At least 10 people were injured, including a child who suffered critical injuries, in a Brooklyn fire the morning of July 16. According to an NBC New York news report, investigators are looking into the case as possible arson. FDNY says firefighters responded to reports of a fire on the first floor of a building at Evergreen and Jefferson avenues. Firefighters rushed in to get everyone out safely, in some cases pulling families out through windows as the blaze spread throughout the building, NBC reports. Victims included children, some of them infants.
Potential Arson Investigation
Potential Arson InvestigationNYPD officials say many victims suffered smoke inhalation and that one person suffered life-threatening injuries. The fire was brought under control in about an hour. Based on the news report, witnesses stated that a neighbor who lived on the first floor for more than a year may have used a flammable substance to spark the fire.
Neighbors also told the police that the man had threatened residents in the past and attempted to stop people from escaping. Some neighbors told NBC that they tried to hold the man down until police arrived, but he was able to escape. FDNY inspectors are still looking into what caused the fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the injured victims and the families that have been displaced from their homes.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Arson?
In New York, determining liability for an arson involves assessing who is legally responsible for the damage caused by the deliberate act of setting the fire. The primary individual liable for an arson fire is the person who intentionally started the fire. Arson is defined under New York Penal Law § 150.10 as knowingly starting a fire with the intent to damage property, and those found guilty of arson can face severe criminal penalties, including imprisonment.
Beyond the individual who started the fire, property owners or property managers may also face liability under certain conditions. If a property owner/manager failed to maintain safety measures or negligently allowed a dangerous condition that facilitated the spread of the fire, they might be held liable for damages.
Insurance companies play a significant role in arson cases as well. If an arsonist targets a property, the property owner’s insurance policy may cover damages. Third parties who indirectly contribute to the fire’s cause, such as contractors who performed unsafe work, might also be held liable if their negligence (carelessness) played a role.
When a fire or accident at a building is caused by negligence (carelessness) or a lack of proper maintenance, the property owners and/or property managers may be held liable for the injuries and loss of life that occurs. Injured victims or families of deceased victims can file a premises liability claim against the responsible parties including, but not limited to, the property owner, property manager, maintenance/repair company, etc.
Injured victims in such cases can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones can file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation as well.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Whether you have been living as a tenant at a private apartment complex or in a public housing unit (NYCHA) (the Projects), please remember that you have legal rights. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of dangerous conditions, 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 over 53 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 of our clients 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, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy 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://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/brooklyn-fire-bushwick-jefferson/5600820/