An 82-year-old woman was hospitalized with injuries after a fire broke out in her home in Brooklyn and spread to neighboring buildings. According to a report in the New York Daily News, the massive blaze erupted in a three-story home on East 3rd Street near Beverly Road in Kensington, the evening of March 22. Neighbors told the Daily News that the entire home was on fire and that there was a lot of smoke. FDNY officials said units found heavy fire on the first floor and that the fire quickly escalated to a fourth alarm because of high winds, which also sent the flames to adjacent homes about an hour after the fire erupted.
Firefighters said the victim was found in the home and transported to a local hospital in critical condition. She was later said to be in stable condition. Another similar fire occurred in Brooklyn a day before this blaze, taking the life of a 99-year-old woman. In that incident, her son attempted to rescue his elderly mother but was stopped by a wall of flames. Investigations into both fires are ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who was affected by these fires.
Common Fire-Related Injuries
In a structural fire, victims may sustain a range of injuries due to the intense heat, flames, smoke, and toxic fumes present during the incident. Common injuries include:
- Burns: Direct contact with flames or hot surfaces can cause first-degree to third-degree burns, which can be extremely painful and may require skin grafts or other surgical interventions.
- Smoke inhalation: Breathing in smoke and toxic fumes can lead to respiratory problems, including coughing, shortness of breath, and lung damage. Severe cases can result in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or even death.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning: Incomplete combustion of materials can produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly if inhaled in high concentrations. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include dizziness, headaches, nausea, and confusion.
- Traumatic injuries: Individuals may suffer injuries from falls, collapsing structures, or flying debris while trying to escape the fire.
- Emotional trauma: Experiencing a structural fire can also lead to psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.
- Prompt medical attention is essential for anyone injured in a structural fire to minimize complications and facilitate recovery.
Laws and Liability Issues
New York City laws require property owners and/or property managers to maintain spaces that are safe for tenants, visitors and guests. Property owners are 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 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 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 52 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.nydailynews.com/2024/03/23/woman-89-hospitalized-as-fire-rages-through-brooklyn-home-fdny/