Mar 17, 2024

Support for the Families of Rental Apartment or House Fire Victims

Support for the Families of Rental Apartment or House Fire Victims - Apartment Fire

Every year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of fires roar through rented residential buildings. The destruction they leave often extends beyond damaged physical belongings: Sadly, many victims don’t survive these incidents. In fact, fires claimed more than seven lives a day on average in 2017, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

For the family of an individual who lost their life in a fire, the pain can be unimaginable. If you lost a loved one, understand that you’re not alone. A wrongful death lawyer at Morgan & Morgan may be able to recover financial compensation for you while you focus on healing.

What Causes Structure Fires?

Structure fires can happen due to:

  • Gas lines that were poorly installed, repaired, or maintained
  • A malfunctioning water heater or furnace
  • Gas leaks
  • Failure to provide fire safety equipment to a tenant
  • Faulty wiring
  • Kitchen fires
  • Faulty smoke detectors, sprinklers, alarms, and other safety equipment
  • Blocked building exits and fire escapes

Who Is at Fault for Apartment and Rental House Fires?

Residential fires can start for a variety of reasons, but they’re commonly the result of negligence by the landlord. For instance, they may have neglected to provide fire prevention equipment or perform routine maintenance checks. If the building itself doesn’t comply with fire codes or a defective or damaged appliance causes an electrical fire, the landlord may be liable for any damage that ensues.

In other cases, a third party may be legally responsible. An equipment manufacturer may be liable if they produced a defective sprinkler or fire alarm. A utility company may be at fault if an electrical problem ignited a fire. A contractor may be to blame if the apartment was constructed poorly.

How Can a Wrongful Death Attorney Help?

If you lost a loved one in a structural fire, a Morgan & Morgan attorney may be able to help you recover financial compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. These cases are designed to help the victim’s loved ones restore financial stability.

Wrongful deaths are the result of recklessness or negligence. Although laws vary from one state to the next, family members, spouses, life partners, children, and financial dependents of the deceased are generally eligible to file a claim. Our attorneys can investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death and identify the liable party.

Depending on the state where the fire took place, you can sue for some or all of the following damages:

  • Medical costs
  • Burial expenses
  • Loss of companionship
  • Lost potential earnings
  • Punitive damages

Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney

You may have seen the billboards or watched the ads on television, but don’t mistake Morgan & Morgan for any ordinary big law firm. Despite our reach, we’ve remained a family practice and treat our clients as such. If you lost a loved one in a fire, we understand that you’re going through an impossibly difficult time. You can rest assured that we’ll handle every step of the process so you can focus on healing. Join the Morgan & Morgan family today by filling out a free case evaluation.