Meadows Fire - Zurich Insurance To The Rescue

At the Meadows Homeowners Association meeting last night, there was little else discussed than the fire and the Jeffrey Road Underpass project. Even Mayor Sukhee Kang was there to express his regret over the fire. More than 100 residents attended the meeting.

All reports agree that liability has been accepted by SEMA, the general contractor, and its insurance company Zurich American Insurance Co. was flying out to Orange County a special adjuster to deal with the claims. There will be an "appraiser" and claims handling person contacting those residents who suffered losses, and this team will inspect any homes or property near the fire.

Don't expect miracles. Zurich is one of the biggest insurers around and specializes in liability insurance for large contractors. Take a look at their website, http://www.zurichna.com/zna/home/welcome.htm. Companies like Zurich don't get that way being liberal in paying claims, and you can expect the adjuster to be very tight-fisted.

One tactic used by insurers is the "low-ball" offer. The adjuster looks at the claim and immediately offers a sum of money that he (or she) knows is inadequate, but promises to give you a check today. He or she will always be prepared to offer more if you the claimant hold out for it. Just don't fall for the trap of accepting the first offer.

If you lost property in the fire, you are entitled to recover the fair market value of that property. For example, a complete functioning but used travel trailer should be valued at what it would sell for on the market. A 2005 travel trailer that burns is worth for claim purposes what the same 2005 travel trailer would sell for as a used trailer at retail. Don't let the adjuster give you any false tales about "depreciation," or "betterment" or "wholesale value" or any such nonsense.

Also don't let the adjuster try to claim there's any issue about liability. This case is what lawyers often term a "slam-dunk" against the contractor. The insurance company is required to step up to the plate and pay such claims without hassling the claimants.

You can help your case by looking up online the current values of destroyed property. Even Kelley Blue Book has an RV section for trailers -- http://www.ehow.com/how_2095339_price-trailer-kelley-blue-book.html, and don't forget all the many items inside the trailer that were destroyed.

Keep track of your discussions with the adjuster, and confirm anything he or she promises in writing. For example, if she says she needs to talk to her home office, send her a letter (or an Email) confirming the conversation and any agreements reached.

If there are any problems dealing with Zurich, you can always file a complaint with the Department of Insurance. You can find details about how to do that on the DOI's website, http://www.insurance.ca.gov/contact-us/0200-file-complaint/index.cfm

Disastrous Fire Pictures

Here are pictures of the disastrous fire at the RV storage lot at the Meadows Manufactured Home park on Jeffrey Road in Irvine. Two RVs were completely destroyed, one a large motor home owned by the Jaramillo family, the other a trailer for a race car and its accessories. This fire took place Friday afternoon, April 30, at about 1:00 pm. Multiple OC Fire Authority trucks responded.

Widespread reports are that an acetylene torch being used by a Contractor to remove sound barriers erected during the Jeffrey Road Underpass project ignited cypress trees, which in turn ignited the cloth covered barriers themselves. Because of the high winds the fire quickly spread to the RVs. The City refuses to say yet what caused the fire.

Two other RVs were reported damaged.

Cinders and ash from the fire were found as far as a quarter-mile away, threatening dozens of nearby homes belonging to senior residents of the Meadows park.

Will the City promptly acknowledge its responsibility and that of its contractor for this fire? Are the residents who suffered grievous losses going to need to go through a prolonged "investigation" so the City can delay paying out proper compensation? Or, will the City try to blame the contractor and create more delay while all the insurance companies hassle over this disaster?

The City was supposed to have an Inspector on hand and present during all construction activities. Where was he and why did he permit torch-cutting during the high winds prevailing Friday afternoon?