Maison Law represents California residents who have suffered heart and lung damage and breathing issues due to wildfires caused by the negligence of PG&E. Our personal injury lawyers go to work immediately to hold utility giants like PG&E responsible for all injuries and medical bills that result from their carelessness. Please contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a real California lawyer and find out how to hold PG&E fully accountable for your hardships.
Inhalation Dangers in California Wildfires
California wildfires have caused billions of dollars in damages over the past several years and caused harm to thousands of lives. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has been blamed for allowing many of those fires to start and in turn, can be held financially liable for the devastating consequences.
For injured wildfire victims, that can mean getting help in paying for expensive medical care to recover from severe burns and inhalation injuries. As people evacuate from raging fires, they can be forced to breathe in superheated air, damaging smoke, and harmful fumes from chemicals.
Their noses and throats could suffer damage and even lead to life-threatening issues with breathing.
The Burn Institute reports that around 6,000 Americans die in fires each year and about half of those deaths are due to smoke inhalation.
According to Healthline, the symptoms of smoke inhalation include:
- Coughing and increased mucus production
- Black or gray mucus after breathing in soot
- Vocal cord damage and change in voice
- Skin can turn blue due to lack of oxygen
- Headaches and vomiting due to carbon monoxide exposure
- Chest pain as the heart and lungs receive less oxygen.
These symptoms can be minor but lead to major health complications and even death in the most severe cases. Victims need to make sure the medical care needed to fully recover from smoke exposure is provided by PG&E. A wildfire lawyer can deal with unhelpful insurance companies and secure the support necessary while the patient is allowed to focus on healing.
Heart & Lung Risks From Wildfires
The air passageways can be damaged when victims must breathe in polluted wildfire smoke and that can affect the air supply that reaches the lungs and heart. The American Lung Association finds that smoke from wildfires can trigger heart attacks and strokes.
Damage to the air passageways can limit the oxygen that reaches the heart and lungs. Many heart and lung conditions are made worse by smoke inhalation:
- Increased risk of asthma
- Increased risk of emphysema
- Increased risk of developing chronic bronchitis
And lung damage can occur for people who are hundreds of miles away from wildfires. The smoke can and has covered large portions of California and destroyed air quality. Victims might develop lung disease and need expensive therapy just to be able to walk up and down stairs again.
PG&E has been found responsible for dozens of California wildfires, but the company won’t automatically provide support to victims left with breathing problems. Victims often have to show proof of how wildfires have put their lives at risk. A skilled California Wildfire Injury Lawyer helps victims collect medical evidence and total hospital bills to make sure PG&E insurance providers pay for every bit of the damages.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for My Wildfires Injuries?
Investigators have found PG&E liable for the destruction caused by more than 30 wildfires. Thousands of people were hurt. The energy giant pled guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and paid $4 million in penalties. The utility company’s role in allowing fires to spark has been well documented and California courts have been holding PG&E fully responsible for the hardships of victims.
PG&E was forced to create the Fire Victim Trust to help people who suffered injuries and lost homes in the 2015 Butte Fires, the 2017 North Bay Fires, the 2018 Camp Fires, and a few other fires.
Other victims living with smoke inhalation damage to their lungs and heart have filed individual lawsuits to demand support to pay for past treatment and any future care necessary.
Your Maison Law lawyer investigates the fire that left you with heart and lung issues and files claims against any individual or business that can be held liable. That may mean that more than one company should be contributing to your support as you heal.
Compensation Available for Wildfire Victims
Beyond seeking help with the cost of rebuilding homes and replacing possessions, victims must seek support for every physical hardship they’ve had to endure and may continue to endure.
Your lawyer holds PG&E responsible for every hardship you and your family have suffered. These and other factors will determine the size of the wildfire settlement check you receive:
- Totals on your current and past medical bills.
- Totals for physical therapy costs.
- Estimates on the care you’ll need in the years ahead for treating a heart or lung condition.
- Support for any home care or nursing home care needed.
- Support for the physical pain and emotional trauma suffered by wildfire victims and heart patients.
- Support for the loss of enjoyment of life a serious breathing ailment can cause. The loss of the ability to enjoy hobbies, exercise, and family activities.
- Loss of income and benefits while victims must miss work as they attempt to recover. Lifetime financial support if a heart condition keeps a victim from ever returning to work.
Contact a California Wildfire Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered a serious heart or lung problem after exposure to a wildfire and the smoke it produced, speak to a California utility wildfire lawyer. We aren’t afraid to take on gigantic power companies and government agencies to secure our clients what they need to heal and rebuild after a fire.
Contact Maison Law for a free consultation no matter where you live in California. Our case reviews are confidential and come with no obligation. If you decide we can help you earn more for your injuries and damages, 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.
