Washington Wildfire Lawyer
Eastern Washington’s Wildland Fire Attorneys
Victims of the Tunnel 5 Fire or the Gray Fire: Do you Have a Case?
If you, a family member, or a loved one had uninsured property that was destroyed or damaged during the July 2023 Tunnel 5 Fire near Underwood, WA, the August 2023 Gray Fire near Medical Lake and Cheney, WA, or other wildland fires, you may be able to recover your property losses for the destruction of trees, structures, grasslands, vehicles, equipment, agricultural lands, as well as personal property damage and even loss of income.
The Eastern Washington personal injury attorneys of Abeyta Nelson Injury Law, a 42-year law firm located in Yakima, Ellensburg, and Sunnyside represents homeowners, landowners and wildfire victims who have had their property damaged by wildland fires.
The Abeyta Nelson Injury Law team would like to talk with you about how they might be able to help you and explain your legal rights. There is no fee for an initial consultation, and no fee unless a recovery is made for you.
Abeyta Nelson Injury Law Has Recovered $90 M for Fire Victims
Attorney Rod Nelson of Abeyta Nelson Injury Law is one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading legal experts in wildland fire cases, successfully recovering more than $90 million for hundreds of fire victims over the past 12 years. Nelson co-founded Abeyta Nelson Injury Law in Yakima, Washington in 1981, and has practiced personal injury law for 45 years. Rod Nelson and his team have provided the highest level of legal representation for clients in following complex settlements:
- Confidential settlement for 160 claimants in the Monastery Fire on Satus Pass near Goldendale, WA (2011)
- $219,330 settlement for six families in the Wishram Fire near Wishram, WA (2011)
- $9,800,000 total settlement for 124 claimants who lacked insurance or suffered damage their insurance did not cover in the Taylor Bridge Fire near Ellensburg, WA (2012). Abeyta Nelson attorney Rod Nelson provided lead counsel in this case that recovered a total of $60 M for all plaintiffs involved.
- $600,000 settlement for four families in the St. Mary’s Mission Road Fire near Omak, WA (2012)
- $1,600,000 settlement for three families in the Blue Creek Fire near Walla Walla, WA (2015)
- $6,200,000 settlement for 11 families in the Twisp River Fire near Twisp, WA (2015)
- $619,000 settlement for six families in the South Wenas Fire near Selah, WA (2017)
- Abeyta Nelson Injury Law is collaborating with California wildfire attorneys on the Camp Fire in Paradise, CA. The firms are jointly representing 250 claimants who suffered from devastating fire damage during the fire that wiped out an entire town (2018)
- Rock Bottom Road Fire in Wilbur, WA (2019). Abeyta Nelson is representing one family for their damages resulting from this fire.
- Road 11 Fire in Waterville, WA (2020). Abeyta Nelson is representing one family for their damages resulting from this fire.
- Babb Fire near Malden, WA (2020). This devastating fire burned 15,266 acres, 121 primary residences and commercial buildings, and 94 other structures. Much of the town of Malden was destroyed. In addition, the town of Pine City was also badly damaged. Abeyta Nelson is representing 8 families and businesses who suffered damages from this fire.
- Whitney Fire near Davenport, WA (2020). Abeyta Nelson is representing three families for their damages resulting from this fire.
Experienced Wildfire Attorneys Make All the Difference in Handling Insurance Claims Related to Wildland Fire Cases
Washington courts have held that utility companies like Avista, as well as PG&E, Pacific Gas, and others are required to exercise “the highest degree of care human prudence is equal to.” This means in practical terms that utility companies should do everything in their power to prevent vegetation from coming in contact with power lines so that fires like the Babb Fire, with their devastating consequences, do not occur.
Abeyta Nelson Injury Law represents wildfire victims who have suffered uninsured losses from fires caused by improperly-maintained utility lines. Our experienced personal injury law firm is currently representing several individuals who suffered losses due to wildfire in the states of Washington and California.
Abeyta Nelson Injury Law holds these utility companies and businesses accountable for the fire damage, serious injury, and wrongful deaths that they cause to fire victims.
The personal injury attorneys of Abeyta Nelson Injury Law in Yakima, Ellensburg, and Sunnyside represent homeowners, landowners and wildfire victims who have had their property damaged by wildland fires.
The Abeyta Nelson Injury Law team would like to talk with you about how they might be able to help you and explain your legal rights. There is no fee for an initial consultation, and no fee unless a recovery is made for you.
The Vast Majority of Wildfires are Man-Made, Not Caused by Lightning Strikes
According to the Insurance Information Institute, only 10 percent of wildfires are caused by lightning or natural causes. An astounding 90 percent of fires in the U.S. are man-made, which may include unattended campfires, burning of vegetation or debris, cigarettes or acts of arson. The III also lists the western states – particularly central and eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and both northern California and southern California – as being among the top 10 states of high to extreme wildfire risk (2019).
Human-made wildfires are also caused by overgrown vegetation adjacent to power lines owned by utility companies that neglect to maintain their equipment. In addition, hot exhaust from vehicles or equipment used around dry vegetation can spark fires at work sites, which may have extremely dangerous and life-threatening consequences for homeowners and property owners in fire-prone areas.
Won’t my Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Cover Fire Losses? What if I Don’t Have Insurance Coverage?
Typically, homeowner’s insurance policies treat fire as a “peril” or “catastrophe,” so many insurance companies will cover fire damage to homes, attached or detached structures, personal property, and the cost to live elsewhere if your home is destroyed. Insurers may or may not cover the cost to replace landscaping, however, and insurance coverage for wildfire damage may vary depending on where you live. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover all types of fire damage.
If you do not have adequate limits under your insurance policy, or if you have no insurance coverage at all, you may still be eligible to file a wildfire claim. Schedule a free consultation with our trial lawyers today to discuss your legal options.
How Do I Know If I Should Hire an Attorney?
Since Abeyta Nelson never charges any client or potential client to talk with an attorney during a free consultation, you have nothing to lose nothing by calling our office. If you do have a valid legal claim, our team of injury lawyers will begin immediately building a strong case for you. Don’t delay contacting Abeyta Nelson Injury Law until after you’ve been given a settlement offer from an insurance company, or for any other reason. Hiring an attorney with a proven track record is absolutely essential in order to receive the compensation you truly deserve. Abeyta Nelson Injury Law handles injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no fee to our clients – ever – unless we recover compensation for you. And we consistently receive client testimonials from clients who are more than satisfied with the results of their personal injury case.
Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Are Ready to Help You Today
At Abeyta Nelson, our Central Washington personal injury lawyers understand that no two clients are the same, and that’s why we listen carefully to the unique details of your story. From your first phone call to our law firm, you’ll talk with a real person who cares about what you’re going through. Our personal injury lawyers work hard to establish a strong attorney-client relationship with every client. If you choose to hire our firm, an experienced personal injury attorney will listen to you, answer your questions, and put you at ease. Our entire legal team takes the time to understand your concerns, and communicate with you as your case progresses. We pledge to give you the best legal advice possible. And most of all, we promise to take the pressure of the claims process off you so you can get better, and get on with your life.
Don’t hesitate to contact our team at Abeyta Nelson today if you have questions about a potential wildfire claim. Information regarding representation by our firm on this or other fires can be obtained by calling Sherry at phone number (509) 575-1588. Please call Abeyta Nelson today to schedule a free consultation. Our wildfire attorneys take your personal injury case personally.
Send us a message or give us a phone call at 509-588-0240 to get started now.
