Fire Loss
Fires and explosions leave behind catastrophic injuries and unanswered questions. We find the answers — and the responsible parties.
Building fires and gas explosions are rarely accidents in the true sense. Defective wiring, code violations, missing smoke detectors, negligent maintenance, and utility failures are recurring causes — and each points to a responsible party.
The firm’s $12.4 million recovery in a Queens County gas explosion wrongful death case reflects the depth of investigation these matters demand: origin-and-cause experts, code analysis, and aggressive litigation against owners, landlords, and utilities.
What We Handle
- Apartment and building fires
- Gas explosions
- Code violation and negligent maintenance claims
- Burn injuries and smoke inhalation
- Property damage and displacement claims
Who can be responsible
Fires and gas explosions usually trace to a failure someone was responsible for preventing: faulty wiring, a defective appliance or space heater, missing or dead smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, doors that don’t close, blocked exits, or a gas leak that was reported and not repaired. Depending on the cause, building owners, managing agents, contractors, manufacturers, and utilities may all bear responsibility.
In New York City, the Housing Maintenance Code requires owners of multiple dwellings to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and doors leading to the public hallways and stairs of multiple dwellings must close by themselves, to keep a fire from spreading beyond the apartment where it starts. Violations of those requirements can be powerful evidence.
Preserving the evidence
A fire scene does not stay intact for long. Buildings are cleaned out, repaired, or demolished, and the physical evidence of the cause goes with them. We move quickly to put the responsible parties on notice to preserve evidence, obtain fire marshal and fire department reports, and retain origin-and-cause investigators before the scene is lost.
Claims involving public housing and public entities
If the building is owned by the New York City Housing Authority or another public entity, a notice of claim generally must be served within 90 days. That is one of many reasons to call as soon as you are able.
Common Questions
The fire department listed the cause as “undetermined.” Can we still bring a claim?
Possibly. Official reports are a starting point, not the final word. Independent investigation often identifies the cause and the responsible party.
I am a tenant. Can I recover for my injuries and my belongings?
Tenants may be able to recover for personal injuries, and in many cases for lost property and the costs of displacement, from the parties responsible for the fire.
What if I live in NYCHA housing?
Claims against the Housing Authority generally require a notice of claim within 90 days. Call right away so that deadline is not missed.
This page is general information about New York law, not legal advice about your situation. Deadlines and rules can change and depend on the facts; call the office to discuss your matter.
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Your case deserves more than a case number.
Speak directly with Adam Glassman. Free, confidential, and without obligation.