Apartment Fire In The Bronx That Killed 19 People and Injured Many More Leads To Lawsuit Against Twin Parks Apartment Landlords
THE BRONX, NEW YORK (January 30, 2022) – Multiple survivors of the Bronx apartment fire that killed 19 people have filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by the apartment landlords.
The deadly Bronx fire first started around 1:27 p.m. on Sunday, January 9th. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene at the Twin Parks apartment in order to help all of the victims.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of first responders, 19 people died due to their injuries and another 44 were injured. At least 13 of the victims were critically injured.
An investigation into the fire revealed that it first began with a malfunctioning space heater. The fire then spread to the rest of the building through an open door. Smoke from the fire trapped multiple victims leading to many of the injuries and fatalities.
Alleged Negligence That Led To The Fire
Attorneys for the plaintiffs alleged negligence on the part of numerous entities related to the deadly fire. Defendants in the lawsuit have been identified as Bronx Phase III Preservation LLC, as well as its three-member companies.
The complaint says that the property owners failed to ensure the front steel doors of the apartment were self-closing. This condition led the fire to spread rapidly through the apartment.
The complaint goes on to state that building owners failed to take steps to ensure the smoke alarms, sprinkler systems and intercoms set up throughout the building were functional.
There are also reports that the alarm system in the apartment had a history of malfunctioning. The alarm would apparently go off, even when there was no fire. This led some residents to believe that the alarms going off during the fire were false alarms.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs also claimed that a lack of adequate heat throughout the building led some residents to use space heaters. According to one report from Bloomberg, numerous tenants at the apartment complained about a lack of heat before the deadly fire started.
A notice of claim has also been sent to the city. The complaint contends that the city failed to ensure that landlords installed self-closing doors, which is required by city law.
Getting Help After A Bronx Apartment Fire
Any person that is injured in an apartment fire may be able to seek damages through a premises liability claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, property owners will often fight to deny liability for any accident in the event of a lawsuit. It is extremely important that evidence is properly preserved after an accident. It’s also a good idea to seek the legal guidance of an experienced attorney.
The personal injury attorneys at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. are here to answer any questions that you may have. Our attorneys have decades of experience helping accident victims and have secured nearly $1 billion for our deserving clients. We understand that skilled legal representation can mean the difference between winning or losing a case. That’s why we focus exclusively on personal injury claims. Call us today for a risk-free legal consultation to see if you have a valid claim. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
