Two People Died, Several Injured In Washington Heights, Manhattan Apartment Fire At Building Between Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (July 22, 2024) – At least two people have died and several others were injured in a Washington Heights, Manhattan apartment fire.
New York City police officials are saying that the incident took place around 1:44 a.m. on Wednesday. A fire started at the six-story building and spread to an adjacent building.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims. Two people died due to their injuries, and several other people were hospitalized.
A full investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Manhattan Apartment Fires
Residential fires remain a leading cause of preventable injury and death in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, “One- and two-family home fires account for 59.1% of civilian deaths and 54.3% of injuries. Apartment structure fires account for 12.4% of deaths and 20.8% of injuries. For overall home fires, the 2022 rate of 7.5 deaths per 1,000 reported home fires was 6% higher than the rate of 7.1 in 1980, but a decrease of 5% from 2021.” Apartment owners should take a number of measures to prevent apartment fires.
- Apartments should have functional smoke detectors.
- Apartments should install fire extinguishers.
- Apartments should maintain fire escapes and exits.
- Apartment owners should inspect and maintain electrical systems.
An apartment owner could be liable if someone is injured or killed in an apartment fire. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their buildings in a reasonably safe condition. To that end, apartment owners must ensure that they comply with all safety regulations. If an apartment owner fails to take reasonable measures to prevent fires, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Victims of apartment fires tend to suffer very serious injuries.
- Lung damage
- Organ damage
- Burn injuries
- Death
It can be hard to know where to begin after an apartment fire. Victims may suffer very serious injuries and be left without a home. However, apartment owners will often do everything in their power to deny liability after any incident. This is why it is so important for victims to seek the guidance of a premises liability attorney. An attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Washington Heights Apartment Fires
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the families of the two people that died in this fire. It is our sincere hope that all of the other victims will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what took place.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Washington Heights apartment fire? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. 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.
