There have been incidences where wildfire did not naturally occur but was sparked by external causes like power lines or generators. If there is evidence found in the investigations, you may be able to file a claim against the following parties:

• Government actors (state or federal)
• Public utility, phone, and telecommunication companies
• Manufacturers of industrial devices (e.g. generators)

How to file a Sunset Fire claim: eligibility and requirements

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

• your home or land
• your business location
• the rental property
• your personal belongings
• your vehicles
• your pets or livestock

Steps to file a wildfire insurance claim

1. Assess the damage. 

• Keep a list of all the properties and items affected.
• Take photos or videos for documentation once evacuation orders have been lifted.

2. Notify your insurance provider as soon as possible.

3. Track all expenses and save your receipts, especially for:

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

4. Keep all records of communication from officials and adjusters.

5. Contact a personal injury or wildfire claims attorney.

• Ataxia Law can evaluate your claim and help connect you with the best representation for your case.

Protect yourself from insurance bad faith

You may face problems with your insurance if they act in bad faith or if your adjusters give you misinformed conditions. According to a bulletin published by the California Insurance Commissioner, you may experience misinformation from policy adjusters about the following situations:

• If you want to rebuild your home at another location, you may be advised that you would not receive full benefits or would not be given “building code upgrade costs.”
• If you want to purchase another land, they may advise you that the land value may be deducted from your total benefits.

Beware of misinformation and get a skilled attorney to keep you fully informed of your rights and just compensation. Whether you want to rebuild your home or buy land away from this crisis, Atraxia Law can connect you with the best attorney for your case.

How much compensation can you get for Sunset Fire damages?

Every case is different. You may contact Atraxia Law so we can evaluate your case more accurately. By the end of January 2025, the Insurance Journal reported that insurance firms had already paid more than $4 billion in payouts for the LA wildfires.

Early this year, Accuweather estimated $250 billion in damages and economic losses from the LA wildfires. These damages may come from any of 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
• the expenses incurred to repair your home

The statute of limitations for Sunset Fire claims

The statute of limitations begins when you were injured or when your property was damaged. Policyholders typically have one year or less to file a claim with their insurance. The time can vary depending on your insurance policies or state laws.

These are the deadlines for filing different types of lawsuits within California law:

• Personal injury: two (2) years from the date the injury (or death of a family member) occurred.
• Property damage: three (3) years from the date the damage occurred.
• Government actor (California): a written notice must be filed within six (6) months of the injury before suing.
• Federal government actor: two (2) years to file a suit, but you must make a pre-litigation claim before filing under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Don’t miss the filing window. Our team of professionals at Atraxia Law can evaluate your case, guide you through collecting the proper documents, and find the best attorney to help you based on these timelines.

Atraxia Law can help you in filing your Sunset Fire claim

Losing your home and business to the wildfires is devastating enough. We are here to ensure that the burden of filing claims does not become another hurdle to your recovery. 

Atraxia Law offers a free case evaluation to see which claims you might be eligible for. We’ll connect you with top wildfire claims and personal injury attorneys who will win you the best outcome and the fastest recovery possible.