Fire Related Injuries Caused by Negligence

It has been over a year since a San Francisco Bay area warehouse party claimed the lives of 36 people as a result of a devastating fire that broke out. According to the allegations, the negligence of two property managers is to blame for the death of several people attending an electronic music party that was being held in the warehouse at the time of the incident. Both men face 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter charges but the ongoing case is complex.

The warehouse, regarded as “Ghost Ship” is far from being the only place in which people suffer at the cost of negligence. Negligence can occur when a property owner or other responsible party knew or should have known that there was an existing hazard in the property. Subsequently, the negligent property owner or manager took no action to remedy the hazardous condition. Unfortunately, negligence seems to be the case in the disaster that took place in the Ghost Ship and the ultimate result was catastrophic. Numerous victims died of smoke inhalation and burns and although many others did not perish, they too suffered from other injuries caused by the fire.

When it comes to personal injury cases, as is the case involving Ghost Ship, demonstrating that a person or company was negligent in causing the injury of another is a difficult matter to prove. In the Ghost Ship case, the so-called managers claim that they were not hired to be as managers of the building and that the owner of the property is to blame for the electrical malfunction. What makes the case even more complex, however, is that fire officials were unable to determine the cause of the fire. Nonetheless, the circumstances surrounding Ghost Ship indicate that negligence was a factor behind the fire outbreak.

Proving Negligence in California

Victims who have suffered personal injuries because of the negligence of another have the legal right to seek compensat

ory damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit. In order to recover financial damages in a claim, the plaintiff will need to prove the following:

That the identified defendant owed the victim a reasonable duty of care
That the identified defendant breached the duty of care through inattention or negligence
That the identified defendant’s negligence was a significant factor in what caused the victim’s harm

In California, negligence is defined as the failure to reasonably care in the prevention of harm to others.

Defining Duty of Care

As per California’s personal injury laws, people, organizations, and companies often owe a reasonable duty of care to others. Law, such as traffic laws that must be obeyed by drivers, or property laws that must be obeyed by property owners and managers, generally establish duty of care. Duty of care helps to ensure the safety of others, under applicable circumstances. When an injured person is filing a personal injury lawsuit against a negligent party, the victim will need to demonstrate that the liable party owed a duty of care to him or her.

Devastating Facts Associated With Fire-Related Accidents and the Importance of Filing a Personal Injury Claim

According to the American Burn Association, in 2016, 3,275 individuals died from either smoke inhalation or other fire related injuries. These staggering numbers showcase the fact that being a victim of a fire can be detrimental to any exposed individual. While not all victims of a fire suffer burns, they nonetheless can suffer potentially serious injuries. Some of the worst cases relate to victims who have lost limbs or other body parts due to burn injuries, severe scarring, and even long term respiratory problems due to smoke inhalation.

Any injury associated with burn-related accidents can have lifelong consequences. Catastrophic burn injuries can quickly result in the following: Ongoing medical expenses, Costly hospital stays, Expensive medical equipment, such as respirators, Therapy or other rehabilitation treatments, Costly medications.

Any costs associated with burn injuries can be long lasting. By filing a personal injury claim against the negligent party, victims could obtain the financial support that could help them through their recovery process.

Fire related injuries caused by negligence have detrimental consequences. Undoubtedly, victims will suffer devastating grievances, oftentimes, for the rest of their lives. Many of these types of injuries will also affect the lives of the victim’s immediate family members and other loved ones. Unexpected injuries such as those caused by fires can completely change the lives of several people, as it is common to see financial and emotional hardships for entire families.

Fire-related personal injury cases can be very complex and often need a strong case to prove negligence. Additionally, California law indicates that burn victims can be found partially at-fault for their injuries. Even if this is the case, burn victims can still obtain some financial compensation for their grievances.

Obtain the Legal Support of a Skilled Attorney With Fire-Related Accident Case Experience

If you or a loved one is suffering from a fire related injury due to the negligence of someone else, it is important to consider your rights. The disheartening results of suffering from fire related injuries could cause the loss of employment, result in high medical bills, and cause further personal pain injury that could have permanent and irreversible damages.

Speaking to an experienced attorney can be beneficial to your case even if you have received a settlement offer from the responsible party. Seeking an experienced personal injury attorney can be critical in recovering the compensation you are owed. Although filing a claim can be a difficult process, it can nonetheless be eased by the assistance of an attorney.

The Law Offices of Justin H. King is dedicated to helping those who have suffered as a result of negligence. Attorney Justin H. King is a skilled personal injury attorney that has many years of experience in fire related injuries and who fights for victims after serious and traumatic injuries.

If you or someone you know was recently victim to negligence, which resulted in a fire related injury, Attorney Justin H. King can help. You can learn more about Attorney King and his experience and awards on his attorney profile page here, or obtain his contact information for scheduling a no obligation, absolutely free consultation on his contact page.

Categories : Fire Injuries, Premise Liability, Wrongful Death

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By Justin H. King, Esq. | Posted on November 29, 2017

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