I lost everything in an electrical apartment fire there were no firewalls present can I sue.
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I lost everything in an electrical apartment fire there were no firewalls present can I sue.
I had to run out of a burning building in my underware. Lost everything.
Asked on July 4, 2009 under Personal Injury, Mississippi
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Was the fire caused by faulty wiring? Then you can sue the landlord. Did the landlord not have required safety features--e.g. by not having "firewalls" did they violate building code? Then you could sue for that.
Was the fire caused by another tenant's negligence or carelessness? Then you could sue the tenant.
Was the fire caused by a defective electrical device (such as a toaster that burst into flame, or electric heater that overheated)? Then you might have a products liability suit against the device manufacturer.
Also, depending on the facts, there might be a lawsuit against any electricians or contractors who did shoddy work.
Since you suffered extensive losses--all your belongings, for a start, as well as not having a place to live--and there are a number of possible grounds to sue under and people to sue, you should definitely get a consultation with a local attorney who can check state and local building code and who can look into the facts of your case. This seems like a situation where you should at least take the next step of getting a personal consultation with an attorney to explore your chance of recovering and what you might recover.
And don't forget your landlord should have insurance that might pay out for your losses. And if you had renter's insurance, you might be covered under your own insurance--at least for part if not all. If you have a renter's policy, take a look at it and call the company.
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