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Finding out what started the house fire
Families want peace of mind, to know where the fire may have originated to ensure that it cannot happen again. This means visiting the scene with trained experts who will look at a number of different aspects:
- What was the arc damage? (The result of a rapid release of energy, possibly because of electrical failure)
- What was the pattern of damage?
- What materials burned
- How did the fire ventilate?
- Where is the lowest level of fire damage?
- Was work being performed by an outside contractor or company in the home or in the nearby area?
- Where is the area of the most severe fire damage?
Researching this information and combining that with any available eyewitness testimony is going to help the experts determine what led to the fire. Every fire is unique, so it is essential to have a qualified professional go through these steps to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
Who can you hold responsible in a house fire lawsuit?
Defective smoke detectors, flammable liquids, gas explosions, wrongly upholstered furniture, and faulty wiring are all different reasons that our clients have recovered cash settlements. It is important to combine the known facts about the fire, insurance information, real estate information, and any possible evidence we have at our disposal to determine how our client can get the compensation they are entitled to.
Depending on the situation, it is possible to take the following parties to court:
- The gas company (provided that a gas explosion caused the fire)
- The propane company (provided that a propane tank explosion caused the fire)
- An electrician and his or her employer (faulty wiring for example)
- The contractor who built the home
- The manufacturer who created flammable furniture
- The manufacturer who created the defective fire alarm
- The landlord of the building who may not have properly maintained the premises
- The manufacturer who created a defective appliance (heater, stove, dryer, etc.)
Some statistics about house fires involving injury and death of occupants
While it may not be a primary concern for many families, this data may help you realize that house fires can change a family’s life overnight.
- More than 90 % of civilian structure fire deaths were because of house fires
- House fires resulted in more than $11.7 billion in property damage in 2011
- The kitchen remains the primary location for the start of house fires (42%) and injuries (38%)
- The leading cause of house fires across the United States has been and continues to be cooking
- While only 4% of all home fires start in the den, family room, or living room, these are accountable for 24% of all house fire deaths
- While the bedroom was the point of origin for only 7% of all house fires, these were responsible for a quarter of the house fire deaths
- Elderly Americans continue to make up a disproportionate number of house fire deaths. We can attribute this to lowered reaction times and reduced hearing/vision
- A person’s chance of surviving a house fire increase dramatically when they have a working smoke alarm. However, while many households have at least one alarm, maintenance of these alarms is often inadequate
If the inability to respond safely to a fire or cause of the fire was because of the action or negligence of a third party, may give rise to a lawsuit against the responsible parties. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will take all necessary steps to determine who the responsible parties may be– always with your families best interests in mind. Talk to our team for an in depth analysis of your home, apartment or mobile home fire / explosion. As with all of our Illinois accident cases, we only charge a fee when we successfully recover compensation for you.
