California Wildfire Victims Face Looming Deadline for Claims in PG&E Fire Case

Over the last four years, California has been hit with a series of devastating wildfires in rapid succession. These fires have of course destroyed a vast amount of forest, but have also damaged or destroyed the homes of countless Californians as well.

Now, tens of thousands of Californians affected by these fires are facing another major problem: they might be unable to claim compensation from the utility company being held responsible for the fires.

Indeed, a deadline for pursuing compensation for California wildfire damage is fast approaching. USA Today’s Desert Sun reports that wildfire victims have just a couple of weeks remaining to file their PG&E fire case claims. The final day to do so is Oct. 21. 

So far, approximately 31,500 wildfire claims have been filed, the majority of these — about 30,000 — done so with the help of lawyers. However, as many as 70,000 other wildfire victims may be eligible for compensation, and the deadline may pass them by.

The filing deadline for wildfire claims is part of the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) bankruptcy case, which the utility company filed back in January as it gathered billions of dollars in potential liability for years’ worth of wildfires in the state.

“PG&E remains focused on doing right by the customers and communities we serve,” said PG&E spokesman Andrew Castagnola in a statement. The company has set aside an estimated $8.4 billion for wildfire victims and has stated that any and all court-approved wildfire claims will be honored.

However, some legal experts say that PG&E is using its bankruptcy proceeding to avoid paying as many claims as possible by pushing the deadline as early as they can.

“They wanted to use the bankruptcy rules to their benefit to limit their liability to victims,” a Bay Area lawyer representing several thousand wildfire victims told the New York Times. He noted that the Oct. 21 deadline was intentionally early in order to make PG&E “end up with a smaller number” of victims to compensate.

Affected Californians need this support now, as many have been displaced from their homes, in some cases living in on the streets or in tent cities set up to house fire victims. Some may be traumatized, confused or overwhelmed, making the pursuit of litigation an even more complicated prospect, and the looming deadline even more of a deterrent.

Filing a California Fires Lawsuit

If you have been affected by a recent wildfire in California, you may be able to file a PG&E fire case claim and pursue compensation. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by wildfire injuries, property damage, or other issues, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden caused by this damage.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially considering the devastation left in the wake of a wildfire, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.