A 66-year-old man was killed as a result of injuries suffered in an apartment fire in Manhattan, which broke out the night of Dec. 6. According to an ABC7 news report, the fatal fire occurred in a six-story building on Sherman Avenue between West 204th Street and West 207th Street in Inwood. FDNY officials said the fire started on the fifth floor of the older brick building. Video from Citizen App shows firefighters on scene using an aerial ladder to reach the fire as smoke poured from the building.
The fire was brought under control in about an hour, officials said. First responders transported the victim in critical condition to New York Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officials are still in the process of determining what caused this fire. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of this deceased victim. Our hearts go out to all those who were affected by this fire.
The Importance of Smoke Alarms
One of the important aspects of any structural fire investigation, particularly where it involves dwellings, is whether it was equipped with smoke detectors. Smoke alarms play an essential role in reducing injuries and fatalities in New York City apartment fires due to the city’s dense housing, older construction and close proximity of residential units. In many NYC buildings, especially pre-war or multi-family structures, fires can spread rapidly through hallways, shafts or adjoining apartments.
Working smoke alarms provide the earliest possible warning, giving residents critical extra minutes to escape before conditions become deadly. Because smoke — not flames — is often the leading cause of fire-related deaths, detection at the earliest stage is crucial.
New York City law requires smoke alarms in residential units, and property owners and property managers are responsible for installing and maintaining them according to the city’s Housing Maintenance Code and Fire Code. These requirements exist because early detection drastically improves survival rates, especially during nighttime fires when residents may be asleep and unaware of danger.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Depending on what caused the fire, a number of parties may be held legally responsible for the injuries, damages and losses caused by the incident. In such cases, a thorough evaluation is necessary to determine whether property owners/managers, utility companies or product manufacturers etc. failed to meet safety standards. For example, a property owner/manager may be liable if they neglected to maintain smoke alarms, provide safe electrical systems or address known hazards. In some cases, builders or contractors may be held liable if faulty construction, inadequate measures or the improper installation of wiring, etc. contributed to the fire.
Manufacturers can also face liability if defective appliances, heaters or electrical components, etc. sparked the fire. In some cases, homeowners may share responsibility if they ignored clear risks such as overloaded circuits or improper use of heat sources. Determining liability typically requires thorough investigation, including examining fire reports, inspection records and witness statements. Determining liability in structural fires is often complex and requires the guidance and counsel of an experienced New York personal injury lawyer.
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. It is in the best interest of injured victims and their families in such cases to contact an 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 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, 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://abc7ny.com/post/man-dies-fire-rips-apartment-building-inwood-manhattan/18260549/