Four People Injured In Washington Heights Apartment Fire

Four People Injured After Washington Heights Apartment Caught Fire

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (June 28, 2024) – Four children were injured in a Washington Heights, Manhattan apartment fire at building on Audubon Avenue.

New York City police officials are saying that the accident took place around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday. A fire broke out on the 5th floor of the apartment.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victims. Four people were taken to the hospital, including two children with critical injuries.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Manhattan Apartment Fires

Residential fires remain one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. According to Statista, “In 2021, fires in one- and two-family homes accounted for 2,440 civilian fatalities in the United States. In that same year, about 400 civilians died in apartment fires, and 650 civilians died in fires in highway vehicle fires.” There are a number of common causes of residential fires.

• Unattended cooking equipment could lead to a fire.
• Space heaters placed near blankets are another common cause of fires.
• Faulty electrical equipment may also lead to a fire.

Depending on the facts of any case, the owner of an apartment building could be liable for a fire that injured someone. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their buildings in a reasonably safe condition. This includes being compliant with all NYC fire codes. Failure to maintain a property in a reasonably safe condition could form the basis of a negligence claim. It is important that certain steps be taken after any Manhattan apartment fire.

• The source of the fire should be determined.
• Surveillance footage should be sought.
• Medical records related to the fire should be preserved.
• An experienced premises liability attorney should be contacted.

Victims of residential fires tend to suffer very serious and costly injuries. This can impact their ability to be gainfully employed and take care of themselves. Sadly, apartment owners and their insurance providers will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if someone is injured in an apartment fire. Any person who is injured in an apartment fire may have legal recourse through a civil claim.

Investigating New York City Apartment Fires

We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Manhattan apartment fire and their families. It is our sincere hope that everyone is able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Manhattan apartment fire? Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.