Rap superstar Cardi B has offered to pay the burial costs for all 17 people who
were killed in a fire that ripped through a Bronx apartment building on Jan. 9. According to a CNN news report, officials have identified the deceased victims as: Fatoumata Drammeh, 50; Foutmala Drammeh, 21; Muhammed Drammeh, 12; Nyumaaisha Drammeh, 19; Haji Dukary, 49; Fatoumata Dukureh, 5; Haja Dukureh, 37; Mariam Dukureh, 11; Mustapha Dukureh, 12; Omar Jambang, 6; Sera Janneh, 27; Haouwa Mahamadou, 5; Seydou Toure, 12; Fatoumata Tunkara, 43; Isatou Jabbie, 31; Hagi Jawara, 47; and Ousmane Konteh, 2.
We offer our deepest condolences to the families of these deceased victims for their tragic loss. They will certainly remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Compassion for the Bronx Fire Victims
Mayor Eric Adams announced that the Grammy-winning rapper — who grew up in the Bronx — had offered financial relief for victims of the Bronx fire. Many of the victims, of whom eight were children, had ties to Gambia. Some of the families here said they plan to bury them in their West African homeland. Cardi B has also committed to paying the repatriation expenses for the victims who will be buried in Gambia, the mayor’s office said.
Sending her prayers and condolences to everyone affected by the tragedy, Cardi B said in a statement that she still has family and friends who live in the Bronx and knew she needed to do something to help. She said: “I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal.” New Yorkers who are interested in donating may do so online by visiting nyc.gov/fund.
Ongoing Investigation
Officials say the fire, which is the deadliest the city has seen in 30 years, was sparked by a faulty space heater. Investigators are also looking into why safety doors failed to close when the fire broke out, leading to thick smoke that swirled through the building. All of the 17 people who perished in the fire died due to smoke inhalation injuries.
While the flames from the fire only damaged a small part of the building, the smoke that poured through the apartment’s open door turned stairwells into “dark, ash-choked death traps,” according to news reports. In addition, residents indicated that the smoke detectors in the building didn’t work properly and often set off false alarms causing residents to ignore them.
Premises Liability Laws
New York City laws require property owners and/or property managers 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 property 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 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
If you or a loved one has been injured in a fire or explosion, 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 50 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 client 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 and/or medical malpractice 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/cardi-b-bronx-fire-victims-funeral-costs/11488247/