What to Do If You Are Injured in a Fire Accident

A fire accident can cause severe damage to property and life-altering injuries. Injuries can range from burns, smoke inhalation and structural damage to emotional and psychological trauma. Fire accidents can also lead to financial hardship as families struggle to recover from lost belongings and pay for new living arrangements. If you or someone you love was injured in a fire accident, contact an experienced attorney right away to learn about your legal options.

All fire accidents must be thoroughly investigated to show how they were caused. If an investigation shows that someone else’s negligence was responsible for the fire accident, that party should be held accountable for damages you suffered. If a fire accident resulted in the death of a loved one, survivors may file a wrongful death claim.

If it is safe to do so, take pictures of your damaged property. This will help you document what needs to be replaced before it is possibly damaged further or removed from your home. If you are unable to live in your home due to fire or smoke damage, contact local shelters for assistance. They will be able to provide you with temporary housing and supplies.

A fire can destroy all your belongings in an instant, and the process of cleaning up the debris is often overwhelming. A fire can also lead to damage that isn’t immediately visible, such as water damage from firefighters dousing the fire with water to extinguish it.

When someone is burned in a fire accident, they must be treated as soon as possible to prevent long-term complications and costly treatment. Burns can damage tissue all the way to the bone, leaving permanent scarring, intense pain and diminished mobility.

If you or someone you love has been burned in a fire accident, a skilled lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. An attorney will investigate your case to discover the cause of the fire accident and who was responsible for it. They will then work to calculate your total damages, including all forms of lost income and medical expenses, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

In some cases, firefighters will deem your property unsafe for you and your family to return to, meaning that you will need to find other accommodation. If you need help finding temporary housing, contact your local homeless shelter, charity or governmental organizations for assistance. It is important to board up the entrances to your home as soon as it is safe, as this will protect it from theft and inclement weather. It is also a good idea to tarp your roof to keep out rainwater and other debris. In addition to boarding up the doors, you will want to turn off your utilities and secure your property. This will reduce the risk of further damage or injury to your loved ones. This is particularly important if the fire was caused by gas or electrical systems.