What You Need to Know After a Fire or Explosion

Everything changed in an instant. The fire or explosion in your home, your workplace, or another building happened suddenly. The flames filled the room, the smoke filled the air, and panic filled those inside. Brave firefighters may have rescued you, or did everything they could for your loved one. The emergency is not. You are left with the difficult task of recovering from your fire or explosion injuries, and the financial destruction it caused.

Your recovery may be long and difficult from:

  • Burns
  • Smoke inhalation
  • Emotional trauma
  • The death of a loved one

However, our experienced and empathetic lawyers want to do everything that we can to help you. Since 1977, we have been helping seriously injured victims in New York and New Jersey understand their rights and protect their recoveries. We will fight hard to help you with the expenses, medical needs, lost income, and other damages caused by the fire or explosion that changed your life.

What Caused the Fire or Explosion?

The first step in the recovery process is to determine what caused the fire or explosion. Some common causes of fires and explosions in New York City, the suburbs, and throughout New Jersey include:

  • Defective products. Electronic devices may overheat or spark and cause fires. This may include anything such a hairdryer, an oven, or a computer.
  • Faulty electrical work. This can lead to fires in the walls or outlets.
  • Lack of smoke detectors. While smoke detectors do not prevent fires, they may warn you of a fire quickly, and allow you a few precious minutes that can help you to safely exit the building before you are badly hurt.
  • Blocked emergency exits. Emergency exits are important and are required by law in multi-unit dwellings and commercial buildings. A blocked emergency exit can prevent you from exiting the building quickly and safely.
  • Improperly installed or faulty propane tanks. These can lead to dangerous explosions.
  • Decaying gas lines. Some of the pipes delivering gas to New York City buildings are more than 100 years old. Gas that leaks from decaying lines can lead to fires and explosions.
  • Dangerous chemical processes leading to uncontrolled chemical reactions.
  • Dust explosions in factories or warehouses and the dust collectors installed therein.

Some of the parties that may be responsible for a fire or burn accident and injury include:

  • Building owners. Building owners may be responsible for fires or explosions if they failed to maintain wiring, they did not provide smoke detectors, or they had obstructed fire exits, or their dust collectors failed to have NFPA approved suppression and isolation systems, or worse, the building hand no dust explosion suppression system in place.
  • Building contractors. Building contractors could be responsible for improperly installed or maintained gas, propane, or electrical wires.
  • Manufacturers of defective products. The makers of things such as smoke detectors, gas tanks, and propane tanks may be responsible for injuries that result from fires or explosions. Additionally, the manufacturers of other goods that are flammable and do not include the appropriate warnings, or that are faulty and cause fires or explosions may be liable.
  • Chemical and other factory processors fail to institute proper OSHA and NFPA fire and explosion protections for chemical and other processes.

A full investigation is key to determining what caused the fire or explosion and who is responsible. Often, property is significantly damaged after a fire. Thus, the investigation will require experts who know how to examine burned evidence.

Fire and Explosion Injuries: How to Get Help

If you have been hurt in a fire or explosion in New York or New Jersey then you may be able to recover money for things such as your past, current, and future medical expenses. You may also be able to recover for lost income, pain, suffering, and other damages.

We do not settle our cases until our clients are satisfied with their recoveries. While we settle many cases before trial, we prepare every case as if it is going to court, and spare no reasonable expense in our trial preparation. Please call us today at 1-800-362-9329 to schedule an initial consultation if you’ve been hurt or if you’ve lost a loved one in a fire or explosion. We welcome your call and would be pleased to advise you about your legal rights and possible recovery. If you cannot come to our office due to your injuries, we will be happy to visit you at your home at your convenience.

Dario Chinigo
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Attorney Dario Chinigo has over twenty years of experience in personal injury litigation serving NY and NJ.