Gross Negligence on Behalf of PG&E: Is Your Claim Viable?

In most cases involving personal injuries and deaths, somebody will be left to care for the damages in an accident and trial or settlement will tell all. However, in some cases, something known as ‘gross negligence’ comes into play because the behavior of the defendant in the case acted in an especially reckless manner. This just might be the case in regards to PG&E, the corporation being blamed for the Camp Fire in California.

PG&E is most likely facing criminal charges in regards to recent tragedies on their behalf. It is believed that, in the future, they could find themselves as the defendant in a dozen or more cases and be charged with breaking state laws after the wildfire that took handfuls of lives, caused thousands of injuries, and caused families to lose homes. It is also believed that PG&E violated state public resource laws in the blazes that could have been easily prevented.

The process is slow to start, as Cal Fire is still investigating the Camp Fire that killed over 86 people and took over entire towns like Paradise and Magalia. They are working on the report, which should be released early in 2019. PG&E is already likely liable for the Tubbs Fire, which started due to violations as well and took the lives of 22 people. When a company continuously makes these same mistakes, they could be liable for a type of negligence that only applies to the cases where the most reckless acts take place – gross negligence.

Is it a Case of Gross Negligence?  

Gross negligence isn’t just your ordinary negligence, like failing to stop at a stop sign once and running into someone’s car, leading to property damage. That could be seen as a simple road mistake, while the actions of PG&E could be seen as gross negligence, as they have continuously engaged in mistakes that led to the loss of lives and wiped out entire neighborhoods, leaving many homeless, putting them in a difficult position. Gross negligence is any type of act that goes beyond carelessness and includes reckless and unreasonable conduct by another party.

If PG&E’s conduct had been a first-time offense and they took measures to ensure that this never happened again on such a level, it could be viewed as negligence. However, the continuous ignorance of the devastation that these wildfires has caused makes gross negligence possible in this case. If you believe that PG&E’s conduct went above and beyond normal negligence, you might have a claim for compensation to help you and your loved ones during this difficult time. You must be able to show, however, that the company owed a duty of care to you, breached this duty of care, and as a result you suffered some type of damages.

Many families as a whole will continue to come forward after this devastating and life-changing fire, due to the fact that individuals have suffered burns and other injuries as they tried to escape the fires, lost loved ones too soon, and had to leave their home, never to return as the fires overtook the only house they knew. As such, the investigation continues and many move forward with claims against PG&E in its initial stages, hoping they will receive the justice they deserve.

If you or someone you love has been affected by the California Camp Fire in some way, you might have options. An experienced wildfire attorney will be able to help you support your rights during this difficult time. At the Brady Law Group, we are here for you when you need us the most after one of the deadliest wildfires in all of California history. Whether you have received wildfire-related injuries or had to say goodbye to a loved one and are now looking to file a wrongful death claim, our attorneys are here for you every step of the way through this daunting and traumatic process. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you at (866) 478-6483 as you move forward.