UCLA and group launch survey on wildfire insurance claims handling

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a grassroots wildfire survivors group are collecting stories about how insurance companies treated customers after the Eaton and Palisades fires. The survey, which launched on September 14, has gathered over 1,100 responses and aims to create the nation’s first public record of post-disaster claims handling. Researchers are seeking more information, particularly from renters and policyholders of smaller surplus-lines carriers.

The project intends to hold insurance companies accountable for their post-disaster practices and determine if they have met their promises. The collected information will become public, providing insight into issues like underinsurance and claims processing.