California unveils stronger laws for wildfire claims

The California insurance commissioner and legislators unveiled eight bills (six of which have already been introduced) and two additional legislative proposals designed to strengthen consumer protections for wildfire survivors.

California wildfires in October 2017 have triggered total insured losses that top $9.4 billion in residential and commercial claims.

The Wildfire Survivors Insurance Recovery bills are designed to strengthen consumer protections for wildfire survivors making insurance claims who struggle to recover, rebuild, and move forward.

"Californians whose homes have been destroyed totally or partially by wildfires should not get hung up in insurer red tape when trying to put their lives back together," said insurance commissioner Dave Jones. "Our Wildfire Survivors Insurance Recovery legislative package strengthens the laws protecting wildfire survivors in the insurance claims process and will improve their chances for recovery."

The unprecedented fires of 2017, including the North Bay fires that destroyed and damaged 21,000 homes, have underscored the challenges homeowners face when trying to navigate the insurance claims process, according to the California Department of Insurance.

Join us at Intelligent Automation in Insurance - London 2018.  Book by Jan 31st and you could save £400.

More of today's news

Beazley upbeat on 2017 results

AmWINS names new CEO following transition

New regulation to keep London insurers busy in 2018

Lockton appoints COO of US Pacific operations

Probitas 1492 bolsters financial lines unit with QBE hire

Don't miss our insurtech email newsletter - sign up today