Causes of a Fire Accident

A fire accident is an extremely dangerous occurrence that causes catastrophic injuries and often leads to death. Injuries from a fire accident can be severe and permanent and can affect a person’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being. A person suffering from burns or other catastrophic personal injuries may seek damages for their losses from parties responsible for the accident. An experienced New York City personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether filing a negligence lawsuit, workers’ compensation claim or both may be the best path to obtaining the compensation you need.

There are many factors that can lead to a fire accident. Some of these include:

Appliances or Equipment

Conflagrations that are caused by malfunctioning appliances or equipment account for a large percentage of fire accidents each year. These can include kitchen cooking appliances like stoves or ovens, space heaters, central heating and cooling systems, torches, welding equipment and clothes dryers. These can be due to poor design, manufacturing or maintenance.

Electrical Issues

Faulty wiring is another common cause of accidental workplace fires. This is especially true for buildings that are older and have outdated wiring or electrical work. Warehouse, construction and factory jobsites are at particularly high risk for electrical problems.

Smoking

Although many employers have designated their worksites as smoke-free, smoking continues to be a significant cause of fires in the workplace. This can be because of a cigarette left unattended, but also because many companies do not have enough ventilation in their workplaces.

Chemicals

A fire accident involving chemicals is an extremely serious event. Almost every building and most industries produce some kind of chemical that can ignite and cause a fire. Some of these chemicals are toxic and can lead to injuries from exposure.

Fire Accidents

It is important for everyone to know what to do in case of a fire accident. First, remember that the most important thing is to get out of the building. If you are trapped inside, try to open a window and use it to escape if possible. If a door is hot, or smoke and fire block your primary way out, open a second door (or the handle of the door) and crawl through it as you escape. If you are unable to make it out, hang something from a window that will draw the attention of firefighters so they can find you. Do not return to a burning building until told to do so by an attending fire officer.