Callahan & Blaine

When it comes to shelling out for earthquake insurance, many Orange County, California residents are on the fence. For most, if they buy it or if they don’t buy it, they are still left wondering if they made the right choice.

Prior to the Northridge earthquakes of 1994, earthquake insurance was relatively inexpensive and for many Californians the choice to purchase it was an easy one. But the $12.5 billion the insurance companies paid out for quake damage after the Northridge earthquakes changed the game.

In the face of heavy lobbying by the insurance industry, the California legislature approved the introduction of the mini-policy – earthquake insurance with high deductibles and many exclusions. While the cost of the new mini-policies is more manageable, California homeowner participation in the earthquake insurance program has dropped to 13.3 percent.

Experts still urge homeowners to buy the coverage, reminding them that “if you don’t have earthquake insurance, your deductible is 100 percent.” Having that coverage could save you from total financial collapse and help get you back on your feet much faster if the worst happens.

Of course, if you do decide to purchase earthquake insurance, you need to be sure that your insurance company will be there for you if the worst should happen. As a litigation firm with a national reputation for aggressively litigating and consistently winning complex multi-million dollar cases, Callahan & Blain has developed an expertise in going after the insurance companies – and making them pay.

After the Northridge earthquakes, our attorneys were able to obtain $800,000 in coverage for a client who had been denied coverage for claims by her insurance provider.

If your homeowner’s insurance claim has been denied after a natural disaster, contact the lawyers of Callahan& Blaine for expert legal assistance in getting the money you deserve.