PG&E Facing Potential Criminal Charges Following Camp Fire

It has been announced that Pacific Gas & Electric might be facing potential criminal charges after the California Camp Fire that took the lives of 86 people last month. This came after the attorney general’s office in California asked a federal judge to weigh in on the likelihood that criminal charges will result from these serious cases.

The official cause of the fire has not yet been announced, this much is true. However, utility discovered that damaged equipment is likely to be the fault of the fire, which is believed to not have been properly maintained by PG&E. The fire quickly became one of the deadliest fires in all of California’s history of wildfires.

So, what does this mean for the many families who have suffered losses at the hands of the California Camp Fire due to PG&E? It is very clear that PG&E might be liable for murder on behalf of the many people who have lost loved ones in this horrific incident that many believe could have been prevented. If this happens, it could mean that compensating for losses could become that much easier, as liability will be certain. The fire would be considered ‘reckless conduct,’ which means that PG&E might owe a wide variety of damages to those who have suffered at the hands of one of the most serious wildfires known throughout the state.

A Greater Liability Than Just Negligence 

Negligence is a theory that applies to many personal injury cases, which is what you have to prove as you are moving forward with a personal injury claim or wrongful death case. Reckless conduct is held to an even higher standard as, in many cases dealing with recklessness, it is clear that a party could have taken steps to avoid an accident but have not done so to the best of their ability. Some very common types of reckless acts that tend to apply to these cases include drinking and driving, using illegal substances, and many more acts that lead to accidents every year. In terms of a wildfire case, reckless acts could be failing to maintain equipment that is electrical in nature or avoiding an issue that could contribute to a wildfire.

To prove that somebody acted in a reckless and even criminal manner, you as the plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant (PG&E) knew that they were acting in a negligent or dangerous manner and that the accident resulted. Here are just a few ways that you can show that a corporation’s acts were reckless:

• A defendant intending to commit an act
• A defendant knowing an act would cause harm
• A risk of harm that is unreasonable and overly negligent
• The fact that a defendant knows others would be present and could be harmed by the reckless acts

When somebody has engaged in a reckless act, there is always a chance that you will be able to bring a claim against the corporation or entity involved. At the Marlene Leiva Law Group, we are determined to help you obtain results after you and your loved ones have suffered the massive effects of a serious wildfire. If you have been injured or lost somebody close to you or suffered a wide variety of other serious losses, you have many options for recovery and we do not want you to stand alone. Contact us for more information on how we can help in your time of need at 415-459-7300.