Nearly 3,000 people nationwide are killed each year by building fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Even more suffer severe, often life-changing, injuries.
Unfortunately, many of these fires may have been preventable if the person or company responsible for managing the building (or manufacturing the equipment that caused the fire) had made safety a higher priority.
Ensuring smoke detectors are installed and working properly and that all electrical, plumbing and insulation equipment is safely installed can greatly reduce the risk of fire. In cold weather especially, it is important to make sure that all space heaters and kerosene heaters are following the safety guidelines included in the manual. These objects are valuable sources of heat, but do come with their own risks.
When fires do occur, they can quickly cause vast amounts of damage that require costly repairs. But more importantly, countless lives are placed at risk. Injuries caused by fires may include:
- First, second or severe third and fourth degree burns
- Asphyxia or suffocation from smoke inhalation
- Brain damage from lack of oxygen
- Death
The attorneys at Kolsby Gordon have represented individuals harmed or killed by house fires throughout the Philadelphia region. If you or someone you love has been injured in a house or building fire, a lawyer can help you determine whether a person or other party is liable for your injury. Contact Kolsby Gordon today.
House Fires Cases
Deaths caused by inoperative smoke detectors results in seven-figure settlement.
Kolsby Gordon represented the surviving family members of three individuals who were killed in a house fire. At the time of the fire, the rental property did not have an operating smoke detector. The landlord, who was responsible for the property, failed to ensure that the house was equipped with these vital safety monitors and, without the warning signs typically provided by smoke detectors, a grandfather and two small children died. Kolsby Gordon sought out maximum compensation for the surviving family members, including the children’s mother, as well as their brother and sister.
