Fire Safety Violations Caused Deaths And Injuries in Devastating Bronx Fire
Attorney Michael S. Lamonsoff offers free counsel to victims and their families to help them recover maximum financial damages
The deadly Bronx fire, which has left at least 19 dead and many more critically injured, has exposed the likely failure of building owners, facility managers, and local government agencies to protect the residents from harm. As if NYC did not have enough issues dealing with the spike in COVID numbers… now this. Leading fire accident attorney in New York City, Michael S. Lamonsoff and his team have swung into action to provide legal guidance to the injured victims and families that lost their loved ones in this blaze. While this time can feel confusing and overwhelming for victims and their families, it doesn’t have to be when you talk to us.
Attorney Lamonsoff Raises Questions as He Investigates the Case on Behalf of the Victims
Requirement of Self-Closing Doors
FDNY officials have said that a door left open in the apartment where the fire originated allowed the smoke to spread throughout the building. According to the NYC Housing & Preservation legal requirements, property owners have to ensure that a building with three or more apartments must have self-closing doors. Did the landlord follow this requirement as per the law to protect the tenants? Fire injury lawyer Lamonsoff and his team are investigating this critical aspect.
Requirement of Fire Alarms Installation & Maintenance
A resident told NY Post that people might not have fled the building quickly enough because the fire alarm frequently goes off, so they may have thought it was just another false alarm this time, too. “The fire alarm goes off in the hallway all the time, at least twice a week,” said the 18th-floor resident, who asked not to be named. “I don’t know if it’s faulty or what it is. People on the third, fourth, fifth, and went about their day until they saw smoke,” he said.
Apartment fire lawyer Lamonsoff says that New York City law requires the building owners to follow these requirements:
- Each dwelling unit must be provided with at least one approved and operational smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector.
- The landlord is also responsible for replacing these installed units periodically upon the expiration of their useful life.
- The landlord must ensure that the carbon monoxide alarm is fitted with an end-of-life alarm.
- Once a carbon monoxide detector is installed, the building owner must provide a notice to at least one adult occupant of each dwelling unit regarding the testing and maintenance of the detector, including what to do if an alarm goes off.
Requirement of Fire Escape and Exits
Fire escape and exit issues in the current Bronx fire incident:
- A fire escape plan must be posted on the inside of every apartment door, common area, and distributed to each dwelling, new tenants, and annually during fire prevention week.
- Clear exits unobstructed by obstacles on fire escapes, in hallways, and by entrance doors to a building including roof doors.
- It is illegal to install key-locked window gates on fire escapes and double cylinder locks which can trap residents inside an apartment in the event of a fire.
Legal Help is Here for Bronx Fire Burn Injury and Wrongful Death Claims
In this overwhelming moment for New York City, the Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, PLLC is prepared to commit every skill and resource at its command to protect the rights of the Bronx fire victims. We will leave no stone unturned to investigate every single claim of wrongful death, catastrophic injury, and burn injury and build a rock-solid legal strategy to obtain maximum compensation on behalf of the victims and their families from the negligent parties.
Apartment fire lawyer Michael S. Lamonsoff is recognized for his ability to take on powerful defendants and insurance companies, and earned the sobriquet of “The Bull” for his relentless and forceful approach to fight for his clients’ rights. Call us at 212-962-1020 for a free consultation anytime 24/7 or contact us online.