Three people have been fatally injured in a Bronx apartment building fire, which broke out the afternoon of Aug. 5. According to a CBS New York news report, FDNY said there was an explosion at the building on East 209th Street near Decatur Place in the Norwood section. Surveillance video shows glass and debris being blown across the street by the blast. A fire then broke out, engulfing multiple floors of the building and growing to five alarms. FDNY pulled crews out of the building after a third-floor apartment collapsed to the second floor.
Ongoing Fire Investigation
Three bodies were found from the burned building. CBS New York reports that two of the victims were 65-year-old Mary Ann Martin and her husband Lester Martin, 70. A third victim was found dead on Aug. 8 inside the building, but that person’s identity has not been released. Fire marshals are still combing the building to make sure there are no more victims inside. Twelve other people were injured.
Two civilians sustained life-threatening injuries while three civilians and three firefighters suffered serious injuries. Three more firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries as did one other civilian who refused medical transport. Red Cross is assisting those displaced by the fire. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased victims, those who were injured and all who have been displaced by this horrific fire.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The exact origin of the explosion remains under investigation by FDNY fire marshals and NYPD arson detectives. Tenants reported smelling a strong odor of gas leading up to the incident, according to news reports. Authorities are currently investigating whether the explosion was triggered by a natural gas leak, a malfunctioning lithium-ion battery (potentially from an e-bike), or a combination of both.
Liability Issues
When negligence (carelessness) or a dangerous property condition causes a deadly fire, multiple parties may potentially be held responsible.
Property owners/managers: Property owners/managers may face liability when they fail to maintain the building safely, ignore known hazards or fail to address dangerous gas, electrical, heating or structural conditions. Their responsibilities may include conducting appropriate inspections and making necessary repairs.
Property owners/managers and maintenance companies: Property owners/managers and maintenance contractors may potentially be liable when they are responsible for maintaining the premises but fail to correct hazardous conditions. Their negligence (carelessness) may include inadequate inspections, improper repairs or failure to respond to complaints, etc.
Contractors and repair professionals: Plumbers, electricians, heating contractors and other professionals could potentially be responsible when negligent installation, maintenance or repairs contribute to an explosion or fire.
Manufacturers and other parties: A manufacturer or distributor may face a product-liability claim if a defective appliance, component or other product caused the incident. Depending on the circumstances, additional parties may also be involved.
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 very 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 a very 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 and we got $2,250,000 for another hot water burn victim 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 cases, negligence cases, motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, trip-and-fall accidents, ceiling collapse cases, lead poisoning, paraplegia cases, quadriplegia cases 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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Source:https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/bronx-apartment-building-explosion-fire-3rd-victim/