|
Call us now or use the form below. Frequently Asked Questions about Fire LossQ: What are some common causes of fires in the home? A: According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), lighted smoking materials, especially cigarettes, are the leading cause of fatal fires in the home, causing 700 to 900 deaths each year. The NFPA lists cooking equipment as the leading cause of home fires and the fourth leading cause of home-fire deaths. Most cooking equipment fires involve a range or cook-top and happen when people leave what they are cooking unattended. Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires and third leading cause of fire deaths in the home according to the NFPA. Q: What are some things I can do to prevent fires at home? A: There are several safety tips to remember in order to lessen the risk of fires at home, including: never leave cooking food unattended; keep space heaters away from any flammable materials; inspect electrical cords and wiring regularly; blow out candles when you leave a room or go to sleep; keep matches and lighters away from children; and install smoke alarms and test them regularly. The United States has one of the highest fire injury and death rates in the industrialized world. Burn injuries are second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. On average in the United States someone dies in a fire nearly every 2 hours, and someone is injured every 23 minutes. Fire Loss - An OverviewAccording to the National Fire Protection Association, 1,348,500 fires were reported in the United States in 2009. These fires resulted in 3,010 civilian deaths, 17,050 civilian injuries and over $12.5 billion in property damage. Burn victims and their families endure extreme physical and emotional trauma at the time of injury, during treatment and after recovery. Even if a fire does not cause any injuries, the cost of property damage can be tremendous. Any personal injury or wrongful death claims for burns and deaths caused by fire or smoke inhalation or claims for property damage present complex legal and factual questions. An experienced attorney can help you sort through these issues. Legal Theories Used in Fire Loss CasesWhen a fire destroys property or causes severe personal injuries, the damaged party will likely want to bring an action to recover compensation for his or her losses or injuries. The two main legal theories available to plaintiffs in this situation are negligence and product liability. Liability for Fire DamageA fire is a catastrophe for the owner of a building. Even if no one is injured, and even if the building was not destroyed, the damage can be very expensive and time-consuming to repair. Finding the person or company responsible for the fire and seeing that they are held responsible is an important step in recouping your damages and minimizing your financial loss. Determining the party liable for fire damages is, however, a difficult matter. Fire InvestigationIn a case for damages and injuries caused by a fire, it will be necessary for the plaintiff to establish the cause of the fire. For example, if the plaintiff alleges that defective wiring caused the fire, he will need to establish this and show that other possible causes can be eliminated. This can be a very difficult task because fires destroy evidence. A fire investigator will likely serve as a key witness for the plaintiff. Burn Injuries and TreatmentBurns caused by flames and fire are classified as thermal burns. The severity of a burn injury depends on a number of factors including the percentage of the body that has been burned, the age of the burn victim and the burn victim's medical history. The following article provides a general overview of the degrees of burns and stages of treatment. Fire Loss Resource Links
National Fire Protection Association®
Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors
The Burn Resource Center
Medline-Burns
Cool the Burn
|













