PG&E’s Likely Liability and Filing a Claim

Every day, more news erupts regarding the 2018 Camp Fire and the negligent acts that led up to this devastating event that took just under 100 lives and burned homes and businesses to the ground. As Paradise and many more parts of California work toward success as they rebuild and attempt to return to normal everyday life, PG&E is stepping up to take responsibility for its possible role in the Camp Fire and many lawmakers are taking action to help those affected.

In the past, it has been found that PG&E played a significant role in many other devastating and even deadly fire events. Some recent disasters where liability was obvious included the San Burno pipeline explosion and the October 2017 Northern California fire siege. Now, the Camp Fire likely accompanies these fires based on the evidence that has been found thus far.

Victims Moving Forward with Claims 

Multiple complaints have been filed in San Francisco Superior Court alleging that PG&E’s negligence led to the fire. They claim this due to the fact that PG&E’s equipment likely ignited the fire and are alleging that the blaze happened due to the utility company’s long-term failure to maintain its infrastructure even though it promised to do so. Many individuals personally believe that the company could have operated in a safer manner that would have minimized the risk of wildfires across California, saving many lives, homes, and businesses. The lawsuit now seeks damages of an unspecified value. In the end, it is believed that PG&E could be on the hook for billions due to the wildfire that completely devastated the entire city of Paradise.

Why PG&E Might be Liable 

The investigation has found, thus far, that PG&E actually delayed safety work on a transmission line for several years and that this transmission line could have been suspect in starting the Camp Fire that burned Paradise to the ground. Consumers are now saying that it is likely that PG&E put their bottom line first instead of making safety improvements. Instead of taking the money to improve safety in areas they had already promised, they attempted to save that money aside for less serious issues and the fire might have started as a result.

This was discovered through a letter that was sent in July 2013 where the utility company told the Public Utilities Commission that it intended to replace six steel towers with new towers that had been severely damaged by a winter storm and were not functioning to the best of their ability. However, as investigators have now found, these improvements were never made and it could have contributed to the devastating fire when all was said and done.

This same transmission line is now under fire and is being investigated as the cause of the November Camp Fire that destroyed 14,000 homes, took the lives of 86 individuals, and caused a variety of injuries to those involved. In fact, one consumer advocate found that the company promised to fix the tower in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, but that in 2018 when the fire occurred, it was still not fixed and this could have been the major contributing factor to the fire.

A worker for PG&E claimed that they reportedly saw the fire start near the Caribou-Palermo line in Paradise. Though the cause of the Camp Fire is still under investigation, if the investigation finds that this is a fact, the company will likely receive charges and the case will head over to the local DA. Wildfire victims have alleged in their lawsuit that this is an ongoing issue and pattern – that PG&E says that it is going to use its money for repairs and maintenance, but then delays the maintenance to put on a show.

If PG&E is found to have violated state law, it could become subject to fines of up to $100,000 per violation per day. It is believed that the company was more concerned about its finances and how the company looks rather than fixing aspects they promised they would fix.

Now, PG&E itself is saying that it will likely be found liable for the fire that took lives and burned structures to the ground. They have fully acknowledged the fact, in a statement, that their equipment likely sparked the deadly Camp Fire that devastated all of Paradise and believes that the equipment will determine an ignition point and liability will fall onto them. They are preparing for the fact that this will come out in the investigation and that the company will be faced with making many safety improvements as it continues onward.

PG&E recently filed with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, and in doing so, alerted many shareholders and regulators that they are likely expecting around $10.5 billion in charges as a result of the investigation. It has based this conclusion on what has been reported by the California Public Utilities from the investigation thus far.

Now, PG&E is accepting that it must adapt to the changes in safety efforts and compete to stay ahead while wildfires and extreme weather are on the rise throughout California. They are taking personal action to improve safety and maintenance measures that have been identified for the future.

How an Attorney Can Help 

At Brady Law Group, our attorneys understand how devastating a wildfire can be for your city as well as many other areas of California. If you have witnessed and experienced the devastation of a wildfire across California, it might be time to speak with a wildfire attorney who has expert skills in these cases and will ensure that you achieve maximum compensation when it comes to your case. We will help you bring a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim on your loved one’s behalf after the devastation that the 2018 Camp Fire brought to California. Please contact us for more information today at (866) 478-6483.