Accidental Fires
Accidental fires can cause fatalities from smoke inhalation and severe burn injuries. If your loved one died in a fire and another party may have been responsible, you may be eligible for financial compensation.
Fatal Burns and Fire Injuries
Fire accidents have the potential to result in severe injuries that can have permanent repercussions. They may even result in death.
Hopefully you and your loved ones will never be involved in such an accident. If a loved one has died in a fire, you may be able to recover compensation for such losses as your funeral expenses, loss of a loved one’s income, and more. Property owners, landlords, and other parties are responsible for providing safe premises for residents and other building occupants. If they do not and a fire breaks out as a result, anyone who is injured or who loses a loved one may be able to pursue legal action.
Schedule a free legal case evaluation with the legal experts at Mourn to learn more about your rights.
How Often Do Fatal Fires Occur?
The rate of fire-related deaths in the United States has been steadily declining in recent years. Data from the National Fire Prevention Association indicates that the average number of annual fire accident fatalities between the years of 1981 and 1985 was 5,712. Between the years of 2013 and 2017, the number had dropped to 3,173.
While that is hopeful news, the rate of preventable fire accident deaths is still unreasonably high. Businesses, property owners, landlords, and other parties must all take steps to minimize the chances of such accidents occurring in the future.
Causes of Accidental Fire Fatalities
While fires often appear as random tragedies, that isn’t always the case. There are some factors that may cause fires to be more likely to happen, as well as increase the chances that a fire will result in death. These factors include the following:
- Whether fire alarms and smoke detectors are present in a property and/or working properly
- If there are an adequate number of fire extinguishers and sprinklers throughout the premises
- If there are a sufficient number of emergency exits throughout the property
- Whether flammable and combustible materials have been safely contained
- Whether a property owner has adhered to applicable fire safety laws and regulations
When a fire occurs, the odds of it resulting in the death of an inhabitant may depend on whether the owners of the property took reasonable steps to maximize the safety of all those on the premises.
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When Are Property Owners Considered Liable for Fires?
Premises liability laws require property owners and individuals with responsibilities similar to those of property owners (such as business owners) to reasonably guard against the chances of accidents occurring on their properties.
For example, a business owner must ensure that smoke detectors on their property are working as they are intended to. If they fail to take this basic safety step, others may be injured if they were not warned about a fire until it was too late to safely evacuate.
Generally, property owners may be held liable in instances when they fail to take basic reasonable steps to guard against preventable fires. If you are unsure of whether or not your circumstances meet these criteria, you can schedule a free case review with the team at Mourn.
Compensation After A Fire Fatality
It is impossible to fully compensate someone for the loss of a loved one after a fire accident. However, those who lose loved ones in fire-related accidents should be familiar with their legal rights in these circumstances. If a person dies in a fire accident and their death was the result of another party’s negligence, their surviving loved ones may be able to recover financial compensation accordingly.
For example, perhaps a fire accident results in the loss of a spouse who was the main income provider for a family. Along with facing the emotional struggles that naturally result from an unexpected passing, their family may now need to adapt to a new lifestyle because they can no longer rely on that person’s income. The family may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation for the loss in income if their loved one’s death resulted from another party’s carelessness.
Legal Assistance Available for Families
In the case of an accidental fire fatality, proving the negligence (careless or reckless actions or nonactions) of a property owner often requires conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of a fire. An experienced fire injury lawyer will have access to investigators and other experts who can help identify how a fire was caused and who may have been responsible. This is essential in building a strong case on your behalf.
At Mourn, we have the time, money, and access to experts needed to thoroughly investigate fires and gather evidence showing who may have been at fault. We understand that filing a wrongful death lawsuit can seem overwhelming, particularly when you are coping with the sudden loss of a family member. That is why our legal experts strive to make the process as seamless as possible for you.
If you have questions regarding whether or not you may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit, contact Mourn for a free legal evaluation. Our experts can review the details of your case to advise you on whether or not you may be eligible for compensation.
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