Windmill fires often go unreported on Texas ranches because the clean energy industry doesn’t want the negative stigma. However, wind turbine fires are quite common. Property owners should protect themselves and fight for compensation after a costly loss in a windmill fire.
If your property was damaged by a windmill fire and someone has been injured, contact us today to see how you can recover compensation! Lee, Gober & Reyna have successfully helped countless clients recover money for property damage, personal injuries, and wrongful deaths. And we can help you too.
Legal Strategies for Holding Energy Companies Accountable
Clean energy companies that install wind turbines on Texas ranches may be held responsible for fires caused by their windmills. However, holding them responsible can be difficult. There are some legal strategies that your attorney may use to prove liability and negligence after Texas property damage caused by a windmill fire.
Who Is Liable for Windmill Fires?
There are multiple parties who may be liable for a windmill fire. Several factors must be considered, and in the end the specific circumstances of each case will dictate who is held responsible.
Windmill Manufacturers
If there were defects in the design, construction, or materials that led to the windmill fire, the manufacturer may be responsible. This could include faulty wiring, inadequate fire protection measures, or the use of substandard components.
Maintenance Companies
If a fire was caused by negligent maintenance, including failure to inspect the wind turbine for potential hazards or faulty work on the windmill, then the maintenance company could be included in the fire damage claim.
Utility Company
Fires caused by power lines or other infrastructure that is owned by the utility company may be the responsibility of the energy company or owner of those components. In many cases, the wind turbine renewable energy company is responsible.
Other Third Parties
In some cases, third parties such as vandals or trespassers may be partially or wholly responsible for fires that initiate at windmills. This can be difficult to prove, but with the help of a Texas windmill fire attorney, you may be able to gather necessary evidence.
How Do I Prove Negligence in a Windmill Fire Case?
Windmill fire lawsuits can be difficult. You must be able to prove that the other party was negligent and should be held accountable for their actions. Negligence is a legal theory indicating that the other party had a legal duty, breached that legal duty, and the legal duty caused harm and damages.
You must be about to show that the defendant owed you a duty of care to act reasonably to avoid causing harm. For example, the energy company that owns the windmill has a responsibility to properly maintain the wind turbine and ensure it is in good working order.
Then, you must show that they breached that duty. For example, if the energy company failed to maintain the windmill, then they have breached their legal duty. As a result, any damages, including economic (monetary) and non-economic (intangible) will be their liability.
Filling Lawsuits to Recover Damages After a Windmill Fire
Windmill fires can cause significant property damage and personal injury. The financial loss can be devastating, and the personal harm can last a lifetime – especially if the fire causes a wrongful death. Texas renewable energy law does protect energy companies, but personal injury law allows you to file a lawsuit when necessary.
Can You Sue for Property Damage Caused by a Windmill Fire?
You can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for your property damage caused by a windmill fire. If you can determine who is responsible for the windmill fire, you can sue them for property damage as well as other losses.
Texas ranchers have a lot to lose when a wind turbine fire rampages across their lands. They may lose buildings, animals, and human lives. This property damage can be recovered from the party that is responsible.
Can You Sue for Personal Injuries Caused by a Windmill Fire?
You can also sue the party responsible for the windmill fire for any personal injuries suffered by anyone who is on the property at the time of the fire. That may include anyone who lives on the ranch, ranch hands, employees, or other people who are injured.
You can get money for economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
If the wind turbine fire causes a death, you can also file a wrongful death claim to get compensation for burial costs, funeral expenses, lost inheritance, and more. Wrongful death claims are extremely difficult to navigate, so you should always seek the assistance of a Texas wrongful death lawyer to help.
Contact a Texas Windmill Fire Attorney at Lee, Gober & Reyna
If you or a loved one are involved in a windmill fire, or if you lose property because of one, you should immediately contact Lee, Gober & Reyna, Texas Personal Injury Attorneys. They will help you gather evidence, understand relevant laws, and build a strong case to get compensation. Call us today for a free consultation about your case.