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Home Fires Happen Every Day

 

apartment fire attorney in toledo, ohio & michiganIt’s scary and it happens suddenly. You can be sleeping and smoke alarm goes off. You feel disoriented and panicked. Your first thought is getting your family and yourself out safely. No matter how prepared you think you may be, no one can prepare enough for a home fire. If  a home, building, dorm or apartment fire happens to you, consult with our home, dorm or apartment fire attorney at Gallon, Takacs and Boissoneault. With over 60 years of experience we can help you with the specialized legal help you need to recover from this tragedy.

 

Some of the Causes of a Home, Dorm or Apartment Fire Can Be:

  • House fire caused by defective maintenance or products
  • Unattended cooking
  • Unattended candles
  • Christmas trees and holiday decorations
  • Smoking
  • Upholstered furniture
  • Defective or missing smoke alarms
  • Faulty Wiring
  • Gas Explosions
  • Smoke Detectors, and Flammable Liquid
  • Arson

Some of the Most Common Injuries Include:

  • Burns (ranging from first- to fourth-degree)
  • Lung damage from smoke or gases
  • Asphyxiation
  • Death

 

Building Fires May Have Different Fire Code Standards

 

A fire can engulf an entire building in a matter of minutes. If that building does not have properly installed and maintained smoke alarms, residents may not have time to escape without serious burns. If the building was constructed using dangerous flammable materials, the fire will travel faster and more furiously.

If the building owner does not adequately maintain fire escapes, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment, the result could be wrongful death or years of recovery from painful burn injuries.

Commercial buildings, such as office, public buildings, dorms or apartments have different safety standards that can make the owners liable for any of them not being met. Some of these standards an the consequences of them not being met include:

  • All buildings must meet minimal fire code standards. If the structure was built without required fire safety equipment, the builder and any inspectors should be held accountable.
  • A missing or broken fire escape that keeps someone from escaping a fire can mean severe burns and smoke inhalation injuries.
  • Fire doors that are missing or left open can cause a fire to expand quickly throughout a building.
  • If a landlord or building owner fails to maintain smoke alarms according to law, that person should be held responsible for burn injuries. By law, a landlord cannot delegate responsibility for smoke alarm maintenance.
  • A housing authority that fails to keep fire safety equipment and alarm systems in good working order can be sued for burn injuries or wrongful deaths caused by negligence.
  • When a building owner fails to maintain furnaces and water heaters in good condition, if a fire starts and injures innocent people, the building owner is liable for damages.

 

Dorm Fires

 

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments across the United States respond to an average of 11 college campuses for reports of dormitory fires every day. The NFPA also reports fire departments across the United States respond to an average of 11 college campuses for reports of dormitory fires every day. The NFPA compiles fire data and statistics annually, and finds that dormitory fires cause an average of $14 million in property damages every year, as well as injuring at least 32 people and killing 1.

Most fires take place between 5 and 11 p.m. or on weekends. Other common risk factors for fires include smoking tobacco products and burning candles and/or incense.The NFPA compiles fire data and statistics annually, and finds that dormitory fires cause an average of $14 million in property damages every year, as well as injuring at least 32 people and killing 1. Most fires take place between 5 and 11 p.m. or on weekends. Other common risk factors for fires include smoking tobacco products and burning candles and/or incense. (NFPA).

 

Safety Tips for Students Living in Campus Housing from the NFPA:

  • Cook only when you feel alert –not after taking medicine or drinking alcohol
  • If possible, make sure that sprinklers are present in all on or off-campus housing
  • Ensure that smoke alarms are installed in sleeping rooms and living areas – for the best protection, all smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all do
  • Never remove batteries from smoke alarms or disable them
  • Test smoke alarms every month to make sure they are working properly – if one isn’t, make sure to replace it or have it fixed right away
  • Read your school’s rules before using any electrical appliances in your dorm room as certain outlets can only handle certain wattages
  • If you live in off-campus housing, make sure you have at least two ways out of every room as part of an effective emergency plan;
  • Do not ever leave the kitchen or any other room you cook in while cooking
  • Learn emergency evacuation plans and practice them frequently. If you hear an alarm go off, evacuate the building quickly and stay outside in a safe space until you have spoken with emergency personnel or police.

 

 

Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault Attorneys Can Help You

 

Dealing with the aftermath of home, building or dorm  fire can be extremely stressful, whether the damage is done to your home, or injuries to yourself, or a loved one. We at Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault will use our over 60 years of experience to help you understand your rights and fight for your best interests and fair compensation.

Contact us today to get started on your fire case. We can help you determine if negligence or intentional arson played a part in your fire damage and get you fair compensation for your losses. Let our experienced apartment fire attorney protect you. Contact us at 419-842-6663 or online today. Call us. We can help.

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