By Tim Gaspar
Lost your home? Have damage from the fires? Smoke? There are certain things you should do to expedite your insurance claim.
Have Your Home Policy Information Handy: Include your policy number and phone number to file a claim. Many carriers also allow you to file the claim online.
List Damaged or Lost Items: In addition to telling the carrier what type of damage your home sustained, the insurance carrier will also ask you to make a list of personal items damaged or destroyed in the fire. This is where a video or pictures of the inside of your home come in handy. This can take some time to put together so it’s better to start sooner than later. You will want to provide a description of the items and possibly an approximate replacement cost. Your insurance carrier will ask you if you have receipts and/or pictures of these items – those are generally helpful but not required.
Temporary Living Expenses: Put together a list of any expenses you incur for being out of your home including hotel stays, meals, transportation, etc.
Fire Department Report: Request a copy of the fire department’s report, which can confirm the cause and scope of the wildfire.
Evacuation Notices: Get official documentation that confirms you were in an evacuation zone.
Notes of Conversations: Document every interaction with your insurance company, including the names of representatives, dates, and summaries of what was discussed.
Organizing Your Claim: Create a folder or digital file to store all relevant documents, receipts, and communication logs. Being organized and thorough will not only expedite the process but also reduce stress during an already difficult time.
One more quick note. You WILL get a call from a public adjuster wanting to represent you in the claim. Don’t sign any kind of contract with anyone for at least a few days. Public adjusters can be helpful and provide value in large and complicated claims but they take a percentage of the claim dollars so depending on your carrier and complexity (or lack thereof) of your claim you might not need a public adjuster.
Tim Gaspar is the founder and CEO of Gaspar Insurance and a candidate for LA City Council 2026. You can reach him at tim@timgaspar.com
