A fire at a high-rise apartment building in Gramercy the evening of April 14 left at least four people injured, including a firefighter. According to a CBS News report, the incident occurred on Waterside Plaza. Officials said the fire started on the sixth floor of a 40-story high-rise. A 51-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were transported to an area hospital with smoke inhalation injuries. A firefighter also sustained non-life-threatening injuries. FDNY officials said when they arrived, there was heavy smoke as well as flames. A 49-year-old man was also treated for relatively minor injuries at the scene. Officials are still trying to determine what caused the fire.
This was the second fire incident to occur this past week in Manhattan. On April 10, smoke filled the hallway after a fire broke out inside a luxury high-rise tower at 2 Gold Street in Lower Manhattan. Tenants at this building said they heard the sound of the elevator repeatedly, but did not hear a fire alarm go off in the hallway or inside their apartments. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries. Fire officials told PIX11 News that the cause of the fire as well as the functionality of the building’s fire alarm system are under investigation.
NYC Smoke Alarm Laws
In New York City, smoke alarm laws are designed to ensure the safety of residents by requiring the installation and maintenance of functional smoke alarms in residential buildings. The New York City Fire Code and the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law outline specific requirements for smoke alarms in different types of residential properties.
Key provisions of the smoke alarm laws in New York City include:
- Installation requirements: All residential buildings, including one- and two-family homes, multi-family dwellings, and apartment buildings, are required to have smoke alarms installed. The alarms must be located near each sleeping area and on each level of the building, including basements.
- Type of smoke alarms: Smoke alarms must be powered by the building’s electrical system with a battery backup or be battery-operated. They should be approved by a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- Maintenance and testing: Building owners/managers are responsible for maintaining and testing smoke alarms to ensure they are in proper working condition. Alarms should be tested regularly, and batteries should be replaced at least once a year.
Liability Issues
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 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 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
Sources: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/4-injured-including-firefighter-in-manhattan-high-rise-fire-fdny-says/
https://pix11.com/news/local-news/one-of-the-most-scariest-experiences-of-my-life-fire-fills-luxury-building-with-smoke/