Serious burns are among the most painful injuries there are. Treatment can mean weeks in a burn unit, skin grafts, and years of scar care and therapy.
Most serious burns are preventable. Our job is to find out who failed to prevent this one.
How People Get Burned
- Apartment and house fires
- Scalding tap water and radiator or steam pipe burns
- Gas leaks and explosions
- Electrical shocks and arc flash on job sites
- Vehicle fires after a crash
- Chemical burns at work
- Defective products, including batteries, heaters, and appliances
Who May Be Responsible
- Landlords who fail to maintain smoke detectors, fire doors, exits, wiring, or water temperature controls
- Property owners and contractors on a job site
- Utility companies
- Manufacturers and sellers of a defective product
- Drivers and companies that caused a crash
Evidence That Disappears
Fire scenes are cleaned up and rebuilt fast. We move to preserve the scene and the product or appliance involved, and we obtain the Fire Marshal's report, building violation history, and repair records. In the right case we bring in a fire cause investigator.
What You Can Recover
- Burn unit care, surgery, grafts, and future scar revision
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Lost wages and loss of future earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Compensation for permanent scarring and disfigurement
- The cost of counseling
Deadlines
Most New York injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the accident.
If the building belongs to NYCHA or another public agency: Claims against the City of New York, the Transit Authority, NYCHA, or another public agency move faster. A written notice of claim is generally due within 90 days, and the lawsuit generally must be filed within one year and 90 days.
A wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the date of death.
Common Questions
The Fire Department said the fire started in my neighbor's apartment. Can I still bring a claim?
Possibly. The landlord may be responsible if missing smoke detectors, broken fire doors, or blocked exits made the injuries worse.
My child was scalded by bath water. Is the landlord responsible?
A landlord can be responsible when the hot water system is set or maintained so that tap water comes out dangerously hot.
An e-bike battery caught fire. Who is responsible?
Possibly the manufacturer, the seller, or a repair shop that modified it. Keep what is left of the battery and charger if it is safe to do so.
Talk to a Lawyer Today
The consultation is free. There is no fee unless we win, and we advance the costs of the case. You speak with your attorney directly, not a call center.