Even the most minor of burn injuries can be extremely painful. Severe burns are very traumatic, and may result in disfigurement, excruciating pain, and, in the worst cases, death.

Statistics from the United States Fire Administration demonstrate that in this country, on an average basis, there are about 3,700 deaths and 19,400 fire-related injuries annually. In the past decade, an annual average of about 1.6 million fires resulted in an estimated $10.9 billion direct dollar loss yearly. In 2007, alone, a fire department responded to a fire every 20 seconds in the United States.

Burn accidents can happen at any place and time, often when someone least expects them. Although many burn victims sustain their injuries in the workplace, fire-related accidents frequently occur at home or during recreational activities. Common causes of burn injuries include: motor vehicle collisions; dangerous heating equipment, like kerosene space heaters; scalding hot water from faucets, electrocutions; explosions; and caustic chemicals.

Many burn accidents are preventable. Often, fires are caused by human error or negligence, defectively designed or manufactured products, or improper installation/maintenance of electrical or mechanical devices.

After securing all necessary medical care and treatment, you should consult with an experienced and knowledgeable New York personal injury attorney if you believe that you or someone you care about has been injured due to the fault of another party.  Too often, a burn injury results in months of expensive, but necessary, medical care, and lost time at work. A qualified attorney may recover compensation for medical care, lost income, and pain and suffering. Be aware that there are time limitations that govern the filing of lawsuits, and an attorney should be consulted promptly. Typically, attorneys representing injury victims work on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means that attorneys’ fees are payable at the end of a case, once there is a monetary recovery. An injured party will not have to pay attorneys’ fees at the start or during the middle of a lawsuit. Browse through www.triallaw1.com for more information on Serious Burn Injury.

The heartbreaking tale of a man who plunged to his death after he courageously ran into a burning apartment building in Brooklyn to save the life of his son has been covered in many recent headlines and news stories. The cause of this horrific tragedy? The FDNY believes that the fire started because of a damaged extension cord under a refrigerator. The sad reality is that many electrical accidents could have been prevented. Defective appliances and equipment are the root cause of numerous electrical fires that lead to serious injury and death.

Burn injuries triggered by electrical fires can be catastrophic. Smoke and toxic gas from the fire can induce comas, cause severe brain damage, and kill.

Faulty wiring and heating systems are the cause of many fires each year. In those cases, lawsuits can be brought against those who are responsible, including product liability claims against the manufacturers of dangerous appliances

Landlords and other parties may also be responsible for your fire-related injuries. Landlords must ensure that wiring in their buildings is up to code and safe. Means of escape must be able to be used without risk of serious injury or death. A fire escape does not good if it exits several stories above ground. Fire escapes and the doors that lead to them must remain accessible at all times. Too often, we hear of landlords who paint shut or, worse, lock closed exit doors and windows. It should surprise no one that these acts of negligence form the basis of lawsuits.

As a homeowner or tenant, you should maintain and test your smoke detector(s) to ensure that they work in the event there is a fire in your home. And, if you do not own a smoke detector then get one. The chance of surviving a fire increases exponentially if there is a working smoke detector in place. It is also a good idea to purchase a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket.

If you and your family have been affected by a fire-related accident and believe you have a case against a manufacturer, landlord or building contractor, you need to contact a skilled and experienced attorney immediately. Attorneys can hire expert engineers and medical experts to analyze your case. You have the right to bring a lawsuit to recover compensation in the form of money damages.

New York Personal Injury, Trial Law Firm of Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, P.C. was founded more than 75 years ago and is one of the largest plaintiffs’ personal injury law firms in the State. For more information on Electrical Fires visit: http://www.triallaw1.com

Recently the NYC Fire Department said that its’ multi-million dollar campaign to diversify their ranks has paid off. More than 20,000 people have applied during this round of recruitment.  The FDNY only holds recruitment drives once every four years.

It’s important to know that there are laws in place to protect the rights of our city’s bravest. Those laws not only make sure the firefighters have the best in terms of equipment but they also require that all buildings in the city meet fire safety standards so as to prevent unnecessary injury.

Here’s an example of a firefighter being protected by the law even though he was engaged in a dangerous job. Firefighter “Frank” was 36 years old, in great shape.  He was responding to a fire in an abandoned building in the Sugar Hill section of Manhattan. In the course of fighting the blaze, Frank was on an exterior staircase which collapsed causing him to fall about 10 feet.

As a result of the fall, the heads of Frank’s hips were damaged and there were additional splits and fissures in the surrounding cartilage and bone structure. Frank underwent hip replacement surgery, followed by six months of physical therapy, three-times a week.

It was discovered that the building owners were issued four building-code violations prior to the fire for failing to properly seal the building and maintain the staircase. A special law enacted to protect firefighters allowed Frank to bring a case on the basis of the building code violations. The lawsuit was successful and Frank deservingly received substantial compensation for his injuries.

For more information on Personal Injury Lawsuit and Firefighter Injury Case, visit http://www.triallaw1.com