Los Angeles County fire victims have filed lawsuits against three large home insurers alleging they were systematically underinsured, leaving them without enough money to replace or rebuild their homes after the Jan. 7 blazes.

The twin lawsuits, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, allege that USAA, a Texas-based insurer that serves the military community, and two insurers affiliated with AAA for years underestimated the replacement cost of the homes, lulling the policyholders into buying inadequate coverage.

“These families paid their premiums, trusted their insurers, and did everything right,” attorney Gregory L. Bentley said in a statement. “But when disaster struck, they learned their coverage was little more than an illusion. These companies promised peace of mind,

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