A new insurer survey estimates that roughly three-quarters of claims stemming from the devastating October wildfires have been resolved. A poll by the Insurance Information Network of California of insurers representing more than 65 percent of the homeowners insurance market found that they have paid and completed 8,955 of the 11,841 residential fire claims for a total of more than $1.05 billion. More than 19,000 insurance claims were filed following the fires.
"Fire survivors have done an outstanding job of working with their insurers to quickly file and resolve wildfire claims," said IINC Executive Director Candysse Miller. "And insurers, in turn, have responded."
The survey tallied homeowners and auto insurance claims paid through Dec. 31, 2003. Surveyed companies also completed 860 of 928 auto insurance claims resulting from the fires for a total of $5.01 million.
