For months, tenants in the Midtown East luxury apartment building at 429 East 52nd Street in Manhattan had been warning its management about e-bikes parked in the hallway outside the unit where the fire erupted, THE CITY reports. The fire injured dozens of victims and is just one of nearly 200 so far this year that the FDNY has linked to potentially volatile batteries that power e-bikes and e-scooters that many rely on to commute. The lithium-ion devices are often stored and charged inside the apartments, the news article stated.
Danger of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) (the Projects), which has seen deadly fires, is considering banning the storage of the battery-powered devices inside the NYCHA apartments, after discovering tenants using their units as ad hoc charging stations and repair shops for bikes and scooters.
The important issue here is that if lithium-ion batteries are not properly maintained or if they are damaged, they can suddenly catch fire. In 2020, the FDNY tracked 94 e-bike battery-related fires, and 104 in 2021. However, this year, the number of such incidents has surged. As of last week, 188 of these fires have been reported citywide. Because these types of fires can accelerate quickly, they can cause serious injuries and damages.
This year, six people have been killed in these types of fires and 139 have been injured. Fire officials say these fires often come without warning and they burn with such intensity that they spread quickly causing serious damage. The City Council is getting ready to vet several proposed bills that would prohibit the sale of batteries without safety certification, prevent the sale of used or damaged batteries, increase oversight of these devices and require FDNY to publish more information about fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
Property Owners’ Responsibilities
New York City laws require property owners and/or property managers to maintain spaces that are safe for tenants, visitors and guests. Property owners 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 or accident at a building 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, 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 51 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 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.thecity.nyc/manhattan/2022/11/11/23453693/tenants-ebike-fire-midtown-fdny-lithium-ion-batteries