It can be physically and emotionally devastating to deal with the aftermath of a catastrophic natural disaster. Depending on the level of damage, you could be looking at a large number of life changes you never thought you’d have to make. It’s not your fault that this happened to you, but it may be up to you to try and rectify it, especially if your insurance provider refuses to help. A Los Angeles mudslide damage lawyer can help you.
While mudslides are not as common in California as some other natural disasters, they can still cause quite a bit of damage when they do occur. Mudslides are landslides that form when a lot of wet dirt, rocks, and other debris start rapidly flowing down a hill or mountainside. Generally, they are triggered by significant rainfall and can cause severe damage to almost everything they hit, including homes, vehicles, and pedestrians, among other things.
In California, it may not be possible to hold any one person accountable for damages that occur during a natural disaster known as a land failure. This includes mudslides, which have the power to cause irreparable damage to your life in many different ways. They could destroy your house, total your vehicle, or even seriously harm someone close to you. Sawyer & Labar LLP founding attorney Ivo Labar can help you take legal action the right way.
When your insurance provider refuses to pay you due to shady business practices or poor communication, it may be considered bad faith insurance. Bad faith insurance is the result of an insurance company engaging in unethical business practices to get out of paying a claim, leaving the claimant high and dry. This sometimes happens in the wake of natural disasters that should be mitigated by having insurance. Losing insurance money can make things even worse.
If your insurance company fails to show up for you, you should consider hiring an experienced property insurance claims lawyer who can have your back in ways your insurance provider should’ve but didn’t. After all, you carry insurance, particularly homeowner’s insurance, to protect yourself against situations like mudslides. When they don’t pay out, it can make you question the point of even having insurance in the first place.
Regrettably, there are many different ways that an insurance company can act in bad faith, and all of them result in claimants losing out on payouts that they need. Understanding and recognizing the behaviors that insurance providers can take may be good for your future case against them, should you wish to make one. If you notice your insurance carrier engaging in any of the following behaviors, it might mean they are acting in bad faith.
A: While it’s never easy to determine how much damage a natural disaster can do until it’s already happened, mudslides have the potential to be quite catastrophic. Mudslides can irreparably damage homes and businesses, cause severe damage to infrastructure, and even cause serious damage to local ecosystems and the environment. Depending on the size and speed of a mudslide, it can cause a substantial amount of damage.
A: If you find yourself caught in a mudslide, you should do whatever you can to move away from its path as soon as you possibly can. You should try getting to higher ground to avoid getting caught in the path of the mudslide. If escape is simply not possible, you should curl up into a ball and protect your head with your hands. There are no guarantees you won’t emerge unscathed, but this could give you a fighting chance.
A: The primary difference between a mudslide and a mudflow is the viscosity of the flowing debris. A mudslide is far more compact and largely composed of wet earth, debris, and whatever else gets caught in the mudslide as it moves downhill. A mudflow is much more fluid and is essentially a fast-moving river of mud that contains a larger amount of water. Both are considerably dangerous and can cause untold devastation to all in their paths.
A: No, generally, most home insurance does not cover natural disasters in California. This includes earthquakes, floods, mudslides, and landslides, among other naturally occurring disasters. Many home insurance policies do cover fires, volcanic eruptions, and explosions that result from earth movement, but not the disasters themselves. You can purchase additional coverage from your provider to help cover additional losses.
Facing the aftermath of a mudslide on your own can be daunting and infuriating. Having someone on your side who understands and empathizes with your situation really can make all the difference. If your insurance company refuses to help you, it can make everything feel considerably worse. A good lawyer can help you figure out a way to hold everyone accountable and make sure you aren’t left behind. Contact us to speak to a team member about your case.
With our legal team on your side, you can count on us to find a swift resolution to your situation.