Victims of apartment fires are often left with burn injuries as well as scars – psychological and physical – that can burden them with medical bills, lost wages and life-altering pain and suffering. Unfortunately, apartment fires happen, and they are never expected.
These traumatizing fires can result in severe burns, smoke inhalation poisoning, lost homes and, tragically, death. When these incidents are caused through the negligence of a landlord who has ignored fire safety laws and regulations, you will need legal help to hold the negligent party responsible. If you or a loved one were burned or suffered injuries from an apartment fire, you may be entitled to financial compensation for these losses.
Don’t let the insurance companies and your landlord minimize the payout that will help you or a loved one who has suffered burns or injuries. Contact Edward M. Bernstein & Associates for a free consultation from our experienced burn injury attorneys. They will provide the help you need to hold the negligent party responsible and get you the compensation you deserve.
Our attorneys know how apartment fires can devastate families.
Fires often begin with defective kitchen and heating appliances, candles, unsafe and flammable furniture, smoking, or faulty electrical wiring and lighting.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) conducted a report that analyzed fires from 2010–2014. The analysis revealed that cooking equipment is responsible for 46% of all home structure fires, 44% of fire injuries, and 19% of fire deaths in homes and apartments. The report also stated that 1 in every 5 home fire deaths is due to faulty heating equipment. The NFPA also found that a further 16% of fire deaths and 9% of fire injuries stem from faulty electrical work in the home or apartment.
No matter the cause, landlords have an obligation to abide by laws and regulations to ensure the safety of their tenants and prevent any wrongful death and injury.
Types of Fire and Burn Injury Lawsuits
Edward M. Bernstein & Associates can help you handle your claim for any type of lawsuit where a fire or burn injury has occurred, such as:
- Apartment building fires
- Workplace injuries
- Truck accidents and tanker explosions
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Electrical cord fires
- Defective products
- Locked fire exits
- Scalding water and pipes
Keep in mind these are only some examples of burn and fire injury claims. If you have been injured in another type of burn accident, you should contact Ed Bernstein for a free consultation.
Can I sue my landlord if my apartment building catches fire and I am injured?
You may have the right to sue your landlord for damages if you were burned, suffered from smoke inhalation or were otherwise injured due to an apartment fire. If there is evidence of the following, your landlord could be held legally responsible for personal injury or wrongful death:
- Unsafe products including flammable furniture, bedding and clothing
- Defective portable space heaters, faucets or other products that can scald or burn a person
- Failure to install or maintain safety equipment such as smoke detectors, alarms or fire sprinklers
- Failure to safely install electrical wiring or gas lines
- Failure to odorize natural gas so it can be detected to prevent explosions from gas leaks
- Failure to provide adequate warnings and instructions regarding fire safety
- Failure to comply with federal, state or local safety codes.
If these responsibilities are neglected by the landlord, the results can be catastrophic. Injury, burns or even death may be a result of an apartment fire.
If you have been injured in an apartment fire, you should contact an experienced attorney at Edward M. Bernstein & Associates. Even if you believe that you are partially responsible for the fire, you should speak to an attorney in order to determine the best course of action and to investigate whether other safety concerns were neglected that could have prevented the fire.
You can contact us at (702) 508-7334 for a free consultation to learn if you can recover compensation for physical pain, medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.