Southern California Fire Accident and Injury Lawyer

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Filing a Fire Accident and Injury Claim in California

Whether out in the woods or in your own kitchen, fires can do incalculable damage to any human, building, or object that gets in their way. If someone else’s negligence caused the fire to start and/or to get out of control, they may owe you monetary compensation.

A Southern California fire accident and injury attorney from our KJT Law Group can help you find the person or organization responsible for your injuries. Call us at (818) 507-8525 when you are ready to begin.

How Wildfires Happen in Southern California

The phrase “Southern California fires” likely brings to mind one particular kind of fire: wildfires. According to the State of California, the state experienced 8,835 fires in 2021 alone, which burned over 2.5 million acres. The State of California also reports:

Seven of the twenty deadliest California wildfires of all time have occurred within the last five years.
Thirteen of the twenty most destructive California wildfires of all time have occurred within the last five years.
The most destructive wildfire ever to hit Southern California was 2003’s Cedar Fire, which burned 2,820 structures and killed 15 people.

The City of San Diego reports that the Cedar Fire stemmed from a lost hunter who lit a signal fire, which subsequently got out of control. In circumstances like this—when someone carelessly or maliciously sets a dangerous fire—a Los Angeles personal injury attorney from KJT Law Group may be able to help you recover compensation from the at-fault party.

Other Causes of Fires in Southern California

Not every fire accident is as large or spectacular as a wildfire. Many are small but can still cause serious damage to an individual’s life, home, and livelihood. Reports by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) show that the following types of fires inflict considerable damage every year:

Heating Fires

The USFA reports that heating was the number one cause of fires in residential homes in the United States from 2017 to 2019. The second most common cause was cooking.

Each year, heating fires accounted for:

600 injuries
165 deaths
$367 million in property loss

Portable Heater Fires

Those who do not have or cannot afford heating in their home may turn to small, portable heaters for warmth. Unfortunately, the use of these heaters can be devastating and even deadly, particularly if you place the heater too close to flammable materials (e.g., a blanket or clothing).

RV Fires

Recreational vehicles (RVs) are designed to act like a home on the road. As such, they contain the types of flammable materials you would expect in both a car (gasoline, engine oil) and a house (stove, cooking oil).

The three-year period from 2018 to 2020 saw over 4,200 RV fires in the U.S., which caused hundreds of injuries and over $60.3 million in property damage.

Who Is at Fault for a Fire Accident?

A fire can start in various ways, and there are just as many liable parties you can turn to for compensation after a fire-related injury. For instance:

A camper or hunter could accidentally cause wildfires, or an arsonist with malicious intentions could start one. In one infamous case, a California utility company, Power Gas & Electric, was charged with manslaughter after their failure to take proper safety precautions caused a deadly wildfire. (Reuters)
A faulty unit may cause heating and cooking fires. Depending on how the unit malfunctioned, the manufacturer or a repair or installation company could be to blame.
A portable heater fire may be attributable to a malfunction, but it could also be your landlord’s fault if you were only using the portable heater because they failed to provide you with a real, working heating unit.
Depending on the source of your RV fire, you could sue the dealer who sold you the RV, the vehicle manufacturer, or a mechanic.

If you want to file a lawsuit after a fire, you must identify all the parties who caused it. If you forget one, you could be leaving money on the table. One of our Southern California personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles can investigate the fire’s cause for you.

Damages that May Result from Fires

After a fire accident, you could end up sustaining serious injuries and losses, including:

Bodily injuries like smoke inhalation, lung damage, burns, and so on
Property loss or damage, such as smoke or fire damage to your home, objects in the home, motor vehicles, and so on
The loss of a pet
Financial distress due to trying to replace or repair lost property or from having injuries so severe they prevent you from working

To receive damages for your fire accident and injury, you must prove that someone else’s negligence is at least partly responsible for your injuries, and that it was not just a natural disaster or unavoidable circumstance that led to the fire. A Southern California attorney from KJT Law Group can determine what you are owed by:

Getting your side of the story
Collecting evidence to prove the fire was not entirely your fault and that it caused your injury
Creating a complete list of all the damages you qualify for
Calculating how much each damage is worth by using legal formulas, bills, tax information, witness testimony, and other testimony

Letting Our Fire Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles Do the Work

After a fire accident and injury, you need time to recuperate physically and emotionally. Fires are traumatic events, regardless of where and how they happen. A Southern California fire accident injury attorney from KJT Law Group wants to be there for you during this difficult time by:

Investigating the fire and collecting evidence like testimony, surveillance footage, photos, medical records, and more
Identifying the liable party and telling them that you want compensation from their insurance company
Meeting with insurance company representatives to negotiate a settlement or taking your case to court—whichever is the best option in your case
Managing all communications throughout your case, including taking calls from the insurance company and keeping you updated on your case’s progress
Being honest with you about your chances for success, what options are available to you, and how long it may take your case to conclude
Answering every question you have about the case and explaining the law to you if you need help understanding what is going on
Charging no attorney’s fees until after you receive compensation you have already lost enough and do not need any additional financial burden

Whether you suffered permanent injuries in the fire or are expected to make a complete recovery, your injury should never have happened. KJT Law Group can stand by your side as you hold the liable party accountable and fight for just compensation.

Our Southern California Fire Accident and Injury Attorneys Can Help You with Your Case

If you suffered an injury in a fire or fire-related accident, call KJT Law Group at (818) 507-8525 for a free case review. An Southern California fire accident and injury attorney from our firm can investigate how the fire happened and how much financial compensation you are entitled to recover. We proudly serve clients throughout Southern California.

If you or someone you love was injured due to another person’s negligence, contact KJT Law Group at (818) 507-8525 for a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options.

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