A fire or explosion can be one of the most devastating incidents to occur, and can have long-lasting physical and emotional consequences for those who are victims. They can be the result of a number of different things, but those that occur within a building or residence are often the result of negligence.
If you were injured, or if you lost a loved one in such an accident, you may be entitled to damages. An premises liability attorney can help you understand your case, and can provide you with more information about who may be at fault for your injuries or loss.
Causes of Fires and Explosions
Fires and explosions that occur in buildings, factories, or residential homes are often the result of someone’s mistake or negligence. While some fires are caused by natural occurrences, such as lightning, the majority are preventable.
In fact, many are caused by the following obviously negligent acts (on the part of the owner or producer).
- gas line leaks.
- defective products.
- defective appliances.
- failure of gas valves.
- industry accidents.
- workplace accidents.
- improperly placed electrical wiring.
- smoking.
- improperly stored combustible items.
- and, arson.
In some cases, the violation of safety codes or ineffective or out-of-date safety equipment, such as fire alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers, contributes to the havoc that a fire or explosion causes. If you plan on filing a claim, you must establish what caused the accident.
Injuries Caused by Fires and Explosions
While fires and explosions can cause serious physical damages to buildings and other types of property, the personal injuries that can result are far more devastating.
Fires or explosions can cause the following life-altering injuries.
- first-, second-, and third-degree burns.
- loss of limbs.
- fractures.
- traumatic brain injuries.
- burn-related infections.
- and, death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that, on average, someone died in a fire every two hours in the United States and someone was injured every 23 minutes as a result of a fire in 2000.
Injured in Fire or Explosion in New York: Who’s liable?
In New York, the state law allows for the victims to recover damages for injury, death, or property damages in the case that the event was the result of someone else’s negligence.
- property owner.
- neighbors.
- tenants.
- a manufacturer of defective products.
- and, anyone else who may be responsible for the fire or explosion.
Liability can be difficult to determine without an attorney’s help. Property liability law can get complicated and there must be adequate evidence to demonstrate the cause of the fire. This may require hiring an expert witness to testify about the cause of the fire. Accident reports or reports from the fire department investigation could help establish what caused the fire or explosion.
Consult a Premises Liability Lawyer if Injured in a Fire or Explosion
If you’ve been injured in an accident the attorneys at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. know how important it is to recover compensation for your injuries.
Our fire/explosion attorneys have much information to offer.
- supply information regarding premises liability law.
- explain how to prove negligence.
- and, tell you what types of compensation you may be eligible to recover.
For answers to your legal questions, to set up a free case consultation, and to get started filing your premises liability claim, contact us now at 800-550-0000. You can also contact us online to set up your case evaluation.
