A contractor illegally used a blowtorch to burn lead paint off a door sparking a massive fire at a Queens apartment building, which left 14 people injured and displaced 160 residents, FDNY officials said. According to a report in the New York Post, the five-alarm fire erupted around noon on Dec. 20 on the top floor of a six-story building on 47th Avenue near 43rd Street in Sunnyside. Eight civilians, four firefighters and two police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the blaze.
Injuries and Displacement
FDNY officials said the fire was triggered by an illegal torch that a contractor was using to burn lead paint off a metal closet door frame inside a vacant apartment. While doing that, the worker noticed smoke coming out of the door frame, the report states. The worker tried removing plaster from around the frame and spotted small flames on the wood studs, officials said. The contractor then tried to extinguish the flames with a bucket of water.
However, it was too late, as the blaze had spread further into the walls and into the attic, before moving to the roof, based on the news report. Video from the scene showed flames and smoke shooting out the windows of the top floor. It took nearly 200 firefighters about four and a half hours to extinguish the fire. Officials said 160 people from 68 households required emergency relocation assistance after the fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was affected by this fire.
Liability Issues in Fires
New York City laws require property owners and/or property managers to maintain spaces that are safe for tenants, visitors and guests. Property owners/managers 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 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.
In these types of injury accidents, where a construction company or a contractor was negligent (careless), the issue of liability may extend to various parties due to specific circumstances and applicable laws. The contractor can be held directly responsible if his or her failure to adhere to safety protocols during construction led to the fire. This failure may involve improper handling of electrical wiring, use of flammable materials, or disregard for fire safety codes, etc.
Depending on the contractual agreements, liability can also extend to the building owner, construction company, property owner/manager or other subcontractors if they were responsible for overseeing specific aspects of the construction or if they failed to enforce safety standards. An experienced New York personal injury lawyer will be able to help victims navigate the process of determining fault and liability and seek compensation for their losses.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims 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.
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.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://nypost.com/2023/12/21/metro/contractor-using-illegal-torch-sparked-massive-nyc-blaze-that-injured-14-fdny/