What to Do in a Fire Accident

A fire accident may be devastating for anyone who experiences it. It can lead to the destruction of a home or business, severe personal injuries, and the loss of valuable items. A fire accident can also cause financial hardships, since medical and insurance bills will keep mounting. Survivors may have to live in a temporary location while they rebuild their lives. If the fire accident was caused by someone else’s negligence or fault, survivors may have a right to file a claim for damages.

What to do in a Fire Accident

If you have survived a fire accident, the first thing you must do is to take care of your family’s emotional health. If you are feeling overwhelmed, seek support from friends and family members or from a mental health professional. Next, make sure you do not throw away any items until you complete an inventory of what was damaged or lost in the fire. Save receipts for anything you purchase to replace the things you have lost. You may need to present these receipts to your insurance company.

Check for fire damage to your home or business and for downed power lines and other electrical hazards. After a fire, items that did not burn can be damaged by heat and smoke, and the contents of your home or business may be contaminated with soot, which can stain surfaces and leave behind an oily residue. The water used to put out the fire can also leave stains, damage materials and create mold, which is a health hazard.

A thorough fire accident investigation by a professional is necessary to determine what caused the fire. This will require the assistance of a fire accident expert who is familiar with building codes and construction techniques. These experts may find that a poorly maintained building or the improper use of equipment contributed to the fire.

It is also important to have a professional fire safety inspection done on a regular basis. This will help reduce the chances of a fire in your home or business. In addition, it is a good idea to dispose of paper, cardboard and other combustible materials on a regular basis to prevent them from collecting in the workplace or at home.

A faulty installation or maintenance of electrical devices is another common cause of fire accidents. A fire accident specialist can inspect the wiring and appliances in your home or business to ensure that they are safe and that they are working properly. They can also look at other factors, such as a contractor’s work history or a manufacturer’s product recalls, which may have contributed to the fire. The resulting settlement from your fire accident lawsuit should be sufficient to cover all of your current and future losses, including your current and expected medical bills, the cost of replacing damaged or stolen belongings and your non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering. A knowledgeable fire accident attorney will thoroughly investigate your case and negotiate aggressively with the insurance company and opposing attorneys to secure a successful resolution.