Landlords and property managers are responsible for providing a safe environment for their tenants. This includes installing smoke detectors, keeping exits clear, and providing fire extinguishers.
If you were recently injured in a residential fire that you believe was caused by your landlord or property owner’s failure to keep the premises safe, an experienced burn injury attorney at Ponce Law can review the evidence to identify who is at fault. A Goodlettsville residential fire burn injury lawyer can investigate potential instances of negligence or wrongful conduct and aggressively advocate for your legal right to compensation.
Burn injuries are classified by their depth and extent, and the severity of a burn determines the required treatment. The mildest category is a first-degree burn, often called a superficial burn. These burns are red, dry, and painful but usually heal within a matter of days or weeks.
Second-degree burns, often known as partial-thickness burns, are more serious and affect the outer and underlying layers of skin. Symptoms can include redness, blisters, severe pain, swelling, and discoloration. Some second-degree burn injury victims may also develop a fever due to infection.
Third-degree burns destroy all layers of the dermis, while fourth-degree burns can extend through the skin and into the underlying soft tissues, such as muscle and bone. Symptoms include swelling, mottled brown or yellow skin, and numbness due to destroyed nerve endings. Burn injury victims with third-degree and fourth-degree burns may require extensive surgeries, long-term rehabilitation, and therapy. These burns frequently leave permanent scarring and disfigurement, and may cause life-threatening complications for some victims.
Serious residential burn injuries often stem from chemical, electrical, and thermal fires. Landlords have a legal obligation to maintain their rental properties in a safe condition, including ensuring the proper functioning of heating and electrical systems to prevent burn hazards. If your landlord’s negligence resulted in a residential fire that led to serious burn injuries, a Goodlettsville attorney can help you stand up for your rights.
In Tennessee, landlords have many legal duties, including ensuring the property is safe and habitable and making repairs in a timely manner. These duties also extend to resolving potential fire hazards and ensuring the building’s structure complies with fire code requirements.
Landlords may be liable for damages if they fail to perform these duties. Examples of landlord negligence where a Goodlettsville lawyer could help you file a residential fire burn injury claim include:
To successfully sue a landlord for burns suffered in a residential fire, explosion, or other burn incident, you must demonstrate that the landlord knew or should have known about the fire hazard and failed to take reasonable steps to repair the issue. You must also prove that these dangerous conditions directly caused your burn injury.
Our dedicated legal team at Ponce Law can handle all phases of your claim, including conducting a thorough investigation of the facts and negotiating with insurance companies to ensure you receive the compensation you need to be made whole again. Recoverable compensation could include the value of your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your burn injury.
The aftermath of a residential fire can be devastating. Tenants frequently suffer painful, long-lasting burn injuries while also losing many, if not all, of their possessions if the fire is extensive enough.
If your landlord’s failure to maintain safe and code-compliant housing caused the fire, a Goodlettsville residential fire burn injury lawyer can work tirelessly to hold them legally accountable. They can also identify any other negligent individual or entity who may be liable for your injury.
Ponce Law is the only law firm in middle Tennessee to receive the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for ethics. Our firm has also been repeatedly voted Nashville’s Best Law Firm by the Tennessean’s Best of Music City Awards.
If you were injured in a residential fire caused by negligence, you do not have to face the next steps alone. Give our office a call today to request your free consultation with a top burn injury attorney.
