A pattern of neglect and a failure to enact regulations for proper e-bike storage were among the main causes for a string of deadly fires in New York City’s public housing buildings (NYCHA) (the Projects), according to a new report from the city’s Department of Investigation (DOI). According to the Gothamist, city investigators launched the probe last February in the wake of three public housing complex fires that killed two people, including a 6-year-old boy and injured several others.
Recent Fires in NYCHA Buildings
The fires broke out over a two-month period at the Mitchel Houses in the South Bronx, the Jacob Riis Houses in the East Village and the Wise Towers on the Upper West Side, which is a privately-managed NYCHA development. Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Stauber said in a statement that “NYCHA needs to improve its fire safety procedures across the board and better protect its tenants.”
The fires at Mitchel Houses and the Wise Towers started in trash chutes and spread into hallways and stairwells. In both cases, investigators said a lack of maintenance and planning contributed to the tragic deaths and injuries. This included a missed inspection of the fire suppression system at the Mitchel Houses where the child was killed. Had they done proper maintenance of the fire suppression system, the blaze in the trash compactor could have been extinguished before it spread, officials said.
The investigation also showed the property management company that oversees Wise Towers — along with 16 other NYCHA developments — had deficient maintenance protocols and lacked a proper fire safety plan. The report found that NYCHA, which oversees the private contractor, failed to make sure the property was well maintained and that the fire safety protocols were implemented.
At the Jacob Riis Houses, an e-bike battery explosion caused the fire, which was one of more than two dozen fires inside NYCHA properties triggered by lithium-ion batteries. DOI had previously urged NYCHA to ban or regulate the storage of e-bikes in their buildings.
Building Owners’ Responsibilities
New York City laws require many property owners and/or property managers to maintain spaces that are safe for tenants, visitors and guests. Property owners/managers may be required to provide, install and maintain smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in each unit. The devices should also be maintained and remain in good working order.
When a fire or accident at a building is caused by negligence (carelessness) or a lack of property 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 medical expenses, lost income and benefits, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones can seek compensation as well by filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Protecting Your Rights
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 51 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.
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Source: https://gothamist.com/news/deadly-fires-at-nyc-public-housing-caused-by-neglect-e-bike-policies-investigators-say