Antonion Fierro, 95 and his 70-year-old son, Anthony, were both killed in a two-alarm fire that broke out in their apartment. According to a news report in the West Side Spirit, the fire started at 104 Sullivan Street on May 29. Both father and son were unconscious when firefighters pulled them from the fourth floor apartment on the night of the fire. Fierro, the father, succumbed to his injuries that night and his son, Anthony, died from his injuries the following day.
Neighbors said the fire “smelled electrical” and that they did not hear a smoke detector go off. FDNY officials said the fire started on the fourth floor the night of May 29. The apartment and back of the building were badly burned, but the front exterior of the building did not show any signs of the tragic fire, it was reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Why Smoke Detectors Are So Important
The New York City Housing Maintenance Code requires property owners and/or property managers to provide, install and maintain smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in each unit. Not only should these life-saving devices be present, but they should also be in good working order. The American Red Cross estimates that having a working smoke alarm in a home reduces the risk of a fire-related accident death by as much as 51%. Sprinklers and smoke alarms together reduce the risk of a home fire death by 82%.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), every year in the United States, about 2,000 people lose their lives in residential fires. In a building/apartment fire, smoke and deadly gases tend to spread farther and quicker than heat. This is the reason why many fire victims suffer serious injuries or even die as a result of smoke inhalation as opposed to burns. Even as residents sleep or are engaged in other activities, smoke alarms stand guard around the clock letting out a loud alarm when it senses smoke. This allows families the potentially life-saving extra minutes to escape.
Property Owners’ Responsibilities
New York City laws require many property owners and/or property managers to maintain spaces that are safe for tenants, visitors and guests. Property owners may be 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 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://www.westsidespirit.com/news/fire-tragedy-soho-blazes-claims-2nd-life-70-year-old-son-follows-95-y-o-day-EE2565413