When a fire breaks out, people have a short time to escape before smoke inhalation and heat injuries begin to take effect. These kinds of injuries can have serious consequences and often change a victim’s life for years. Because of the limited time people have to reach safety, it is imperative that buildings strictly follow fire codes. Failing to do so can result in delayed warnings and impeded escape should a fire break out in a building.

Retailers, hotel operators, office building managers, plants, oil refineries, and smoke detector manufacturers can be held liable for fire-related injuries and fatalities that occur as a result of negligence and safety violations. In fires involving apartments, motels, or restaurants, it is common for investigators to discover blocked fire exits and other fire code violations contributed to the inability of people to leave the building in a timely fashion. If you have been hurt in a fire as the result of someone else’s negligence, the New Jersey fire injuries attorneys at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm may be able to help you recover compensation.

When you work with the dedicated New Jersey fire injury attorneys at the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, we will enlist fire investigators, chemical analysts, and safety consultants to determine what caused a fire and what should have been done to prevent it. In order to ensure our clients receive the full compensation they deserve for their burn injuries, we also consult doctors, medical economists, and life care planners.

While a fire in a hotel or apartment building may be due to negligence on the part of the property owner, liability for defective sprinkler systems or malfunctioning smoke detectors may involve those who installed or manufactured them. It is important to investigate the cause of a fire and determine the cause and origin of the fire or explosion in order to hold all the parties who played a role in causing burn injuries and fatalities responsible.