Compassionate and Comprehensive Legal Counsel
When electrical failures or malfunctions result in an electrical fire, those injured may find that another party’s negligence was to blame. Whether you were injured in your own apartment, at work, or on another private or public property, you may have a legal claim against the manager or owner of that property.
If you have been injured including burn injuries or brain injuries from someone else’s negligence in starting an electrical fire, Cullan & Cullan is here to fight for you. Our experienced legal team comprises attorneys who hold degrees in medicine, anatomy, and engineering. This unique combination of skills has resulted in the recovery of over $350 million in compensation for our clients, as well as numerous industry awards and accolades. To date, we have helped thousands of injured clients find justice.
Contact us online for a free consultation with a Phoenix burn injury attorney.
Common Causes of Electrical Fires
From 2012 to 2016, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) identified electrical failures as the second-leading cause of home fires.
Some of the most common electrical failures behind these types of fires involve:
- Defective or ungrounded power outlets
- Defective electrical appliances
- Defective lighting fixtures
- Rodents, pests, and other animals
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Extension cords
- Space heaters
At Cullan & Cullan, our doctor-lawyers will investigate your case to identify the root cause of your electrical fire and the negligent party responsible for it.
Types of Electrical Fire and Burn Injuries
A victim may be injured by the event that ignited the electrical fire. For one, an ungrounded electrical current may run through the victim’s body and potentially cause electrical shock injuries, like internal organ damage. When death occurs, the diagnosis changes from “electrical shock” to “electrocution.”
Electrical fires may lead to thermal burns, a burn sustained due to contact with flames, hot surfaces, etc. In the most severe cases, a victim may suffer third-degree burns, which penetrate all layers of the skin right down to the bone. Moderate burns (or second-degree burns) are common in these fires, as well.
A thermal burn may also result from an arc flash, an event in which a loose electrical current jumps from its conductor. Arc flashes may then set off explosions called arc blasts.
Treatment for Electrical Fire Injuries
The exact type of treatment a victim needs will depend on the type of injury they sustained. For example, some victims may need to undergo skin grafting to treat a third-degree burn; others may need surgery to treat damaged internal organs.
Treatment is seldom a quick and easy process; it can take many months to recover. Even then, many victims are left with long-term injuries, disfigurement, or disabilities.
Can You Sue Your Landlord for an Electrical Fire?
A landlord is required by law to ensure that their property (apartment, condo, house, or other residential building) is safe for tenants, which includes identifying and fixing any electrical fire hazards. If your landlord either knew or should have reasonably known of the fire hazard but failed to fix it, they may be legally responsible for your burn injuries caused by an electrical fire.
Electrical Fires on Public and Private Properties
Any property owner can be held liable for their negligence in starting or failing to prevent an electrical fire.
If you sustained severe burn injuries in an electrical fire on any of the properties listed below, you likely have grounds to seek compensation:
- Bars
- Restaurants
- Movie theaters
- Hotels
- Resorts
- Shopping malls
- Retail and grocery stores
- School and college campuses
- Government buildings
Electrical Fires at Work
In Arizona, the law does not allow employees to sue their employers over workplace injuries. If you were injured in an electrical fire at work, you may seek compensation through a workers’ compensation claim. This will provide you with the benefits you need to take time off work and heal from your burn injuries.
You may sue a third-party if they started the electrical fire, however. This may include contractors and manufacturers of defective products.
Call a Phoenix Electrical Fire Lawyer Today
At Cullan & Cullan, we can investigate cases involving severe burns or brain injuries caused by certain kinds of electrical fire cases, including those that occurred in the home, at work, and elsewhere. We seek to recover compensation for our clients for electrical burn treatment, hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other applicable damages.
Find out if you qualify for compensation—call (602) 900-9483 to speak with a Phoenix electrical fire attorney in a free consultation!