A fire tore through an apartment building in Brooklyn Heights the afternoon of Jan. 6, leaving seven people injured, including three seriously. According to a News12 report, the fire broke out inside a third-floor apartment at 75 Pierrepont Street between Hicks and Henry streets. Video from the scene shows flames shooting out from the building with neighbors yelling for people to call 911, and one person climbing down a fire escape to get to safety.
Ongoing Investigation
News12 reports that seven people were injured in the fire and according to officials, two residents and one firefighter were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Several others were treated at the scene. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about an hour. Fire marshals are still investigating the cause of this fire.
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) inspected the property after the fire and issued a partial vacate order with some apartment units being evaluated as not safe enough to be occupied. Inspectors found smoke and water damage and reported that several windows were blown out in multiple apartments. The American Red Cross is helping house those who have been displaced in this incident.
Who Can Be Held Liable for an Apartment Fire?
In New York, liability for an apartment fire typically depends on what caused the fire and who had legal responsibility to prevent it or to correct the hazardous situation. It is also possible that more than one party can be held liable for the fire. Here are some of the parties who may be responsible in such scenarios:
Property owner: Landlords or building owners have a responsibility to make sure they maintain all electrical systems, plumbing, and appliances etc. such as electrical wiring, heaters, boilers, and gas lines. They also have a responsibility to make sure that the building and apartment units are equipped with working smoke detectors. In addition, they should make sure that stairwells and fire exits are clear and that known fire hazards are repaired in a timely manner.
Property management company: In many cases, a property management company that is tasked with maintaining the building can be held liable along with the property owner, especially if the fire was caused by lack of proper maintenance or failing to address hazards.
Contractors or maintenance workers: A contractor can be held liable if the fire was caused by improper electrical work, code violations during renovations, defective installation of appliances or other systems, etc.
Manufacturers of defective products: If a defective product or appliance caused the fire, the manufacturer may be held liable under product liability laws.
Utility companies: The gas or electric company may be held responsible if the fire was caused by faulty meters, service lines or negligent (careless) work.
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. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer before contacting the people responsible for the injuries, and definitely before contacting or communicating with any insurance company, or their lawyers, investigators, or adjusters.
For over 54 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 insurance 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, paraplegia cases 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.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: https://brooklyn.news12.com/seven-injured-2-severely-in-brooklyn-heights-brownstone-blaze