Earthquake Claims
Specialized earthquake damage assessment and insurance claim negotiation.
Earthquake coverage is a separate policy with its own rules, and the most important rule is the deductible: typically 10 to 25 percent of the dwelling limit, which can mean the first fifty to a hundred thousand dollars of damage comes out of your pocket. Whether a claim pays anything at all depends on whether the full loss is documented above that threshold. Metropolitan Adjustment Bureau handled claims through the 1994 Northridge earthquake, still the costliest in U.S. history, and we know how carriers and the California Earthquake Authority scope seismic damage.
Damage that doesn't show on a walkthrough
The visible signs of an earthquake, such as cracked drywall, a toppled chimney and broken tile, are the least expensive part of the loss. The expensive damage is structural: cracked and displaced foundations, sheared cripple walls, separated framing connections, damaged shear panels, and plumbing broken inside walls and under slabs. A company adjuster rarely opens walls or crawls the foundation. We bring a structural engineer when the evidence warrants it, because a foundation finding changes the claim from a cosmetic repair to a structural one.
How the deductible really works
The deductible is subtracted from the covered loss, so every dollar of documented damage above it is paid. A carrier estimate that stops at drywall patching may come in below the deductible, producing a zero payment on a home with real structural damage. The scope is the entire fight. We document every element of the loss, including contents, masonry, hardscape, retaining walls and additional living expenses where the home is unsafe, so the deductible is applied against the actual total.
CEA and private carriers
Most California earthquake policies are written by the California Earthquake Authority through the homeowner's regular carrier. CEA policies have specific coverage structures, deductible options and limits on contents and loss of use. Private earthquake carriers write broader policies with different terms. We read the policy you actually have and build the claim to its terms.
What we cover
Free Claim Review
Send us your policy and any correspondence from the carrier. We will tell you what the claim is worth and whether representation will help. No cost, no obligation.
(818) 905-6800Send a MessageWhat carriers dispute on earthquake claims
Earthquake Claims: common questions
Minor visible damage often sits on top of significant structural damage. Before deciding, have the foundation, cripple walls and framing connections inspected. A claim that looks like cosmetic cracks can exceed the deductible by a wide margin once the structure is examined.
Ten to twenty-five percent of the dwelling coverage limit, depending on the policy. On a home insured for $800,000 with a 15 percent deductible, the first $120,000 of damage is yours. That is why the scope of the claim matters more in earthquake claims than in any other loss.
Yes, within the limits selected on the policy. CEA policies offer contents and loss-of-use coverage at several levels, each with its own deductible rules. We review the declarations to confirm what applies.
That is the most common earthquake denial. It is answered with evidence: the character of the cracks, fresh fracture surfaces, displacement measurements, and where appropriate an engineer's opinion. Old settlement cracks and new seismic damage look different to someone who knows what to look for.
Yes. We are licensed in Nevada, Washington, Utah, Oregon and other seismically active states, and we handle earthquake claims under both CEA and private carrier policies.
Related claim services
Complete home damage claim management for homeowners, from single-family homes to condos and apartments.
Large-scale commercial property damage claims including business interruption.
Comprehensive fire damage assessment and claim management for residential and commercial properties.