If your homeowners insurance won’t cover all of the damages that a California wildfire does to your home and property, those leftover costs should be the responsibility of PG&E.
After homeowners are informed of the level of support their insurance companies will provide, they should be prepared to file a lawsuit against PG&E to collect funds to pay anything insurers refuse to cover.
The First Steps Towards Securing Compensation After a California Wildfire
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has been blamed for causing somewhere around three dozen wildfires since 2017. Investigators with CALFIRE blame the company’s aging power grid and cost-cutting moves for the fires. PG&E’s older power lines and equipment are more prone to spark wildfires, especially during high winds and storms.
After billions of dollars in damage and lives lost, PG&E has accepted blame and liability for many fires. They have established Fire Victim Trust for the victims of certain fires, including the 2017 North Bay Fires. They’ve also provided support to the victims of other fires who have filed lawsuits.
To seek this compensation, victims will first need to file claims with their homeowners insurance providers. However, the sad truth is that few people have enough insurance coverage to completely pay for the rebuilding of their homes and property and replace all of their possessions.
An inadequate homeowners insurance payout often leaves victims having to foot the bill for the remaining costs of rebuilding. In some cases, families may even have to settle for building a smaller home to replace the house they once had.
Suing PG&E for Wildfire Property Damages
A seemingly simple, but important step when seeking compensation from PG&E, will be to make sure everything you’ve lost is clearly listed in a wildfire claim.
Your lawyer will ask for support to cover anything that an insurance company failed to provide. This may include some things you may not have known could earn you and your family additional support on a wildfire settlement check.
- The costs to rebuild or repair a house, business property, and other buildings. Repair of smoke and water damage.
- Support for damage to crops and loss of ranch animals.
- Replacement of possessions, including cars, furniture, valuables, and keepsakes.
- Compensation for the loss of property value.
- Damage and losses caused by vandals and looters.
- Costs incurred during evacuation.
- Living expenses while without a home.
- Loss of income and benefits while victims must miss work.
If you are awarded support from PG&E, your insurance company may act to recoup some of the money they’ve paid out to policyholders.
Getting Help After a California Wildfire
If you lose the property and possessions you’ve worked so hard for in a wildfire, don’t let PG&E off the hook. If your homeowners insurance company has let you down and left you without the support you need to fully rebuild your life, speak to a California utility fire lawyer. It’s an easy way to stay informed on the best ways to hold PG&E accountable for everything you need in recovery.
Contact Maison Law for a free consultation no matter where you live in California. Our wildfire case reviews are confidential and come with no obligation. If you decide we can help you earn more for your injuries and damages after a wildfire, you won’t need to have any upfront money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money you are awarded.
