New York Fire Department Investigating Cause of Deadly Murray Hill, Manhattan Apartment Fire on Third Avenue and East 38th Street
MURRAY HILL, NEW YORK (December 20, 2024) – A man has tragically died in an apartment fire in Murray Hill, Manhattan near Third Avenue and 38th Street.
New York City officials are saying that the incident took place at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. Firefighters arrived at the blaze in order to put out the fire and help any victims.
They discovered a 40-year-old man unconscious inside of the building. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital with critical injuries.
Despite lifesaving measures, she was later pronounced dead.
Liability for Manhattan Apartment Fires
Residential fires remain one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2023, 1,389,000 fires resulted in 3,670 civilian deaths and 13,350 injuries. In addition, there were 89 firefighter deaths. This firefighter fatal injury count is a decrease from the 97 fatal injuries in 2022 but is otherwise the second highest since 2013.” There are a number of common causes of residential fires.
- Cooking accidents
- Electrical malfunctions
- Lithium-ion battery explosions
- Unmonitored candles
Apartment owners have a legal obligation to protect their residents from foreseeable sources of harm. This includes harm caused by residential fires. To that end, property owners must ensure that the property is periodically inspected and well maintained. If an apartment owner is aware of a dangerous condition that could contribute to a fire, they must take action. There are a number of ways that an apartment could be dangerous even after a fire has broken out.
- An apartment may have lacked smoke alarms to warn residents about a fire.
- Apartments may have lacked adequate fire escapes.
- Apartments may have obstructed exits that prevent people from escaping easily.
Depending on the facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for any apartment fire. For example, the company that manufactured an e-bike could be held at fault. Many residential fires in New York City have been caused by e-bikes with lithium batteries. The family of any person who died in an apartment fire may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating New York City Apartment Fires
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man who died in this Murray Hill fire. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Murray Hills apartment fire? You may have legal recourse. 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.
