Six people, including two firefighters, were injured in a six-story apartment building fire in the Crotona Park East section of the Bronx the afternoon of Sept. 15. According to CBS New York news report, more than 140 firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the fire on the second floor at 1773 Vyse Avenue. Fire officials said the fire extended to the floor above and a hallway. It took firefighters about 90 minutes to get the fire under control.
FDNY confirmed that four people were injured, including one seriously. In addition, the department said two firefighters sustained non-life-threatening injuries. One resident whom CBS identified as Suany Ford said they she saw smoke coming in the door and decided to run out through the fire escape. She said it was her dog that alerted her to the fire. It is not clear if smoke alarms were working in the building. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who were affected by this fire.
What Do NYC Laws Say About Smoke Alarms?
New York City law requires property owners/managers to provide and maintain smoke alarms in residential properties. In many multiple-dwelling buildings, owners must install at least one approved smoke detector in each dwelling unit. Smoke alarms must be located in appropriate areas, including near sleeping areas. Additional alarms may be required depending on the building’s layout and other housing or building requirements.
Alarms should remain operational and be maintained in working order. If a property owner/manager fails to address a smoke alarm problem, tenants can report housing safety concerns by calling NYC 311.
Injuries Suffered in a Fire
A fire can cause devastating injuries to victims. Common fire-related injuries include burns, smoke inhalation, respiratory problems and injuries caused by falling debris or attempts to escape. Severe burns may require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation and in some cases, surgery.
Smoke inhalation can be particularly dangerous because symptoms are not always immediately obvious. Exposure to smoke and toxic gases can damage the lungs and may cause serious breathing difficulties. Anyone exposed to significant smoke should seek medical evaluation promptly.
If a person is injured in a fire accident because of unsafe property conditions, such as missing or defective smoke alarms, inadequate fire exits or other hazards, the property owner/manager or other parties may be held liable. Injured victims may be able to seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Documentation such as medical records, photographs, witness information and other evidence can prove invaluable in strengthening your case. Your personal injury lawyer can also help you obtain and preserve critical evidence.
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 very 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 a very 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 and we got $2,250,000 for another hot water burn victim 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 cases, negligence cases, motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, trip-and-fall accidents, ceiling collapse cases, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases, quadriplegia 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.
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.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/fdny-crotona-park-east-bronx-apartment-building-fire/