Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Windsor & Geyserville Wildfire Trial Lawyers

On October 23, 2019, a new wildfire began that would further damage a region already devastated by the unprecedented 2017 North Bay Fires. Fanned by extremely high wind speeds, dry environment, and low humidity, the Kincade Fire spread rapidly through the night. In the largest evacuation Sonoma County has ever enforced, families fled their homes as the fires blazed, covering 10,000 acres by morning. After 13 days, by the time firefighters had it fully contained, the Kincade Fire had burned 77,758 acres and destroyed 374 buildings—including 174 homes and 11 commercial properties, one of them the historic Soda Rock Winery. Today, residents of Sonoma County, including Windsor, Healdsburg, Geyserville, Mark West Springs and other parts of Santa Rosa, are dealing with serious property damage, total property loss, and personal injuries.

With PG&E currently in bankruptcy proceedings and insurance companies already stressed by the demands of preceeding wildfires, the public faces an uncertain recovery from this most recent tragedy. While the Kincade Fire is still under investigation, Eric Ratinoff and his team of dedicated California wildfire loss attorneys are offering free legal assistance to wildfire victims, answering questions and providing aid with homeowners insurance claims.

The Impact of the Wildfires in Northern California

Most of us here in Northern California are still recovering from PG&E related wildfires that have devastated our region over the past two years. Some have just begun rebuilding homes that were destroyed in the Tubbs Fire; others are still moving from shelter to shelter after losing everything to the Camp Fire. Thousands of people are still suffering, yet here we are facing what appears to be a repeat performance in a devastating cycle of catastrophe.

Questions demand answers about what appears to be another preventable wildfire related to PG&E’s negligence and mismanagement of California’s utility infrastructure. Sonoma wildfire victims are asking:

• Will we be able to file a claim against PG&E for the Kincade Fire now that they are in bankruptcy proceedings?
• Will insurance companies continue to honor homeowners’ policies when wildfires have already accounted for billions of dollars in losses in California?
• What do I do if my insurance company denies my wildfire claim?
• What happens if PG&E is found liable, but can’t afford to pay for the wildfire damage their power lines caused?
• What forms of compensation can I seek to help me get back on my feet after a wildfire?
• What forms of compensation can I seek to recover financially and rebuild my home?

How the PG&E Bankruptcy Affects Kincade Fire Victims

Even though it appears at this juncture that PG&E was responsible for the ignition of the Kincade fire, the victims of the Kincade Fire are not subject to the PG&E Bankruptcy proceedings because their claims are considered to be Post-Petition claims, which are not subject to the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy proceedings.

So, if you suffered loss due to the Kincade Fire, you should contact a wildfire lawyer immediately to discuss your recovery options. Our team of lawyers has been on the front line against PG&E for nearly every PG&E and other utility company caused catastrophe in the past decade. We have the experience and resources to get you the maximum recovery possible by law. Call us today or fill out the form on this page to get your questions answered.

PG&E Bankruptcy Update for Victims of the 2017 North Bay Fires

The Bankruptcy Court Judge has extended the Claim Bar date to December 31, 2019, which means that all victims of the North Bay fires must file a claim for their losses by that date, or they will no longer be eligible to pursue compensation from PG&E.

While many people have the mistaken perception that PG&E avoided liability to the fire victims by declaring bankruptcy, this is simply not true. PG&E is not going out of business. The bankruptcy filing has just moved the cases to a different courtroom, where an orderly process will be imposed for adjudicating and paying claims. PG&E has assets in excess of $68 Billion and continues to generate approximately $1.5 Billion per year in net profit. It has the ability to borrow billions more.

If you suffered loss from the North Bay Fires, please contact us immediately to discuss your situation. With a very limited amount of time to file your claim, it’s imperative that you act quickly or you will lose your opportunity to pursue financial compensation from PG&E for the devastation they caused. We are committed to helping all California wildfire victims seek compensation for their damages.