Burn injury lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm report on a recent fire that broke out in Chicago, killing an 11-month-old and the 49-year-old woman who was babysitting her. The fire started around 10:30 am in the Englewood neighborhood, quickly spreading to two other homes.
A concerned neighbor saw the fire erupt that morning and tried to kick in the front door to save the infant, who he knew was still inside. The neighbor got low to the ground to avoid the smoke, and began yelling to find out where the little girl was. Shortly after, police arrived and yelled for the man to come out. As he was exiting the engulfed house, the ceiling caved in.
The fire erupted on the 6700 block of South Emerald on Chicago’s South Side, and quickly spread to two other homes on that block, one of which was, fortunately, vacant. A spokesperson for the Chicago Fire Department told the Sun-Times that it was obvious from the beginning that no one could have survived such an intense blaze. Emergency responders were not able to even enter the house when they arrived at the scene – fire was blowing out of the windows on every floor.
The fire was extinguished by noon, and firefighters were able to enter the home where it first started. They found the 11-month-old on the first floor and the 49-year-old babysitter on the second. Investigations into the cause of the fire remain ongoing.
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The National Institutes for Health estimates that about 4,500 Americans die every year from burn-related injuries, and another 20,000 pass away from burn-related infections. Additionally, 1.1 million Americans require immediate medical attention from burns each year and 50,000 require lengthy hospitalization.
Unfortunately, burns are quite prevalent among young children, who have not yet learned the risks of a hot pot of coffee or burning stove. One study recently published in The Lancet found that children who suffer a serious burn injury (affecting over 60% of the body) are at significantly higher risk of developing severe complications or death. Authors of this study emphasized the need for greater medical attention to children suffering from these types of injuries, specifically recommending improved and more vigilant therapy regimens.
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Residential fires are the leading cause of burn-related deaths, however, many different scenarios can contribute to serious burn injury. A truck driver in Texas, for example, recently sued a refueling plant after his tanker truck exploded. The man suffered horrific burns on the majority of his body.
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The driver, Allen Ramirez was employed by Andrews Transport and entered a refueling plant, operated by AGE Refining, when his truck exploded. In his lawsuit, Ramirez requested that AGE supply all incidents of injury or death from fires or explosions at its locations over the past ten years. He also requested a list of all violation and citations the company has been issued by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The sudden explosion at the AGE refueling station required about 100 firefighters and six hours to extinguish and left Ramirez on the ground, engulfed in flames. He claims that AGE failed to take the necessary precautions to prevent the explosion and was negligent in failing to eliminate sources of ignition near combustible fuels. He was left with permanent, disabling and disfiguring injuries from the incident.
Other common fire-related injuries that can be subject to litigation include smoke and heat inhalation damage, gas scalding or hot water, and toxic poisoning from systemic toxBurn injury lawyers injury lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you receive maximum compensation for your injuries if you were involved in a fire-related accident or suffered serious burns from other sources. We offer free, no-obligation legal consultations to potential clients in all 50 states.
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