What if PG&E Isn’t Able to Pay Out for the Many Claims?

Many people who are filing a claim after they have sustained injuries in an accident or have lost a loved one and are moving forth with a wrongful death claim will find that the process is not easy. In fact, it sometimes becomes a bit of a waiting game, with many people having to endure a long and arduous process before they ever see the money that is owed to them in the form of damages. If you take your claim to civil court, you might “win” and receive monetary damages for the pain you have suffered or the loved one you have lost. This sounds like it’s an easy enough process, right?

However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, the party or corporation being held responsible for your case is unable to pay the amount of judgment for a variety of reasons, which means that additional steps must be taken. Businesses that are facing the realities of litigation tend to pay judgments that are brought against them so that they can avoid unpleasant collection activities as well as the other costs associated with these matters. For those who have endured serious pain or losses at the hands of the California Camp Fire, what would it mean if PG&E was not able to pay?

If PG&E is Unable to Pay 

The California Camp Fire is being faulted onto the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for its recklessness as it failed to maintain its equipment, being one of the lead contributors of the wildfire that took many lives, caused injuries, and pushed thousands of people from their homes. There is now a major concern that PG&E will be looking at bankruptcy, which could mean drastic effects as it faces financial liability through the many lawsuits stemming from the fires.

PG&E fire victims might not even need to establish liability when they are bringing their claims due to the streamlined process brought through the court. PG&E is expected to uphold a high standard duty of care when they are using the equipment that they have, which means that in a careless event that leads to a fire of these volumes, they could automatically be liable for all of the chaos that resulted.

As of now, PG&E could be facing thousands upon thousands of claims for loss of life, injuries, and property loss damages. 81 people have died as a result of the fire, which means that many personal representatives could come together to bring claims on behalf of their loved ones. PG&E could be faulted to the injuries and health problems that others have faced and for the property loss due to over 12,000 families losing their homes and others losing their businesses.

It has been announced that PG&E could pin any financial responsibility onto the utility’s customers in the form of rate hikes so that they are able to pay out the astronomical fees that they owe to others during this difficult time. The future of many cases is unclear, but it is never too late for you and your loved ones to start looking at the reality of a lawsuit that will put you in a better financial situation after you have faced such devastation at the hands of a major corporation.

Our California wildfire attorneys at the Marlene Leiva Law Group are here for you in your desperate time of need after you have been affected by the California Camp Fire. We are willing to help you through many aspects of the process as you work through filing a claim for the damages from this horrific incident. If you have suffered losses in the Camp Fire, we want to speak with you immediately. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information today at 415-459-7300.