What are Your Legal Options After a Fire?

When you or someone you love has experienced a loss from a fire or explosion, you should know your legal rights and options.

If a fire is caused by someone else’s negligence, anyone injured in the fire can receive compensation for medical expenses, time lost from work, or even the loss of a loved one.

Some examples of fires caused by negligence are faulty wiring, gas explosions, and defective or non-existent smoke detectors. Since each case is different, depending on the unique circumstances of the fire there are a number of parties who can be held liable for the fire.

Several parties could be liable such as the landlord, the manufacturer of a defective appliance or electrical device, the builder or contractor of the home, an electrician or their employer, a propane or gas company, as well as many other possibilities.

Every year in the United States, fires kill more people than all other natural disasters combined. Approximately 80 percent of all deaths linked to fires occur in residential homes. Cooking and careless smoking are the leading causes of these fires.

Throughout the winter months, particularly in Chicago and other northern cities, heating plays a major role in fire safety. These types of fires are especially common in single-family homes, where homeowners are responsible for maintenance. The elderly and children under the age of five are most likely to suffer fatal injuries in a fire.

Every 19 seconds a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the U.S. Those who experience the trauma of a fire are faced with the difficult task of literally rebuilding their lives, whether it involves a house fire or a severe burn injury. Unfortunately, often times the insurance companies may be difficult to work with and may be hesitant to cover all of the losses that you have incurred.

Those who have suffered severe burn injuries know that burns are not always skin-deep. Third and fourth-degree burns severely damage underlying tissue beneath the skin and can lead to disfigurement. In addition to horrific pain, numerous skin grafting procedures may be necessary.

It is important to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Contact one of our Gacovino Lake attorneys at 1-800-246-HURT (4878) to ensure you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.

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