Fire alarms and smoke detectors save lives every day. They provide a crucial warning to residents and tenants of apartment buildings that a fire is either ready to ignite (the presence of smoke) or a fire has already started, and allows them to exit the premises safely. In the event that a fire or smoke alarm malfunctions in an apartment complex, it can lead to injuries or fatalities, and the property owner may be liable. If you have been injured or experienced a loss due to a fire alarm failure, contact the Boston premises liability experts at Altman & Altman LLP today.
Properly installing and maintaining fire alarms and smoke detectors is a clear requirement in premises liability law, as they are crucial elements to keeping people safe in the dangerous event of a fire, which can quickly engulf properties and were responsible for killing 3,280 in 2015, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Of the 1,345,500 recorded fires in 2015, a leading 30 percent of those occurred in residential properties.
Landlords should check that fire alarms and smoke detectors are functioning properly on a regular basis, and adhere to Massachusetts fire code law in maintaining their properties to ensure that their buildings aren’t at a higher risk of catching fire and allowing that fire to grow quickly. If property owners fail to ensure their smoke detectors and fire alarms are functioning, or create an especially fire-hazardous living situation, they can be held liable following a fire in the apartment building.
Fire alarm and smoke detector malfunctions can also be traced back to the manufacturers of such devices, which may have been installed by a property owner unaware of the device’s potential for failure during a real fire event (despite functioning during tests). Some fire alarms and smoke detectors have been recalled in the past for such design flaws.
Whether it was the fault of the property owner, landlord, building contractor or the alarm manufacturer, the failure of the warning systems can result in permanent and severely debilitating injuries. Tenants may suffer severe burns, internal injuries due to smoke inhalation, trampling injuries if there was a panicked rush to exit the building or even a wrongful death due to the alarm’s malfunction.
We will hold the responsible party accountableIn the event that a fire occurs at your apartment or residential complex, and you feel as though someone who may be responsible isn’t being held properly accountable, contact the premise liability experts at Altman & Altman LLP right away. We will ensure that a proper investigation is conducted to get to the bottom of what caused the fire and whether or not proper safety protocols were in place.
If you, a friend or a loved one was injured or even killed as the result of a fire – and you believe that a smoke detector or fire alarm failure contributed to the tragedy – we will find the responsible party and hold them accountable to the full extent of the law. We can turn a premise liability claim into financial compensation to help pay for medical expenses or recover funds from being unable to work. In the worst instances, we can provide compensation to pay for final expenses.
At Altman & Altman, we work and live in Boston, Cambridge and all around the Massachusetts area. We understand how many people rely on apartments to live in, and how devastating a fire can be. We also have over 50 years of experience fighting on behalf of our clients, and will provide unparalleled legal expertise ensure the best chances of success for your claim.
Call us for a free consultation today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.