Fire In Midtown Building Injures 3 Firefighters
New York law allows victims of explosions and fires, including firefighters and rescuers, to recover for injuries, death, and property damage when the explosion or fire was caused by negligence. It is a weekly, if not daily, occurrence for there to be a news report of an explosion or fire somewhere in New York. On March 3, 2021, more than 100 firefighters managed to contain a fire that broke out in a building near New York City's Bryant Park, injuring three first-responders. When New York firefighters are injured in the line of duty, New York law, General Municipal Law 205-c allows the injured firefighter to sue anyone who violated the law which caused the firefighter's injury directly or indirectly. The laws which can lead to liability are vast and include not only the Penal Law, but also include New York's maintenance code, fire code, plumbing code and even the New York City Administrative Code.
Fires may put guests, residents, or employees at a high risk of sustaining very serious injuries if property owners don’t install the necessary safety devices to prevent these disasters or help mitigate them. However, the group of people most frequently exposed to the risk of an injury from a fire, are firefighters, who are called upon to battle fires every day. Some of the most frequent laws that are violated which lead to firefighter injuries include:
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Failing to install or maintain fire alarms
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Failing to install or maintain sprinkler systems
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Failing to clearly mark fire exits
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Failing to keep fire exits clear of potential obstructions
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Failing to address fire hazards such as improperly installed electrical wiring
These kinds of mistakes may put those on the premises at an increased risk of being injured in the case of a fire. As a result, these injured individuals may hold that property owner responsible for their injuries.
Burns from fires are not the only injuries for which firefighters can sue. Our New York firefighter accident lawyers know that a number of other legal violations can form the basis of a lawsuit, for injuries, such as falls and even motor vehicle accidents. New York's General Municipal Law, which allows firefighters to sue for injuries caused by violations of law, allows firefighters to sue for falls, where the stairs are in disrepair and are below code, or where the stairs lack a handrail. Likewise, when New York firefighters are injured while en route to a fire in a motor vehicle accident, New York law allows an injured firefighter to sue a driver who caused a motor vehicle accident, by violating the Vehicle and Traffic law. New York's vehicle and traffic law, are the rules of the road.
After you or your loved one has been injured in a fire that could potentially have been prevented, you may be feeling frustrated and uncertain of what to do. With the help of our NYC Firefighter Injury Lawyers, you may be able to pursue legal action against the responsible party such as the property owner and potentially obtain much-needed financial compensation.
