Martha Dagbatsa, 77, was killed in a Bronx explosion and fire and seven other people were critically injured in the incident, which occurred the morning of Jan. 18. According to a report in the Gothamist, the building involved — a three-story home on Fox Street near Intervale Avenue in Longwood — was completely leveled. Neighbors and officials suspect the explosion was caused by leaking gas. The investigation into this tragic explosion is still ongoing.
Fatality, Injuries and Ongoing Investigation
The news article said that about 200 firefighters and EMS workers along with NYPD officers arrived at the scene and began to evacuate residents. Dagbatsa died at a local hospital. Two other women, an 82-year-old and 68-year-old, were also found at the scene and transported to the hospital. Both these victims are said to be in stable condition. First responders’ swift actions saved the women’s lives, officials said.
Body camera footage released by NYPD shows an officer rushing into the building and helping rescue one of the occupants who is seen lying on the floor and under a sofa. Five police officers who responded to the fire also suffered injuries. City officials have said they are still investigating and haven’t identified the cause of the explosion. Fire officials however say someone had reported the smell of gas in the area. After the explosion, Con Edison turned off gas to buildings along Fox Street between Intervale Avenue and Tiffany Street.
A Tragic and Traumatic Event
We offer our deepest condolences to the family of Martha Dagbatsa who was fatally injured in this fire and explosion. We wish the injured here, including the elderly women and the police officers who risked their lives, the very best for a full and complete recovery. Please keep all those affected by this horrific explosion in your thoughts and prayers.
This explosion marks the second fire-related tragedy this month in the Bronx. On Jan. 9, a five-alarm fire at a high-rise residential building in the Tremont section killed 17 people including eight children. Officials said it was New York City’s deadliest fire in more than three decades.
Liability Issues
While some residents suspect a gas leak may have triggered this explosion, officials are still working to pinpoint the exact cause, and will hopefully answer a number of questions that remain. It is important in such cases to look into precisely how or why the gas leak occurred and if negligence (carelessness) played a role.
There are also other critical questions to ask during the course of such investigations. Who owns and/or operates the building? Was the building properly maintained? Was the leak the result of a faulty or defective pipe? Was there a dangerous condition in the building that the property owner and/or manager knew or should have known about? Did the incident occur as the result of negligence (carelessness) on the part of the utility company?
It is the responsibility of property owners and/or managers to ensure that gas pipes are properly inspected, repaired and maintained at all times. Worn or broken parts must be repaired or replaced promptly. Property owners and managers have a duty to ensure that their building is safe for all tenants, visitors and guests.
Victims of explosion/fire injuries can file what is known as a premises liability claim against the property owner and/or manager. Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, surgery, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death claim seeking compensation as well.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a fire or explosion, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For 50 years, our skilled attorneys have established a proven track record of assisting injured victims. One of our clients – a hot water burn victim – secured $750,000 in damages from the property owner and manager.
Our firm also obtained a $985,000 settlement out of a $1 million policy for two people who suffered smoke inhalation injuries because the homeowner did not have smoke detectors installed and the $15,000 that was left on the insurance policy was for a person that we did not represent. Another client recovered $2,500,000 due to a faulty space heater. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and/or medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://gothamist.com/news/woman-dies-several-critically-injured-bronx-gas-explosion