California’s wildfires leave a trail of destruction in their wake—homes reduced to rubble, communities displaced, and lives forever changed. Beyond this devastation, the opportunity for looting emerges. As families evacuate to save their lives, criminals take advantage of abandoned properties, breaking into homes and businesses, stealing valuables, and worsening the financial and emotional toll on wildfire victims.
Looting is a Growing Threat to Vulnerable Communities
Wildfire-devastated communities face a cruel secondary crisis as looting incidents continue to ...
Homeowner’s insurance is a vital safety net for Californians, especially in areas prone to natural disasters such as wildfires. Yet, recent trends indicate that obtaining adequate coverage has become increasingly harder. Premiums are escalating, coverage options are diminishing, and insurance companies, such as State Farm, are dropping policyholders and non-renewing policies at an alarming rate.
Impact of Fires on Insurance Availability
The recent fires in Los Angeles pulled a thread that was already unraveling and have further exposed the ongoing insurance crisis the ...
For those affected by the Eaton Fire and other recent disasters in the Los Angeles County area, important deadlines are approaching. The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have set March 31, 2025, as the final day to apply for disaster relief assistance. If you are considering financial assistance for recovery, it is critical to act before the deadline. Even if you are unsure whether you will need the funds, applying now preserves your eligibility, as you will not be able to apply after the deadline passes.
SBA Disaster Loans ...
Recently, the California Department of Insurance extended its one-year moratorium on insurance cancellation or non-renewals to people impacted by the recent chain of California fires. Among the fires included are the McKinney Fire, the Mill Fire, the Fairview Fire, and the Mosquito Fire.
Fire-Safe Communities Rise From Towns Recovering From a Fire
In recent years, we have seen an unprecedented amount of fires raging through California communities. Completely decimated, these towns are left to start from scratch with just the rubble of the past beneath their feet.
These fires have not only transformed landscapes, but they have transformed people as well. As these communities begin to rebuild, they have been doing so with the future in mind. Towns across California have been finding the silver lining in this devastation by rebuilding more sustainable, fire safe ...
The California Court of Appeal once explained:
Keeping a pet dog is undoubtedly one of the most cherished forms in which the constitutionally protected right to own personal property is exercised. To most people it is more than ownership of mere personal property. More than once courts have recognized that the keeping of such pets is such an important part of our way of life, and have recognized the perhaps sentimental but nonetheless universally strong affection of [hu]mankind for the dog.[1]
With that sentiment in mind, it is no surprise there are dogs in more than 48 million ...
1. Does California have motorcycle helmet laws?
Yes, California has laws that apply to riders and passengers of motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and motorized bicycles.
California’s motorcycle helmet laws are some of the most stringent in the nation, applying to all motorcycle riders and passengers regardless of age. Such helmet laws are known as “universal” helmet laws.
Other states, like Michigan and Florida, require helmets for motorcycle riders and passengers under 21 years old. Still others, like Arizona and Hawaii, require helmets for motorcycle riders and ...
1. What is lane splitting?
California drivers often see motorcyclists whiz by on the freeway, squeaking by, either in the same lane or between the two far left lanes. This practice is called “lane splitting.” And it is generally legal in California.
The California Vehicle Code defines lane splitting as “driving a motorcycle . . . between rows of stopped or moving vehicles in the same lane . . . .”[1]
This lane-splitting law, which went into effect in 2017, also tasked the California Highway Patrol with developing “educational guidelines relating to lane splitting in a manner ...