It’s a frightening scenario that occurs all too often in New York City. In a private residence under renovation, in a restaurant kitchen, on a worksite, or in a public building from a gas leak, an electrical spark, or another catalyst. Anything can start a fire or ignite something that explodes, leaving you and your family or your coworkers scrambling to get out.
Explosion and fire accidents can leave more serious and painful injuries than other types of accidents. Recovery from these types of accidents can take months or even years, leaving you out of work. In some cases, you may be permanently disabled or disfigured.
Most of these accidents are the result of negligence. Whether you were injured on the job, in a home, or anywhere else, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries from the responsible parties.
New York City’s gas distribution system is one of the oldest in the United States. Explosions are much more common and frequent. Some of the pipes are cast iron and are more than 100 years old. Other pipes are bare steel pipes and are more than 50 years old. Because of their age, both types are prone to leaking, leading to explosions and fires. New Yorkers are left vulnerable in crowded areas.
Con Edison and National Grid are responsible for NYC’s gas lines. Con Edison is in the process of replacing roughly 30 miles of leak-prone pipes every year, but it may not be fast enough. Additionally, former Mayor Bloomberg’s ban on heating oils #4 and #6 increase the demand for gas. Unfortunately, the current infrastructure may not be able to handle the increase in consumption.
This combination means that gas explosions, as well as associated fires, are a constant threat. The weakening infrastructure for gas delivery means they occur regularly. Catalysts such as defective products, faulty wiring, and missing or malfunctioning smoke detectors can create an inferno in seconds. Unlike other accidents, explosions and fire can quickly destroy all evidence before the fire department arrives.
Fire is extremely dangerous at a construction site. Buildings under renovation or construction frequently have large amounts of combustible materials around. Many types of building materials are volatile, and toxins such as gases and chemicals are also easily ignited. Workers on a construction site are in danger if safety practices are not followed and suffer serious burns the most.
Property owners, contractors, and supervisors are required by state and federal regulations to follow fire prevention protocols and have a fire evacuation plan for every site, which include:
Incomplete buildings under construction will not have all the safety features and fire reduction equipment of a completed building. This includes fire alarms and fire suppression systems such as sprinklers and other requirements of completed construction in New York City.
The parties who are liable for the explosion or fire will depend on the circumstances of the accident. Claims and lawsuits may involve multiple parties, such as defective product manufacturers that created and sold a product that sparked, caught fire, or exploded. It could also be the contractors that are responsible for gas, propane, and or wiring, as well as building and property owners. Most of these accidents can be attributed to negligence or human error.
While the parties have significant resources to compensate accident victims, they also retain aggressive legal counsel to defend themselves. Because this type of accident is highly complex, it’s important to find a New York City attorney who understands the laws surrounding these cases.
Survivors of explosions and fires have a long recovery, which includes loss of income from being out of work during recovery.
A New York City explosion and fire attorney can help you receive the maximum compensation available for your injuries.
Many explosion and fire accidents occur on a worksite. This is especially true for construction sites when an unknown gas line is either struck or ignited. If you are injured on the job while working for your employer, workers’ compensation covers your expenses.
Employers are required under New York law to provide workers compensation insurance for any workers that are injured on the job while working for them. This insurance pays you benefits regardless of the cause of the accident. You can claim workers’ compensation even if you were partly responsible for the accident.
But if someone other than your employer was responsible for the accident, you could file a personal injury lawsuit against a third party that is responsible. In this case, you would be required to prove fault by the other party to recover damages. However, you can recover more compensation with a personal injury lawsuit, which includes pain and suffering.
Explosion and fire accidents are some of the most devastating accidents that can happen to anyone. Unfortunately, New York City sees more than its share of these types of accidents. With the potential to cause catastrophic injuries as well as fatalities, explosions and fire occur all too often in New York City.
Recovering compensation for such an accident can be daunting. Our attorneys will work with you to keep you well informed of everything happening in your case, and help you understand everything involved in your case.
BigLawsuit is ready to help you navigate the legal process and get you the compensation you need. We represent you and negotiate with the insurance companies and make sure you aren’t being cheated. Call us at (888) 998-7165 or tell us about your case using our online contact form. We will review your case at no charge and discuss your options without any obligation.
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