A Tuesday morning house fire in southwest Atlanta sent one woman to the hospital and authorities are still investigating the cause. The fire was reported at a home on Oriole Drive in Audobon Forest that was occupied by the injured woman, her teenage daughter, and a neighbor who had been staying there after being displaced from her home due to a fire last week.
The neighbor reported that she was in the shower when she heard the injured woman begin yelling about the fire. The neighbor and the teenager could not find the woman at first. Another neighbor assisted the home’s occupants in evacuating. The injured woman was transported to the hospital to obtain treatment for smoke inhalation.
Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of fire-related deaths, as it causes asphyxiation (suffocation), and chemical or thermal irritation in the airways that leads to swelling and even burns. It takes time for the lungs to heal from the effects of smoke inhalation, and some individuals will be left with permanent scarring and shortness of breath as a result of the injury.
House fires can be caused by a number of issues, including cooking, various electrical appliances, defective electrical wiring, and smoking. When authorities conduct a fire investigation, they look at the physical attributes of the fire scene in order to attempt to determine where and how the fire started. While not every individual injured in a fire can seek compensation for their injuries through the personal injury claims process, if it was determined that the fire began as a result of a defective appliance, often a claim can be sought against the manufacturer of that appliance. If there is evidence that a landlord was negligent in ensuring the unit was properly wired and outfitted with smoke detectors and fire distinguishers, renters of the home or their guests can likely seek compensation through a premises liability claim.
If you’ve been injured in a fire that was the result of another person or entity’s negligence, let us help you understand the process of seeking compensation for the financial and psychological costs of your injury. Contact us for a free case evaluation.
