Pacific Gas & Electric recently opened their Direct Payments for Community Recovery program as they pertain to the victims of the Dixie Fire. This allows those impacted by the 2021 wildfire to file claims for financial recovery through the program’s website. The reality is this the program doesn’t cover many of the financial losses that Dixie Fire victims have experienced. Further, many of those impacted by this wildfire won’t receive any financial compensation from the program. Others may only receive about half of the financial compensation that PG&E is legally obligated to pay under current California law.
PG&E’s negligence was the causation of the Dixie Fire, and under current California law PG&E is obligated to pay Dixie Fire victims for:
- Evacuation costs
- Replacement cost to rebuild destroyed homes
- Replacement cost to rebuild destroyed outbuildings
- Replacement cost for all destroyed personal property
- Full compensation for replacement housing
- Interest on damages from the date of destruction
- Attorney’s fees
- Emotional distress
The Dixie fire forced thousands of California residents to evacuate their homes. Evacuees sought emergency shelter until they were allowed to return to their homes and in the process accumulated additional costs for food, lodging and travel. These evacuations added up to thousands of dollars in many cases and PG&E’s Direct Payments for Community Recovery program will not compensate Dixie Fire victims for evacuation costs.
When it comes to homeowners, PG&E’s Recovery program will only compensate homeowners for about half of what they are legally entitled to for their Dixie Fire damages. Under current law, PG&E is obligated by law to pay homeowners for the full cost to rebuild their destroyed homes and outbuildings, PG&E’s program will only be offering homeowners $400 per square foot for destroyed homes (or a flat $240,000 for manufactured homes) regardless of the actual cost to replace the homes, and will only be offering homeowners $150 per square foot for destroyed outbuildings, regardless of the actual cost to replace the outbuildings.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. A Sacramento personal injury lawyer can help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or contact Guenard & Bozarth online. We would be honored to represent you!
