Woodley Fire claim eligibility

The Woodley Fire started at 6:15 am on January 8, 2025, burning through 30 acres of a Sepulveda Basin parkland in Los Angeles County, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE).

By the time it was reported, Los Angeles firefighters were already trying to contain two devastating crises: the Palisade Fire and the Eaton Fire, which were uncontrollable fires affecting thousands of structures.

While the Woodley Fire was contained within 24 hours, the damages may be permanent and irreversible. The Sepulveda Basin area is home to hundreds of residents and is a critical flood management area and wildlife preserve. If you have been injured or lost properties because of the Woodley Fire, you may be eligible to file a claim with your insurance or file a lawsuit.

Key impacted areas of the Woodley Fire:

• North Woodley Avenue (starting location)
• Parkland west of 405 Freeway
• Areas of Sepulveda Basin (north of 101 Freeway)

What caused the Woodley Fire in California

Wildfires can be caused by many factors, and the conditions of January 2025 were not ideal. Dry vegetation and collected biomass, coupled with strong Santa Ana winds, did not make it easy for firefighters to extinguish the fire.

If investigators find that a specific party was responsible for starting or worsening the fire, you may be eligible for compensation. These parties include:

• Government agencies (federal, city, or county)
• Utility companies, including power and telecommunication
• Manufacturers of equipment like generators or transformers
• Private individuals, if proven to be negligent or unlawful

How to file a Woodley Fire claim: eligibility and requirements

You may be eligible to file a claim if your property or business was directly affected by the Woodley Fire. Damages can include:

• your residence
• the rental property you live in
• your business premises
• your personal belongings and valuables
• your vehicles
• your pets or service animals
• your livestock
• your agricultural or residential lands

Important things to do after a wildfire caused damages

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

1. Assess the extent of the damage. 

• Keep a list of all the properties and items affected.
• Look for potential hidden damages caused by water, smoke, and ash.
• Take photos or videos for documentation once the fire is contained.

2. Notify your insurance provider as soon as you can.

3. Track every expense and keep the receipts, especially for the following:

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

4. Keep all records of communication.

• Save all emails, texts, and letters received from officials, insurance companies, and adjusters.

5. Seek legal support to protect your rights as you recover from this crisis.

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

Protect yourself from insurance bad faith

Not all insurance claims will run smoothly. You might encounter problems if your insurance company does not act in good faith. Some adjusters have been known to mislead policyholders and set unreasonable conditions.

According to the California Insurance Commissioner, these are some of the issues that wildfire victims may face when dealing with adjusters:

• People who want to rebuild their homes elsewhere were told by adjusters that they would not receive the full benefits. They were also told that they were not eligible for building code upgrade costs.
• People who wanted to buy land in another location were informed that the land value of their new property would be subtracted from their total benefits.

If you have experienced similar treatment or want to avoid facing these issues in the first place, Atraxia Law can help you. We will evaluate your case and find the best attorney to protect you from lowball offers and policy loopholes.

How much compensation you can get for Woodley Fire damages

It is challenging to estimate compensation for wildfire damages because it heavily depends on the status of your property and the expenses incurred when you evacuated. The Insurance Journal reported that insurance firms shelled out more than $4 billion in payouts for the LA wildfires by the end of January 2025.

With many large fires that razed Los Angeles in January, this amount does not even come close to the total damages. Based on Accuweather’s calculations, damages and economic losses could amount to up to $250 billion. To estimate wildfire damages, the following should be included:

• 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

Woodley Fire claims statute of limitations

Your deadline for filing an insurance claim starts from the date of personal injury or property damage. Typically, you would have up to a year to file a claim, but this could change depending on many factors. According to CNBC, homeowners could have 30 days to two years to file an insurance claim, depending on the insurer and state.

Different legal deadlines apply for lawsuits under California Law, depending on the type of suit:

• Personal injury. File within two (2) years from the date the injury (or death of a family member) occurred.
• Property damage. File within three (3) years from the date the damage occurred.
• Government-related claims:

• California government actor. File a written notice within six (6) months of the injury before filing a lawsuit.
• Federal government actor. File a pre-litigation claim, then file a lawsuit under the Federal Torts Claim Act within two (2) years of the incident.

Atraxia Law can help you in filing your Woodley Fire claim

Recovery after wildfires is difficult enough. The last thing we want is for you to lose your chance to get the maximum compensation to help you bounce back from a disaster. Our team has decades of experience evaluating cases and finding the attorneys that are best fit for each unique case. Atraxia Law offers a free case evaluation to see if you’re eligible for a claim. We will connect you with a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of wildfire litigation.