California’s Public Utilities Commission has ordered PG&E to conduct a leak survey on its natural gas lines, giving priority to higher pressure pipelines, as well as to lines in areas of high population density.
As a San Francisco burn injury lawyer, I am still very frustrated with PG&E’s response to this nightmare. I salute the PUC for ordering the survey and really hope that it prevents any chance of a disaster like this from happening again.
Meanwhile, four people have died and four remain missing as a result of the gas explosion in San Bruno and dozens of residents are being treated for severe burn injuries.
As for those with burns, the burn survivor and their family are faced with a number of serious issues for which they really should seek professional legal advice. Some of the most important you will face are:
How will past medical bills or the cost of future medical care be paid?
How will the family bills be paid?
Was the injury caused by PG&E’s negligence or the negligence of some other person or a product defect?
A burn survivor’s legal right to compensation may include:
Payment of medical bills, past and future.
Compensation for loss of income, past and future.
Vocational rehabilitation (job retraining).
Compensation for pain and suffering. This may include compensation for the horrific pain and suffering that you have endured and may continue to endure into the future as a result of your injury as well as any cosmetic disfigurement.
Loss of consortium. The spouse of a burn survivor may be entitled to compensation when an injury is so severe that it interferes with the injured party’s spousal relations. This may include loss of support, services, love, companionship, society, affection, sexual relations.
We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to “not at fault” persons named in this article and their family members.
