Losses Can be Substantial and Devastating to Victims of Fires
House fire accidents can destroy a home and a family in an instant. These fires can cause severe burns that result in death and permanent scarring and disfigurement. For family members with asthma or respiratory problems, smoke inhalation can lead to respiratory failure. At the forefront of any house fire accident is an investigation to pinpoint the cause and origin of the fire. You will need to hire an attorney that has worked with fire investigation specialists in order to examine the charred remains of your home to make a determination as to the cause of the house fire.
What Causes House Fires?
After the flames are put out, investigators and specialists examine the charred remains of the home to make a determination as to the cause of the house fire. While some house fires are caused by pure accident, others occur because of the negligence, whether an act or omission, of others. Common home fires are caused by kitchen cooking accidents, stove tip over accidents, candles, mattress fires, couch fires, and defective appliance fires like with cloths washer and dryer fires and space heater fires. Other fires are caused by explosion accidents including natural gas explosions, propane explosions, or acetylene explosions. Defective products within the home can also explode causing a home fire. Hot water heater explosions, boiler explosions, gas stove explosions and furnace explosions are come causes.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, each year house fires kill more Americans than all natural disasters combined. Cooking, arson, and heating are the leading causes of house fire accidents. The most vulnerable members of the family are senior citizens over the age of 65 and young children under 5 years old.
Because so many items in a home are flammable, fires that spread quickly are subject to closer scrutiny because they are often associated with loss of life. That is why it is not only important to learn the origin of the fire but why it spread so quickly. For instance most furniture is upholstered with fabrics that are highly flammable. A small spark can trigger a quick burn engulfing the walls and sucking all of the oxygen out of the air. Once to the origin or source of the fire is determined, materials and products involved in the fire need to be identified and properly collected and shipped to laboratories where our forensic team can begin testing. If this is not done in a timely manner important evidence will be lost or destroyed.
Common Causes of House Fires
- Kitchen and Cooking Fire Accidents
- Candles
- Couch Fire
- Dryer and Washing Machine fires
- Space Heater Fires
- Mattress Fire Accident
- Polyurethane Foam Furniture Flammability
- Hardwood-Plywood Wall Paneling
- Electrical Fires
- Electrical Extension Cord Fires
- Home Gas Generators: Fire and Carbon Monoxide Accidents
- Flammable Upholstered Furniture
- Flammable Clothing
- Defective Smoke Detectors
- Defective Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Who Can be Held Responsible for House Fires?
Determining who is responsible for the fire is important to receiving compensation for your loss and injuries. The house fire investigation will reveal which party is responsible for the fire. The following are a few the parties that could be responsible for your fire:
- Property owner (if home is rented);
- Another tenant (if a multi-family home);
- Manufacturer of a defective appliance;
- The manufacturer of flammable furniture;
- The builder or contractor of the house;
- An electrician or agent of the electrician;
- The propane or natural gas company;
- Maintenance company
Injured by a House Fire in Massachusetts?
Experienced Boston Area Personal Injury Attorneys – Initial Consultations Are Always Free – No Fee Unless We Recover For You
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a house fire accident, then call the house fire / premises liability accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan today. We have a proven track record with over 35 years of legal experience. Our house fire attorneys have successfully represented victims of fire accidents for decades and we are ready to take on your case today.
No matter where you are located, we are just a phone call away. Call our law offices today to schedule a free no-obligation case review and consultation at (508) 588-0422 or click the link below to use our Free Case Evaluation Form.
Our personal injury lawyers assist accident victims throughout all of Massachusetts including but not limited to Plymouth County, Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Hyannis, Falmouth, Barnstable, Worcester, Springfield, Holyoke, and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Lowell, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.
