Jackson, MS Wildfire Insurance Dispute Lawyers
Strong representation for property owners when wildfires burn property and cause soot damage
The fear of wildfires in Mississippi is real. According to the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC), Mississippi has 19.2 million acres of forestland. The agency “responded to and suppressed 1,070 wildfires that burned 19,803 acres” in fiscal year 2023. The MFC detects wildfires by airplane surveillance, reports from local law enforcement, and reports from the public. In 2023, the MFC helped to save 1,541 structures. The average size of the wildfires was 19 acres.
At McWherter Scott and Bobbitt, PLC, we hold insurance companies accountable when they fail to pay the temporary advances and permanent compensation you paid for. Our Jackson, MS insurance dispute lawyers handle all types of natural disaster claims. We work with a network of professionals who can fully assess the severity of the damage, whether you can make repairs or should rebuild, whether you need to move, and the full cost of the restoration of your property and possessions.
What causes wildfires?
Wildfires can happen for many reasons. According to Earth.org, wildfires may start due to “dry fuel such as leaves, grass, branches, and other organic materials, oxygen in the air, and heat that ignites and burns.” The source of the heat may come from lightning strikes or spontaneous combustion. Heat sources may also be due to human activity, such as campfires, negligently discarding cigarette butts, equipment fires, and vehicle fires. Arson (intentionally causing a fire) can also cause a wildfire.
What insurance policies cover wildfire damage?
Generally, your homeowner’s insurance and your commercial property insurance should protect you if there is a wildfire. Other policies that may provide coverage include renters’ insurance, condominium insurance, and vehicle insurance.
Homeowners’ and commercial property insurance may include protections for your dwelling and any other structures, pay for the removal of any debris, help you comply with local building code requirements, and pay you for damage to your landscaping and damage to your personal property (such as furniture, appliances, clothing, jewelry, and any items in your home).
Depending on the terms, these policies can also pay for temporary living or work expenses. Commercial property insurance should also pay for your business interruption losses, equipment damage, and many related expenses, such as your obligations to tenants and any liability claims.
Our lawyers also review whether you have any excess coverage policies that could compensate you for wildfire damage.
What types of wildfire insurance disputes do you handle?
Our accomplished Mississippi wildfire lawyers have the skills and working relationships to handle every type of claim and issue that may arise while we seek full coverage for all your damages.
At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we handle the following types of disputes, among others:
- Emergency requirements. We work with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and local officials to help you understand when you can return to your property and what steps you should take to stay safe. Some of the immediate steps you may need to take (if it’s safe to return to your property) include turning off any utilities in a safe manner.
- Temporary advances. Most wildfires completely or substantially destroy your home or building. Homeowners and business owners usually need to find a new place to live or work (usually by renting a home, office, or apartment). We help you obtain temporary advances to find a new location, move to that new location, and pay for various necessities, such as new clothes and meals. For businesses, temporary advances also include the cost to notify clients/customers, obtain new equipment, obtain new technology, conduct marketing, and many other expenses.
- Coverage issues. We can review your insurance policies to determine if you’re covered, whether any exclusions/exceptions apply, how the damages should be valued, and any other insurance coverage issues.
- Repairing, rebuilding, or moving. If you’re lucky, you may be able to repair the damage to your property and possessions. In most cases, wildfire victims either need to rebuild from scratch or consider permanently moving to a new location. We can work with building code officials and a variety of contractors, engineers, architects, real estate appraisers, and others to help you decide which remedies are best.
- The experts that our Jackson, MS wildfire insurance lawyers work with will provide estimates for the cost to repair or rebuild your home. We also work with appraisers and other valuation experts if repairs and rebuilding are not feasible. These experts help to show the replacement cost of your property (before the wildfire) or the cost to move and replace your possessions. We seek compensation for every item that was damaged due to the wildfire.
- Business interruption losses. Our lawyers work with financial professionals in your field who can place a value on your fixed expenses like mortgages, lost profits, and the cost to replace your inventory, machines, equipment, and other business assets.
- Related damage. In addition to any damage due to wildfires, we seek compensation for any smoke, soot, or ash damage that may occur when firefighters work to extinguish any fires.
- Bad faith negotiations. At McWherter Scott & Bobbitt, we file bad faith claims when insurance companies deliberately deny your claim or delay payment without proper justification.
What steps should I take after a wildfire damages my property?
In addition to working with FEMA and MEMA, we can explain what other steps you should take after a wildfire runs through Jackson, Mississippi. These steps include:
- Keep visual and text records. To the extent it is safe to do so, you should take photos/videos of the damage to your property. If the building is not structurally safe or the air is contaminated, you can wait until our contractors arrive – so they can take pictures and videos. You should also keep receipts if you relocate for all your expenses.
- Test for toxins. You should arrange, normally through your insurance company (we can help), for a Certified Industrial Hygienist to test your home/business for any contamination (such as smoke, soot, or ash). These tests can help show the full scope of the damage to your property. Normally, the hygienist will take chemical samples. We’re here to help you hire professional cleaners to remove any smoke, soot, or ash.
- Contact our lawyers. We can answer your questions, explain your rights, and fight for all the compensation you deserve. Our lawyers settle many cases because insurance companies understand our dedication to our clients and our record of successful recoveries.
Do you have a Jackson, MS wildfire insurance lawyer near me?
Yes. Our insurance dispute attorneys meet clients at our office located at 460 Briarwood Drive, Suite 400-101.
We also conduct consultations by phone and through online video platforms, such as FaceTime and Zoom. Our lawyers use investigators, builders, and appraisers who will view all of your damage firsthand.
We’ve helped many natural disaster victims obtain strong recoveries.
Get help from our Jackson, Mississippi wildfire lawyers today
At McWherter Scott Bobbitt PLC, our team moves quickly to give you practical and legal advice to help minimize your damages and obtain all the policy compensation you deserve. Wildfires can destroy homes and communities quickly. Our insurance dispute lawyers work aggressively to obtain the temporary advances you need to function and the full benefits you need to rebuild and start over.
Please call us or complete our contact form to schedule an appointment. We also have offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.