Property Insurance Claims

California Fire & Smoke Damage Claims

A fire loss is devastating even when your home is left standing — smoke, soot, and ash can make it unlivable, and the rebuild costs after a total loss are enormous. Too often the insurer denies, delays, or lowballs the claim. We fight your own carrier to recover the full cost to remediate, repair, and rebuild your home, replace your belongings, and cover the cost of living elsewhere while the work is done.

Our Coverage

What We Handle

Total-loss structure fires
Wildfire damage
Smoke, soot, and ash contamination
Homes with no visible burn damage
HVAC and duct contamination
Persistent smoke odor
Additional living expenses (loss of use)
Code-upgrade (ordinance or law) coverage
Contents and personal property
Denied fire and smoke claims
Underpaid rebuild estimates
Delayed fire claims and bad faith
Understanding Your Case

Common Causes & Scenarios

Smoke, Soot & Ash Contamination

Wildfire smoke and ash can contaminate a home that never burned — settling into ducts, insulation, drywall, and belongings. This is a covered physical loss, but it's one of the most-denied claims, usually on a 'no physical damage' theory. We document it separately and push for professional testing and full remediation.

Underpaid Rebuild Estimates

After a total or partial loss, carriers routinely produce a rebuild estimate far below the true cost. We value the loss independently rather than accepting the insurer's number, and hold it to the full dwelling limit.

Code-Upgrade Coverage

Rebuilding to current building codes can cost far more than the original construction. Ordinance-or-law coverage is meant to pay for those upgrades, and it's frequently overlooked or underpaid.

Additional Living Expenses

When your home is uninhabitable, your policy should pay the extra cost of living elsewhere. Insurers often delay or shortchange ALE, leaving families to front the cost of temporary housing for months.

Contents & Personal Property

Smoke-damaged clothing, furniture, and electronics add up quickly, and contents claims are commonly lowballed. We help you document and value what was lost so it's paid fairly.

Denial, Delay & Bad Faith

When a carrier unreasonably denies, delays, or underpays a valid fire claim, it may be acting in bad faith — opening the door to damages beyond the policy limit. That leverage is what gets claims paid.

Fire or Smoke Claim Denied or Lowballed? Get What You're Owed.

We don't get paid unless you recover. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation review of your fire claim.

Call Now: 844-MOUSAVI
The Mousavi Law Difference

Why Choose Us

1

No Upfront Cost

We handle fire and smoke claims on contingency. You pay nothing out of pocket, and our fee is a percentage of what we recover. If we don't recover, you owe no attorney fee.

2

Full Rebuild Value

We value the loss independently — dwelling, contents, code upgrades, and living expenses — and fight for everything your policy owes, not the carrier's first number.

3

Leverage Insurers Respect

Unlike a public adjuster, we can file suit and pursue bad-faith damages when a carrier misbehaves. That credible threat of litigation moves an insurer off a denial or lowball.

Our Standards

Attorney-Led Representation

Counsel is assigned to every case, even in pre-litigation.

Selective Case Acceptance

We accept fewer matters to maintain focus and precision.

Strategy Over Volume

Decisions are deliberate, not automated.

Arvin Mousavi - Founding Attorney

Arvin Mousavi

Founding Attorney

Arvin Mousavi founded Mousavi Law Firm after beginning his career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, a Vault 10 firm representing Fortune 500 companies. He left big law to put that training to work for consumers and injury victims, with attorney-led representation on every case.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

My house didn't burn, but there's smoke and ash. Is that covered?

Usually yes. Smoke, soot, and ash contamination that physically affects your home and requires remediation can be a covered 'direct physical loss' under a standard California policy, even without visible fire damage. Insurers often deny these claims for 'no physical damage,' and those denials can be challenged — California's Bulletin 2025-7 directs carriers to fully investigate smoke claims and pay for testing when it's needed.

What is additional living expenses (ALE) coverage?

ALE, or loss-of-use coverage, pays the extra costs of living elsewhere while your home is uninhabitable and being repaired or rebuilt — temporary housing, meals above your normal cost, and related expenses. It's separate from your dwelling and contents coverage, and it's frequently delayed or underpaid.

Does my policy pay to rebuild to current building codes?

Often, through ordinance-or-law coverage. When you rebuild after a fire, current codes may require upgrades that cost more than the original construction. Many policies include a separate amount for these code-upgrade costs, and insurers sometimes overlook or underpay it.

How long do I have to sue my insurer on a fire claim?

Most property policies require suit within 12 months of the loss under Insurance Code section 2071, extended to 24 months when the loss is tied to a declared disaster such as a major wildfire. The clock is generally tolled while your claim is being handled, but the deadline is easy to miss — have it checked as soon as you're in a dispute.

Client Reviews

What Our Clients Say

I worked with Arvin on two separate cases, a personal injury case from a car accident last year and a lemon law case more recently, and I honestly could not have asked for a better attorney. From the beginning, Arvin was extremely responsive, transparent, and easy to work with. He took the time to explain the process clearly, answered every question I had, and made sure I always knew what was going on.

Lukas Nouri

Lukas Nouri

Google Review

I've worked with Arvin on multiple cases (lemon law and personal injury) and he has been exceptional every time. He's knowledgeable, responsive, and extremely thorough. He made the entire process straightforward and kept me informed at every step. Most importantly, he delivered strong results and made sure there was nothing left on the table.

SD

Shaviv Delkhah

Google Review

This is the best law firm in Woodland Hills hands down! (and I've spoken to a lot of them). Arvin is super helpful and always updated me on my case. Got me paid out pretty quickly too!

DF

Daniel Friedman

Google Review

I had a great experience with Mousavi Law. They handled my lemon law claim from start to finish with the utmost professionalism. Their team was incredibly responsive, kept me updated at every step, and made the whole process feel straightforward. Most importantly, they delivered an excellent result!

Kian Abbassi

Kian Abbassi

Google Review

Arvin is the most honest lawyer I've ever dealt with. He and his team made lemoning my Range Rover a breeze. I'm thankful for him and he has highest recommendation.

AG

Aleksandar Gajic

Google Review

Mousavi Law helped me get the maximum settlement on my car. I'm extremely grateful to Arvin and his team! They were cordial and quick to respond to any of my concerns.

MS

Misha Semenov

Google Review

Love Arvin and his firm. Him and his team take the time to support their clients and ensure they receive the best representation. Highly recommended.

DK

David Khakshooy

Google Review

Mousavi law recently helped me lemon my Tesla Model Y and they made the process so easy. I was referred to them by a family friend and it was such a great decision to choose them! Highly recommend working with Arvin for the absolute best results!

Shawn Mines

Shawn Mines

Google Review

Highly recommend Arvin for any lemon law issue! My family bought a new Tesla that turned out to have serious ongoing problems despite several repair visits. We were getting stonewalled by corporate, so we contacted this firm. They were quick to respond, very thorough in explaining our rights under the lemon law, and handled everything professionally from start to finish.

Kasra

Kasra

Google Review

Arvin genuinely cared about my case and took the time to explain every step. I never felt rushed or ignored. Professional, thorough, and trustworthy.

Aria Soltankhah

Aria Soltankhah

Google Review

I've had the pleasure of working with Mousavi Law Firm and they were very professional and took great care of me. I couldn't be happier and would highly recommend giving them a call regarding your personal injury needs.

AM

Arian Mosazadeh

Google Review

I had a PI car crash case with MLF and my experience was great. Arvin was always responsive and willing to answer my questions. I hear stories about PI cases taking years, but we were able to recover from the other person's insurance and my own within a year from the accident.

Jason Mostadim

Jason Mostadim

Google Review

This guy is an absolute beast with lemon law. Super easy to deal with, always responsive, and clearly knows how to get results. I felt like he actually cared instead of just pushing paperwork. He handled everything, kept me updated, and got it done way faster than I expected.

MB

Mark Buson

Google Review

Mousavi Law changed my opinion on lawyers. Such a caring, proactive, and most importantly NOT GREEDY professional.

JD

Joseph Dafesh

Google Review

I worked with Arvin on two separate cases, a personal injury case from a car accident last year and a lemon law case more recently, and I honestly could not have asked for a better attorney. From the beginning, Arvin was extremely responsive, transparent, and easy to work with. He took the time to explain the process clearly, answered every question I had, and made sure I always knew what was going on.

Lukas Nouri

Lukas Nouri

Google Review

I've worked with Arvin on multiple cases (lemon law and personal injury) and he has been exceptional every time. He's knowledgeable, responsive, and extremely thorough. He made the entire process straightforward and kept me informed at every step. Most importantly, he delivered strong results and made sure there was nothing left on the table.

SD

Shaviv Delkhah

Google Review

This is the best law firm in Woodland Hills hands down! (and I've spoken to a lot of them). Arvin is super helpful and always updated me on my case. Got me paid out pretty quickly too!

DF

Daniel Friedman

Google Review

I had a great experience with Mousavi Law. They handled my lemon law claim from start to finish with the utmost professionalism. Their team was incredibly responsive, kept me updated at every step, and made the whole process feel straightforward. Most importantly, they delivered an excellent result!

Kian Abbassi

Kian Abbassi

Google Review

Arvin is the most honest lawyer I've ever dealt with. He and his team made lemoning my Range Rover a breeze. I'm thankful for him and he has highest recommendation.

AG

Aleksandar Gajic

Google Review

Mousavi Law helped me get the maximum settlement on my car. I'm extremely grateful to Arvin and his team! They were cordial and quick to respond to any of my concerns.

MS

Misha Semenov

Google Review

Love Arvin and his firm. Him and his team take the time to support their clients and ensure they receive the best representation. Highly recommended.

DK

David Khakshooy

Google Review

Mousavi law recently helped me lemon my Tesla Model Y and they made the process so easy. I was referred to them by a family friend and it was such a great decision to choose them! Highly recommend working with Arvin for the absolute best results!

Shawn Mines

Shawn Mines

Google Review

Highly recommend Arvin for any lemon law issue! My family bought a new Tesla that turned out to have serious ongoing problems despite several repair visits. We were getting stonewalled by corporate, so we contacted this firm. They were quick to respond, very thorough in explaining our rights under the lemon law, and handled everything professionally from start to finish.

Kasra

Kasra

Google Review

Arvin genuinely cared about my case and took the time to explain every step. I never felt rushed or ignored. Professional, thorough, and trustworthy.

Aria Soltankhah

Aria Soltankhah

Google Review

I've had the pleasure of working with Mousavi Law Firm and they were very professional and took great care of me. I couldn't be happier and would highly recommend giving them a call regarding your personal injury needs.

AM

Arian Mosazadeh

Google Review

I had a PI car crash case with MLF and my experience was great. Arvin was always responsive and willing to answer my questions. I hear stories about PI cases taking years, but we were able to recover from the other person's insurance and my own within a year from the accident.

Jason Mostadim

Jason Mostadim

Google Review

This guy is an absolute beast with lemon law. Super easy to deal with, always responsive, and clearly knows how to get results. I felt like he actually cared instead of just pushing paperwork. He handled everything, kept me updated, and got it done way faster than I expected.

MB

Mark Buson

Google Review

Mousavi Law changed my opinion on lawyers. Such a caring, proactive, and most importantly NOT GREEDY professional.

JD

Joseph Dafesh

Google Review

Answered all my questions and closed my case in less than 6 months! Another attorney told me my case was worth nothing and Arvin got me PAID.

DP

Daniel Panhassi

Google Review

Amazing communication, always willing to answer my questions. Super responsive and works very quickly.

NH

Nick Hashemi

Google Review

Arvin helped me a lot with lemoning my Jeep. He is extremely professional and very polite to deal with! Highly recommend.

DA

David Acimovic

Google Review

This law firm was very professional. Arvin assisted us through the whole process without any worry. Any and all questions about our vehicle issues were answered in a timely manner. He was very thorough when explaining each different outcome. I would definitely recommend this law firm to anyone looking to file for a lemon law.

MV

Mario Valencia

Google Review

Working with Arvin at Mousavi Law Firm was one of the best business decisions I've made. He took on my vehicle case against a massive auto manufacturer and delivered a flawless result. If you are dealing with a vehicle defect and corporate pushback from an auto manufacturer, do not hesitate to hire Arvin at Mousavi Law Firm.

MR

Michael Rutchland

Google Review

I contacted Arvin regarding a legal matter I was dealing with. From the first call, his response time was fast and the process was explained clearly. I never had to chase him down for updates. He kept me informed at every step and handled everything professionally.

T

Tyler

Google Review

Mousavi Law went above and beyond to help settle my case, and I couldn't be more grateful for their work. From the start, they were professional, responsive, and genuinely invested in getting me the best outcome.

AM

Arshia Mehdian

Google Review

Major shout out to Arvin for his services regarding my BMW Lemon Law. He had great communication and worked really hard and got me a settlement in under two months. Thank you so much to the entire staff and team. Really appreciate it. Highly recommend!!

JS

Jacob Shay

Google Review

Mousavi Law Firm was extremely refreshing to work with after having dealt with other lawyers. Arvin and his team helped me with my lemon case for my Tesla and were absolutely professional with answering all of my questions along with keeping me up to date every step of the way.

AM

Ashkan Mapar

Google Review

Best lemon lawyer in Los Angeles. Only lawyer I've had that personally answers my calls and doesn't kick me off to an assistant.

SG

Shant Goorjian

Google Review

Super professional and works fast! Had my lemon case settled in 2 months. Highly recommend.

MA

Michael Amini

Google Review

Excellent attorney, one who gets the job done as promised, fast and smooth. I would recommend him and his law firm to everyone I know. Thank you Arvin.

MM

Maryam Moshaie

Google Review

I had a great experience working with Arvin Mousavi and Mousavi Law Firm on my Jeep Wrangler 4xe lemon law claim. From start to finish, Arvin was professional, knowledgeable, and always kept me informed about what was happening with my case.

DB

Dillon Bard

Google Review

Excellent result. Transparent and timely communication. Highly recommend.

JB

Jamal Baghlani

Google Review

Answered all my questions and closed my case in less than 6 months! Another attorney told me my case was worth nothing and Arvin got me PAID.

DP

Daniel Panhassi

Google Review

Amazing communication, always willing to answer my questions. Super responsive and works very quickly.

NH

Nick Hashemi

Google Review

Arvin helped me a lot with lemoning my Jeep. He is extremely professional and very polite to deal with! Highly recommend.

DA

David Acimovic

Google Review

This law firm was very professional. Arvin assisted us through the whole process without any worry. Any and all questions about our vehicle issues were answered in a timely manner. He was very thorough when explaining each different outcome. I would definitely recommend this law firm to anyone looking to file for a lemon law.

MV

Mario Valencia

Google Review

Working with Arvin at Mousavi Law Firm was one of the best business decisions I've made. He took on my vehicle case against a massive auto manufacturer and delivered a flawless result. If you are dealing with a vehicle defect and corporate pushback from an auto manufacturer, do not hesitate to hire Arvin at Mousavi Law Firm.

MR

Michael Rutchland

Google Review

I contacted Arvin regarding a legal matter I was dealing with. From the first call, his response time was fast and the process was explained clearly. I never had to chase him down for updates. He kept me informed at every step and handled everything professionally.

T

Tyler

Google Review

Mousavi Law went above and beyond to help settle my case, and I couldn't be more grateful for their work. From the start, they were professional, responsive, and genuinely invested in getting me the best outcome.

AM

Arshia Mehdian

Google Review

Major shout out to Arvin for his services regarding my BMW Lemon Law. He had great communication and worked really hard and got me a settlement in under two months. Thank you so much to the entire staff and team. Really appreciate it. Highly recommend!!

JS

Jacob Shay

Google Review

Mousavi Law Firm was extremely refreshing to work with after having dealt with other lawyers. Arvin and his team helped me with my lemon case for my Tesla and were absolutely professional with answering all of my questions along with keeping me up to date every step of the way.

AM

Ashkan Mapar

Google Review

Best lemon lawyer in Los Angeles. Only lawyer I've had that personally answers my calls and doesn't kick me off to an assistant.

SG

Shant Goorjian

Google Review

Super professional and works fast! Had my lemon case settled in 2 months. Highly recommend.

MA

Michael Amini

Google Review

Excellent attorney, one who gets the job done as promised, fast and smooth. I would recommend him and his law firm to everyone I know. Thank you Arvin.

MM

Maryam Moshaie

Google Review

I had a great experience working with Arvin Mousavi and Mousavi Law Firm on my Jeep Wrangler 4xe lemon law claim. From start to finish, Arvin was professional, knowledgeable, and always kept me informed about what was happening with my case.

DB

Dillon Bard

Google Review

Excellent result. Transparent and timely communication. Highly recommend.

JB

Jamal Baghlani

Google Review

Ready to Rebuild — On Your Insurer's Dime?

Don't let your carrier lowball the rebuild. We fight to recover the full cost to remediate, repair, and rebuild your home.

24/7 Available
No Win, No Fee
Free Consultation
Fast Response