Fire Loss

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• Fire Loss - An Overview
• Legal Theories Used in Fire Loss Cases
• Liability for Fire Damage
• Fire Investigation
• Burn Injuries and Treatment
• Frequently Asked Questions about Fire Loss
• Fire Loss Resource Links
• Fire Loss Contact Form

Legal Theories Used in Fire Loss Cases

When 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. If you would like to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for fire losses, talk to an attorney about your situation.

Fire Loss and Negligence

Injuries, death and other losses from a fire may occur because some person or entity has failed to fulfill a legal duty owed to others. Recovery for fire losses caused by a failure (or breach) of duty is based on the legal theory of negligence. In order to establish a claim for negligence, the plaintiff must show that the defendant had a legal duty; the defendant breached that duty; this breach was the proximate cause of the plaintiff's injuries; and the plaintiff was injured or damaged in some way.

While laws may differ from state to state, responsibility for burns, deaths and property losses caused by fire may be imposed on the basis of negligence when:

• A landowner or possessor maintains a dangerous condition on their property; for example, failing to install smoke detectors
• Professionals negligently perform their services
• A municipality or other public agency fails to recognize a potential hazard or recommend precautions
• A property owner or possessor stores flammable or combustible materials near heat sources or in other unsafe ways
• A company or individual fails to install or maintain electrical wiring in a proper manner
• A property owner blocks or obstructs fire exits on the premises so people are unable to exit

Product Liability and Fire Loss

If a fire is caused by a defective or dangerously designed product, the manufacturer, distributor or seller of that product may be liable for any damages the fire causes. Product liability laws vary from state to state, but generally the plaintiff must show that the product was actually defective, improperly designed or that the defendant was otherwise at fault; that the defendant actually manufactured, distributed, sold or installed the product; and that the defendant's act or omission proximately caused the plaintiff's injury. There are three general types of defects:

• Design Defect: A design defect is a problem with the design of the product that makes it unreasonably dangerous. For example, an automobile manufacturer may design a car with the exhaust too near the fuel intake creating dangerously combustible conditions.
• Manufacturing Defect: If a product does not meet the designer or manufacturer's own specifications, there is a manufacturing defect. Severe fire losses have been linked to manufacturing defects in consumer products such as toasters and coffee pots, industrial equipment, building materials and finished surface materials like carpeting.
• Marketing Defect: Improper labeling of products, insufficient or inadequate instructions for product use and operation or the failure to warn of hidden dangers within the product are all examples of marketing defects. In particular, chemicals, solvents and products that require electricity and are used near water require clear warnings or their manufacturers and sellers could face liability if they are not labeled properly.

Conclusion

If you were injured in a fire or if your home or business was damaged in a fire, you may have questions about recovering compensation for your losses and whether you can bring a claim based on negligence or product liability. Talk to an attorney who has experience handling fire-related litigation about your situation.

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