Kenneth Roberts, 42, his 12-year-old son, Mekhi and their dog Brownie, were all killed in a Long Island fire after non-working smoke detectors failed to alert them in time. According to a report in People.com, the fire occurred early morning on March 12 in a building on Albemarle Avenue in Hempstead. Roberts’ wife, Lissett Cruz, who was not home at the time of the fire, said she had spent the night at her mother’s home the evening before.
She said others who lived on the Long Island property were relatives and that they called 911 when they saw smoke coming from the apartment. They said they could not get inside because the door appeared to be locked from the inside and the only other exit from there was the cellar doors. Nassau County Chief Fire Marshall Michael Uttario told media outlets that there were no working or operating smoke alarms in the apartment unit. The blaze also left 10 other residents displaced who are being assisted by the American Red Cross. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ family.
Why Smoke Alarms Are Important
Working smoke alarms are crucial in a building fire as they give residents an early warning. Fires can grow very quickly and the smoke they produce is often more dangerous than the flames. In many house fires, people are injured or killed not by burns but by breathing in toxic smoke while they are sleeping or unable to escape. A smoke alarm detects smoke in the air and makes a loud sound to alert people in the building.
This early warning gives people valuable time to react. When a smoke alarm goes off, occupants can move quickly, gather family members and leave the building before the fire spreads. Even a few extra minutes can make the difference between safely escaping and becoming trapped. Smoke alarms are especially important at night because people may not smell smoke while they are asleep.
Smoke alarms also help protect children, older adults and pets who may need more time to get out. By alerting everyone quickly, they reduce confusion and panic during an emergency. When placed in key areas such as bedrooms, hallways and kitchens, they increase the chances that people will hear the alarm no matter where they are in the house.
Property Owners’ and Managers’ Responsibilities
In New York City, property owners/managers have specific legal responsibilities regarding smoke alarms to help protect tenants from fire hazards. They must provide and install at least one approved and working smoke detector in every apartment or dwelling unit. The alarm should be placed near sleeping areas, typically within about 10 feet of each bedroom.
Owners/managers are also responsible for ensuring that smoke detectors are properly installed and replaced when they reach the end of their useful life. They must install devices that meet city building codes and safety standards. In addition, property owners and managers are required to post a notice in a common area of the building informing tenants that smoke detectors must be installed.
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 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, lead poisoning, paraplegia 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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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: https://people.com/dad-son-12-die-fire-building-without-working-smoke-detectors-11926211