One Person Died In Bronx Apartment Fire Sparked By Lithium Ion Battery
BRONX, NEW YORK (March 22, 2023) – One person has died in a Bronx apartment fire along Olinville Avenue that was started due to a lithium ion battery.
New York City police officials are saying that the accident took place around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. A fire started in an apartment in the Allerton section of the Bronx.
Firefighters were called to the scene and were able to put out the fire. A 60-year-old man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
Sadly, the man did not survive and was pronounced dead at the hospital. the cause of the fire was apparently a lithium ion battery.
A full investigation into the fire remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Bronx Apartment Fires
There have been many issues with the way lithium ion batteries have been manufactured. Problems with some of the batteries have led to them overheating, catching fire and exploding. So far this year e-bike batteries have caused over 55 fires in New York City alone. There are a number of reasons that lithium-ion batteries may catch fire.
- Manufacturing Defects
- Design Flaws
- Improper Usage
- Charger Issues
- Low-quality components
Building owners in New York have a legal responsibility to maintain their properties in a reasonably safe condition. This must be done for the protection of everyone on a property whose presence is reasonably foreseeable. If an apartment in New York lacked required fire safety measures, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. For example, an apartment may have lacked working sprinklers or smoke detectors.
Depending on the facts of any case, the company that manufactured lithium ion batteries or their component parts could be liable for an accident. Companies that design batteries have a responsibility to make those products reasonably safe. When a company fails to make their products reasonably safe they could be held accountable through a product liability claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any apartment fire.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
Far too often, companies that manufacture batteries are looking to make them as cheap as possible. But this often leads to substantial safety lapses. The family of any person that died in a apartment fire may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A New York Apartment Fire
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man that died in this apartment fire. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the NYFD. It is our hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a Bronx apartment fire? Our team of premises liability attorneys are here for you. 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.
