How a New York Fire Accident Lawyer Can Help

A New York fire accident lawyer is your most valuable advocate if you’ve been hurt in a fire or other burn accident.

Fire accidents occur every day in New York City. People have been hurt by fire at home, in the workplace, or in public spaces. In some cases, burn injuries can result in long-term health consequences, loss of mobility, and even death.

If you’ve been injured as a result of fire accidents or workplace thermal, chemical, or friction burns, you may not know where to turn for help.

New York fire accident lawyers are the answer. These legal professionals have the expertise, knowledge, and skill to help you navigate the complex legal landscape. In this guide, we will explore how fire accident lawyers in the New York area provide expert legal guidance for the victims of fire accident injuries.

Types of Fire Accidents and Burn Injuries in the Greater New York Area

As noted in our introduction, burn injuries can occur nearly anywhere. Typically, those injured in explosion and fire accidents are injured either in the home or workplace. In other cases, fire and explosion cases may happen in public spaces, entertainment spots, restaurants, or as the result of vehicle crashes.

It is important to note that many burn injuries are the result of personal carelessness, neglect, or negligent property owners failing to maintain the safety features of apartment buildings and retail establishments. If you or a loved one has been injured in explosion and fire accidents, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries — especially if someone else was responsible for your burn injury.

What kinds of burn injuries are there?

Burn injuries are categorized based on the cause of the injury:

Thermal Burns: These are caused by contact with fire, steam, hot liquids, or other sources of extreme heat. Thermal burns occur in homes, and industrial settings.
Chemical Burns: These are caused by contact with acids, alkalis, detergents, or solvents that can damage the skin. Industrial accidents on construction sites or at manufacturing facilities are common sources of chemical burn injuries.
Electrical Burns: These are caused by contact with electrical sources, which can cause severe damage not always visible on the skin’s surface. Faulty electrical wiring is the most common cause of electrical burns (and electrical fires) in the New York City metro area.
Radiation Burns: These are caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light (like from the sun), tanning booths, or more potent sources of radiation, such as radiation therapy for cancer or certain types of industrial work.
Friction Burns: These are caused by contact with any hard surface such as roads (“road rash”), carpets, or gym floors. They’re often both a scrape (abrasion) and a heat burn. Vehicle crashes are a primary source of friction burn injuries. Friction burns are often relatively minor but can result in pain, swelling, or loss of mobility in severe injuries.

Even if a person is not injured directly by contact with heat, electricity, or dangerous chemicals, he or she can still receive injuries. One of the most common of these injuries is smoke inhalation injuries, which can result in damage to the respiratory tract and may even cause death in severe cases.

Severity of Burns

Most people are familiar with simple burns, including the burns classified as first-degree burns or second-degree burns. There are six “degrees” or classifications of burns ranging from relatively minor to severe burns:

First-Degree Burns: These are superficial burns affecting only the epidermis, or outer layer of skin. They cause redness and pain but don’t lead to blistering or permanent damage. Sunburn is a typical example of a first-degree burn.
Second-Degree Burns: These burns extend beyond the epidermis to the dermis (the second layer of skin). They cause redness, pain, swelling, and blistering. The burned skin may appear shiny and moist. These burns may cause some level of permanent damage, depending on their severity and how they’re treated. Second-degree burns are common in the home and in food-service establishments; kitchen fires are all too common in the Big Apple.
Third-Degree Burns: These serious burn injuries extend through the dermis and into the deeper tissues. They cause white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb because of nerve damage. These burns are severe and may result in extensive scarring and functional impairment.
Fourth-Degree Burns: These burns extend into the fat layer beneath the skin. They can cause charring and may result in a loss of function in the affected area. They’re often life-threatening and require extensive medical intervention.
Fifth- and Sixth-Degree Burns: These burns extend to the muscle (fifth-degree) and bone (sixth-degree). They’re typically painless due to nerve damage and are usually life-threatening. Such burns often require amputation.

Neglect and Negligence Leading to Fires

The five boroughs of New York City are home to millions of people. Unfortunately, this high population density sets the groundwork for devastating fires and fire injuries caused by negligence or neglect. If a fire erupts in a multi-story apartment building, dozens or hundreds of innocent victims can be hurt.

Common issues leading to fires

Some of the most common reported issues of property owner neglect or negligence include:

Faulty wiring
Missing or expired fire extinguishers
Broken, missing, or inoperable fire alarms
Broken, missing, or inoperable smoke detectors
Blocked or inoperable emergency exits
Hidden fire hazards like improper storage of flammable materials on the premises
Leaks in gas lines, including decaying gas lines in the city’s gas distribution system or faulty propane tanks used for cooking or heating

Investigating negligence and neglect on the part of property owners

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) investigates hundreds of apartment and residential fires each year. In many cases, these fires caused the loss of life and livelihood to many building residents. In some cases, the building owner or property owners were cited for neglect or negligence.

If faulty wiring, improper or missing fire alarms, or smoke detector issues resulted in your injury, a personal injury lawsuit may be your best course of action to recover financial compensation.

What are the Consequences of Severe Injuries Resulting from Fire Accidents?

Obviously, physical injury is the most common consequence fire victims face. Even in mild case, burns typically require some type of medical attention. In more severe cases, medical expenses from serious injuries may result in thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs, especially when accident victims don’t have insurance or the insurance company denies their claim.

Here are some of the many other potential consequences of a fire accident or explosion accident, whether from kitchen fires, an explosion accident while on a construction site, or other circumstances leading to serious injuries:

Lost wages
Lost earning potential
Emotional trauma
Property damage
Loss of enjoyment of life
Costs associated with rehabilitation and/or physical therapy

If you or someone you love has been injured in a fire, you may be entitled to fair compensation. Fire accident cases often result in lawsuits against those responsible; your New York fire accident lawyer can help you file a claim.

What Do New York Fire Accident Lawyers Do?

If you were involved in a fire accident, burn injury lawyers can be a valuable asset as you attempt to recover financial compensation for your injuries, property damage, or emotional distress.

Filing a lawsuit for a fire injury involves a complex legal process, and a personal injury lawyer can provide invaluable assistance throughout this process. Here’s a look at what fire accident lawyers do to help burn victims and their family members:

Initial Consultation: The lawyer will first meet with you to discuss the details of the incident, understand the extent of your injuries, and evaluate the potential for a successful lawsuit. Fire accident lawyers offer a free consultation. In fact there are no fees involved in the work fire accident lawyers do for their clients. They are only paid for their work if they win your case.
Investigation: If the lawyer decides to take on your case, they will start an in-depth investigation. This may include visiting the scene of the fire, collecting evidence, taking photos, and gathering medical records, fire department reports, and witness statements. In burn cases, your lawyer will properly investigate your claim and the evidence to ensure you have a solid case.
Case Preparation: The lawyer will use the evidence collected to build a strong case for you. They will determine the party or parties responsible for the fire and your injuries, whether it’s a person, a company (in cases of product defects or professional negligence), or even a government entity.
Claim Calculation: Your lawyer will calculate the value of your claim based on the damages you have suffered. This includes medical expenses, lost wages, future loss of earnings, property damage, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
Negotiation: Before filing a lawsuit, your lawyer will typically try to negotiate a settlement with the responsible party’s insurance company. They will present your case and the calculated damages in the most compelling way possible to try to get you the best settlement for serious burns or other serious injury resulting from fire or explosion accident cases.
Filing a Lawsuit: If negotiations do not result in a satisfactory settlement, your lawyer will then file a lawsuit on your behalf. This includes drafting and filing legal documents with the court and serving the defendants.
Discovery Process: In the discovery phase, both sides exchange information about the witnesses and evidence they plan to present. Your lawyer will prepare and submit interrogatories (written questions) and requests for documents, and may also take depositions (oral questioning under oath).
Trial: If your case goes to trial, your lawyer will represent you in court. They will present your case, cross-examine the defendant’s witnesses, and argue on your behalf to the judge and jury.
Post-Trial Proceedings: If you win your case, your lawyer will help collect the judgment from the defendant. If you lose, your lawyer can help you decide whether there are grounds for an appeal.

Each case is unique, so the process can vary based on your specific circumstances. The important thing is that an experienced personal injury lawyer and his/her New York City law firm will guide you through the legal process and work to get you the compensation you deserve.

Call for a free consultation today; in New York, fire accident attorneys are standing by to help you navigate the legal process and will work on your behalf to secure compensation for your injuries.