Phoenix Fire Damage Lawyer | Phillips Law Group

A wildfire is an uncontrolled blaze fueled by wind, weather and dry vegetation that can burn thousands of acres of land and destroy everything in its path.

If you have been injured, lost a loved one or suffered serious property damage from of a wildfire, the Phillips Law Group’s wildfire damage lawyers are determined to help you recover the compensation you deserve. As an accomplished personal injury law firm, we have recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for injury victims throughout Arizona. Our firm’s founder Jeffery Phillips has received the distinction as one of the “Best Attorneys in America” and is a Leaders Forum member of the American Association for Justice. We will provide you with a free, no obligation consultation to determine the compensation you may be owed. All of our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis and do not charge upfront legal fees. You only have to pay us if we recover compensation for your claim.

Call 1-800-706-3000 if you have suffered a loss caused by a wildfire.

How Can An Attorney Help Me After a Wildfire?

A wildfire is a destructive force of nature that causes severe devastation to anything that crosses its path. The damage caused by a wildfire often results in serious injuries, death and significant loss of property.

Victims of wildfire damage often discover that rebuilding their life after a fire can come with significant challenges. Although you may have purchased an insurance policy that included coverage for fire damage, many people find that they are underinsured. Often, the compensation insurance companies provide fire damage victims does not fully cover the cost to rebuild their damaged or destroyed homes, personal property or landscaping.

Wildfire damage claims involve complex litigation where often multiple parties can be held liable for causing a fire. This can include a utility company; tree trimming company; wiring company; or federal, state, county, and city governments and agencies. To help ensure your claim is properly handled, you may need a qualified wildfire damage attorney who understands the litigation process and can make sure your best interests are represented.

At the Phillips Law Group, our wildfire litigation attorneys understand the impact that severe fire damage can have on a person’s life. We will handle your case professionally and efficiently, while minimizing the effect it may have on your life. Our reputable law firm has decades of combined legal experience and is committed to investing the time and resources needed to represent your fire damage claim.

Our wildfire damage attorneys will provide you with a free, no obligation consultation to review your claim and determine if you have a case that entitles you to compensation. During our initial consultation, we will review your insurance policy to determine if your insurer has acted in bad faith and provided you inadequate compensation for your coverage.

Complete aFree Case Evaluation form to get started today.

What Causes Wildfires?

Wildfires often begin unnoticed and spread quickly by igniting brush, trees, homes and structures. Although wildfires can be started through natural sources, such as lightening, the vast majority of wildfires are man-made.

In a 2017 study, researchers analyzed 1.5 million government records of wildfires managed by state or federal agencies between 1992 and 2012 and found that humans caused 84 percent of wildfires and 44 percent of total area burned during the 20-year period.

According to the National Park Service, man-made fires are the result of negligence or carelessness, such as leaving campfires unattended, burning trash and debris, or discarding cigarettes in areas with dry vegetation. Intentional acts of arson are also contributing to the growing number of wildfires that occur in wildland areas near developed communities.

Additionally, wildfires have been caused by corporate negligence, particularly utility companies. Such an incident occurred in 2007 when faulty electrical wiring in a downed powerline struck a tree maintained by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. The incident caused three major Southern California brush fires that burned more than 198,000 acres of land, destroyed more than 1,500 homes, injured 40 firefighters, and caused two deaths.

If you have been affected by a man-made fire, our wildfire litigation attorneys will review your claim to determine which parties can be held liable for your damages. We will then work to construct a solid case to pursue maximum compensation for your claim.

Fill out ourFree Case Evaluation form.

Wildfires in Arizona

The 10 largest wildfires in state history all occurred in just a 17-year period between 2002 and 2019. This includes 2019’s Woodbury fire in Tonto National Forest that began on June 8, 2019 and was not contained until more than a month later. The fire consumed more than 123,000 acres and was the fifth-largest in state history.

Top Four Largest Wildfires in State History

The four largest wildfires in Arizona’s history include:

• Horseshoe Two Fire ”“ This happened in the Coronado National Forest in the Chiricahua Mountains in 2011. The fire burned 222,954 acres of scrub, oak pine and desert grassland.
• Cave Creek Complex Fire ”“ This was set off by a lightning strike in 2005 and it consumed more than 243,950 acres across Maricopa and Yavapai counties.
• Rodeo-Chedeski Fire ”“ These were both preventable because they were set by two individuals who were trying to get attention. The wildfires combined to destroy almost 500 homes and 468,000 acres in Navajo and Gila counties. These fires happened in 2002.
• Wallow Fire ”“ This is the biggest wildfire in the history of the state, and it happened in 2011. Before it was contained, it destroyed 538,049 acres in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, Arizona has the fourth-highest risk of an extreme wildfire among all 50 states.

The state with the highest risk is California, which had several wildfires larger than 500 acres all burning at the same time in September 2019. The Walker Fire in the Plumas National Forest was the largest, and it started on Sept. 4, 2019. By mid-September, it had burned up 50,730 acres.

California’s Paradise Camp Fire in 2018 resulted in the town of Paradise losing 90 percent of its population due to wildfire damage. The fire killed 85 people and destroyed 14,000 residences.

Wildfire Injury Claims

The path of an uncontrolled wildfire is often unpredictable. Strong winds and other natural elements may direct the fire toward developed areas with populated communities.

Wildfires that occur near populated residential communities have the potential to inflict massive damage on the area and its residents, including severe injuries or death. Our wildfire damage lawyers often represent two types of injury claims:

Burn Injuries

Burn injuries are one of the most painful and disfiguring injuries that you can suffer. Approximately 180,000 deaths each year are caused by burns and non-fatal burn injuries are one of the leading causes of disease development, according to the World Health Organization. If you or someone you love suffered a serious wildfire-related burn injury, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for the following:

Smoke Inhalation

Any smoke you inhale contains particles that can cause severe irritation and inflammation in your lungs. Wildfires typically burn materials that contain carbon, which can release toxic chemicals such as:

Wildfire smoke remains in the air for days or weeks after the fire has been extinguished. The smoke can cause serious adverse health effects, such as lung damage, difficulty breathing, asthma and worsened health conditions.

If you or someone you love suffered a serious burn injury or medical complication from a wildfire, do not hesitate to contact our fire damage lawyers for qualified and aggressive legal representation. We will help you fight to receive the compensation you need to pay for medical treatment and recovery costs.

Call 1-800-706-3000 to schedule a free consultation.

Wildfires Property Damage Claims

The damage caused by wildfires can be far-reaching and affect many different types of areas, including residential communities, construction or development sites, and privately owned agricultural farm lands.

Our wildfire litigation attorneys are qualified to handle fire damage claims surrounding several types of property damage, including:

Structural Damage

Wildfires that spread to residential areas or business communities are known to cause devastating damage to nearby structures.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 30.8 percent of fires occur in residential communities and developed commercial areas. A structure fire can cause extreme damage that may result in the total destruction of the building.

Our fire damage litigation attorneys will help you pursue compensation for damages such as:

Structural fire damage claims can also include the cost of code upgrades, as well as payment for uncovered or uninsured structures, such as garages, sheds or guest houses.

Agricultural/Vegetative Damage

Wildfire poses a high risk to areas thick with vegetation and often destroys the majority of the native landscape. This can have severe long-term consequences, including soil erosion, flooding, landslides and mudslides.

A wildfire can result in the total destruction of agricultural products and farming areas. Many farmers do not insure their crops and when a wildfire occurs, it can cause financial devastation for the farmer and may affect the local community.

Additionally, a wildfire will likely destroy the vegetation and landscaping of any area it affects. When a wildfire affects the native vegetation or a home owner’s landscaping, it may take years for the area to fully recover.

Insurance companies rarely provide compensation for uninsured agricultural products and vegetation, which means you should contact a wildfire damage litigation attorneys as soon as possible.

Personal Property Damage

Often, people suffer extreme property damage during a fire. As a wildfire can be unpredictable and may change its path without notice, people are left with little time to secure their personal belongings and are often forced to leave them behind.

Although personal property is one of the most commonly listed items lost in fires, many people are uninsured or underinsured in their fire damage policy to collect compensation for lost or damaged items.

Our attorneys will carefully review your policy to determine if you can recover compensation for personal property lost or damaged in the fire.

Fire Damage Insurance Policies

Insurance companies are often quick to settle fire damage claims, and many people who have suffered significant losses during a fire accept an insurer’s initial offer without realizing the true value of their claim until long after they settle. If you believe that an insurer’s offer is too low, or your claim has been wrongfully denied, do not hesitate to contact a skilled wildfire damage lawyer.

Our experienced fire litigation attorneys understand the true extent of damage that occurs during a fire. We will employ a team of investigators and construction professionals to assess the destruction that occurred to your home, business or private property to accurately understand the value of your claim.

This could include compensation for:

You deserve to be fully compensated for all losses covered by your insurance policy. If your insurance company has wrongfully denied or undervalued your claim, our wildfire litigation attorneys will aggressively pursue the full compensation you are entitled.

Complete our Free Case Evaluation form.

Contact Our Skilled Wildfire Damage Lawyers

If you have been injured or lost your home after a wildfire, it is in your best interest to contact a skilled wildfire damage lawyer as soon as possible.

At the Phillips Law Group, our seasoned attorneys are skilled wildfire litigators and will thoroughly represent your interests during a fire damage insurance claim. We will identify the party responsible for causing the fire and hold it liable for the damages you suffered. Our attorneys are also experienced negotiators and will handle all communications with insurance companies to ensure your claim is treated fairly and properly represented.

Do not hesitate to contact us for a free, no obligation consultation if you have suffered significant personal injuries or property loss after a fire. We never charge our clients upfront for our services, which means our qualified attorneys only require payment if you are compensated for your claim.

Call 1-800-706-3000 to get started now.