Fire and Explosion

Fire and Explosion Claims in Kansas City, MO

The traumatic initial moment of fire or explosion is terrifying enough of an ordeal, but the associated property damage and injuries that can be sustained are equally as devastating. Of the different types of personal injuries that can be sustained, fire and explosion tend to cause the most long-lasting physical and emotional damages to victims.

A fire or explosion at home, at work or even in a business can be a catastrophic and tragic experience for everyone involved. Because of the high risk of injury, death and property damage during and after a fire or explosion, you may feel a sense of despair or even terror thinking about confronting the negligent party responsible for your injuries.

Fortunately, Wagstaff & Cartmell is here to help you get back on track and put your life back in order after a fire or explosion. Our team of attorneys are well-versed in personal injury cases involving fires and explosions, and we are fully committed to helping you or your loved ones seek justice for any damages sustained.

Fire and Explosion Statistics

• In 2016, an estimated 1,342,000 fires caused 3,390 civilian deaths and 14,650 civilian injuries across the United States. During that same year, there were 69 firefighter fatalities and 62,085 firefighter injuries.
• In 2015, approximately 630 explosions (bombings, accidental explosions and undetermined explosion incidents) occurred, the lowest number of instances since 2010. This resulted in 58 injuries and 8 fatalities.
• Explosions are most often caused by intentional bombings (63 percent), accidents (24 percent) and undetermined factors (13 percent).
• Home structure fires are most commonly caused by cooking equipment (47 percent), heating equipment (15 percent), electrical distribution and lighting equipment (9 percent), intentional action (8 percent) and smoking materials (5 percent).
• The most common causes of explosions in 2015 were pyrotechnics/fireworks (18 percent), flash powder/pyrotechnic mixture (7 percent) and black powder (3 percent).
• Three out of five civilian fire fatalities occurred in homes with no smoke alarms, or no functional smoke alarms.
• In 2016, fires caused over $10.2 billion in property damage.

Who is at Fault in a Fire or Explosion?

Generally, fires and explosions are tragic accidents. An unforeseen short circuit or a natural gas buildup can turn an ordinary day into a nightmare. Many instances of fire or explosion do have parties that can be held liable for the incident if injury or death results, particularly if the cause of the fire or explosion is attributed to negligence.

Because of the nature of these incidents, a personal injury claim brought forward to compensate damages caused by fire and explosion can be challenging, particularly when it comes to determining which party involved is most at fault. For example:

• A landlord or property owner can be held liable for the damages sustained in a fire or explosion if proper security features—such as fire alarms or smoke detectors—failed to go off or were not properly installed.
• Product manufacturers and designers may be held liable for a fire or explosion if a product defect led to an explosion or fire.
• Contractors who did not install appliances properly, or used faulty/unsafe wiring practices, may be held responsible if these factors led to an explosion or fire.

Filing a Fire and Explosion Claim

Depending on the extent of the damages sustained, you or a loved one injured in a fire or explosion may be entitled to receive compensation from a liable party if negligence is proven to have been a contributing factor in your injuries. This compensation may include pain and suffering damages, funeral expenses, current and future medical bills, emotional and psychological injuries, loss of consortium, loss of earning potential and more.

At Wagstaff & Cartmell, we believe in representing our clients with integrity and efficacy to help you pick up the pieces and focus on what’s most important during this trying period of your life—recovery and finding peace of mind.

Our team of experienced fire and explosion attorneys are standing by to help you with your legal needs. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a fire or explosion caused by someone else’s negligence, contact us today to discuss your case and schedule a free evaluation session.