Premises Liability Recovery from Florida Fires

Smoke detectors are one of the single most effective safety features in a home or business. Upon being alerted, occupants have the opportunity to extinguish the fire, escape the premises or call 911. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides enlightening statistics: More than twice as many deaths occurred in homes without working fire alarms as those with functioning devices. Considering the effectiveness of smoke detectors, that any business or residence would not have one is shocking. Your life is put in danger by establishments that fail to install and maintain working smoke detectors. Brais Law Firm has experience handling claims involving smoke inhalation and burn injuries caused by fires in South Florida homes and businesses without functioning smoke detectors. Our Miami premises liability attorneys have been awarded Rising Star, Super Lawyers and Legal Elite designations and membership in the prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. We recently recovered $1.3 million dollars for a client who suffered damages from a fire caused by an unsafe product*. Yet, our proudest accomplishment is prompting changes in the industry through litigation. As we help you recover the compensation you are entitled to, we also compel hotels, bars, restaurants, movie theaters, office buildings and apartment buildings to install and maintain life-saving smoke detectors. We invite you to review our firm’s Results page to learn more about our success on behalf of our clients.

Absent or Malfunctioning Fire Alarms

The presence of a fire alarm is not enough. The device must function appropriately and the proprietor must check the wiring and change the batteries regularly. The NFPA cited missing, disconnected devices or dead batteries in 54 percent of reported fires in homes with battery-only smoke detectors. In 46 percent of fires in homes with hardwired smoke detectors, the device failed because of power-failure, shut-off or disconnect, with no working battery backup.

Fire-Related Damages

The heat of fire causes thermal burns. Smoke can also damage lung tissue and suffocate occupants. If harmful chemicals are located in the structure, the fumes may lead to acute toxic exposure or explosion. Burns, smoke inhalation and toxicity may cause such severe damages as:

  • Scarring and disfigurement caused by burns
  • Scar tissue that causes mobility impairment
  • Skin grafts and other serious surgeries
  • Disability that requires lengthy rehabilitation
  • Lung scarring, disease and cancer
  • Pain and suffering
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Recover for Burns and Smoke Inhalation Related Injuries

If you were burned or suffered smoke inhalation injuries because your landlord or a business owner failed to keep a working fire alarm on premises, Brais Law Firm can help you recover. Call or connect with us online to schedule your free case assessment to learn more about the value of your claim and your rights to recovery. We handle all premises liability claims on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay us lawyers’ fees unless we recover damages on your behalf. Our firm handles claims throughout the state of Florida from our main office in Miami.

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