A fire ripped through a brownstone home in. Bedford-Stuyvesant, killing 77-year-old Cheryl Griffin. According to News 12, the fire broke out a little before midnight on April 7 on MacDonough Street. More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene as thick, black smoke swirled out of the building, the outlet reports. One neighbor said the fire was coming from the bottom floor initially and spread rapidly to the roof.
Neighbors also said Griffin lived in the home with her daughter and granddaughter who were reported to be unharmed. The city’s Department of Buildings issued a full-vacate order for the brownstone building, declaring the structure unsafe to enter. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Cheryl Griffin for their tragic loss. Her daughter Nailah told News 12 that her mother was a civil lawyer, an activist and was known as the “mayor of Bed-Stuy.”
Structural Fire Fatalities
Structural fires in the United States continue to be a significant cause of injury and loss of life each year. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in recent years, there have been over 2,000 civilian fire fatalities annually, with the majority occurring in residential structures. Homes account for roughly three-quarters of all civilian fire deaths, underscoring the importance of fire prevention and early warning systems in these settings.
In many cases, these fires happen at night when occupants are asleep, making working smoke alarms vital for early detection and survival. The presence of functional smoke detectors and home fire sprinklers significantly reduces the risk of death in a fire. Statistics also show that vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, individuals with disabilities and low-income households are disproportionately affected by structural fire fatalities.
Who is Liable for Structural Fires?
Liability for structural fires in the United States can fall on various parties depending on the cause and circumstances of the fire. In residential or commercial settings, property owners/managers have a legal responsibility to maintain safe conditions including functional smoke detectors, safe electrical systems and adherence to fire codes.
When a fire or accident at a building is caused by negligence (carelessness) such as faulty wiring, lack of maintenance, or code violations, the property owners and/or property managers may be held liable for the resulting damages, injuries and loss of life that occurs.
In rental properties, owners/managers are typically responsible for ensuring the premises are up to code and safe for tenants. Manufacturers or contractors may be liable if defective appliances, heating systems or poor construction practices contributed to the fire. For example, a fire caused by a faulty space heater or improperly installed electrical wiring could lead to product liability or professional negligence (carelessness) claims.
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. 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://brooklyn.news12.com/1-woman-dead-2-people-hurt-after-fire-rips-through-bed-stuy-brownstone