Indianapolis Fire Attorneys

Property managers of public buildings are responsible for adhering to specific safety standards regarding design and maintenance. These safety standards to protect occupants in the event of an emergency and allow them a safe and speedy exit. Safety considerations are especially important in the event of a fire. If a fire breaks out in a public building, occupants need to be notified of the fire promptly and must be able to find emergency exits to escape harm easily.

When another person’s carelessness puts you in harm’s way, you have options. With the help of an experienced attorney, you can recover compensation for the pain, expense, and ongoing medical complications that you face. Don’t wait to pursue your legal options. The responsible parties may attempt to cover up critical evidence.

Contact the Indianapolis fire attorneys of Hankey Marks & Crider today at (317) 634-8565 if you or someone you know suffer in a fire due to inadequate notification systems or poor building design/emergency exit design.

Why You Need a Lawyer

Residences, businesses, and other venues should always have fire safety precautions in place. Unfortunately, many property owners neglect critical safety precautions which can put you or someone you love, in danger. If someone else’s negligence leaves you injured, you shouldn’t be responsible for covering any injury-related expenses. It is not your responsibility to ensure that proper fire safety measures are in place everywhere that you go.

If you’re considering legal action, rather than managing your case independently, find an experienced lawyer to handle your situation with the care and attention it deserves. Injury victims who attempt to represent themselves lack the knowledge, skill, and experience to win any substantial amount in settlements.

Additionally, when you’re involved in a tragic fire, you don’t need to add more stress to your life by taking on a full legal battle by yourself. Personal injury claims are best left to a lawyer–someone who has studied and made it their life’s work to help people just like you win cases. A lawyer will be able to help you collect evidence, craft a winning argument, and keep track of deadlines pertaining to your claim.

Why You Should Choose Hankey Marks & Crider to Handle Your Case

Our law firm believes that clients should always receive the best service, which is why we treat our clients with the utmost respect and compassion. We understand that you’ve gone through something traumatic, and you need time and space to recover from physical injuries as well as mental stress and pain. If we take on your case, we will always keep you informed on the status of your claim and give you realistic projections about the outcome of your claim. You should never be in a guessing game with your lawyer, and we welcome questions and concerns. It’s your claim; you should be a part of it.

The attorneys at our firm have years of experience. We’ve won countless claims for clients who will attest to our professionalism, integrity, and compassionate service throughout every step of the litigation process. You deserve fair compensation and we fight to make sure that happens.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, you could be eligible to collect substantial amounts of money offset your expenses and ease the burden of your accident. To learn more about how we can work with you to obtain the compensation you deserve, call us today at (317) 634-8565 or send us a message through our online, confidential, consultation feature.

Fire Injury Cases We Handle

When a person finds him/herself in a building that is on fire, every second is critical. Every moment that passes brings greater and greater danger to a person in a burning building, increasing the likelihood of serious injuries. Victims stuck in a burning building may suffer from the following:

Lung damage due to smoke inhalation – If there is no way to escape, smoke builds up in a building and causes lung damage and sometimes suffocation.
Burns– Burn injuries sustained in fires can range from first to third-degree burns. Third-degree burns are accompanied by chronic pain, loss of mobility, and lengthy recovery periods.
Permanent disability – Serious burns can destroy tissue and burn through the muscle. These injuries can result in permanent physical disability moving forward.
Permanent disfigurement – Recovery from a burn injury is a long process. Though skin grafting and physical therapy help victims heal, they may never look the same.
Blindness – Fire can have a harmful and irreversible impact on the eye and surrounding facial tissue. Burn injury survivors may experience partial or total blindness.
Diminished Quality of Life – Many burn victims deal with the complications caused by chronic pain. Chronic pain can completely derail a burn victims ability to focus and enjoy their life as they once did.
Death – When a burn is severe enough, it can ultimately claim the lives of victims. Additional fire hazards like falling debris can leave victims with fatal injuries and head trauma.

If your loved passed away because of their injuries, you might be able to file a wrongful death claim on their behalf. Wrongful death claims allow you to recover compensation that your loved one would have been able to pursue had they survived their injuries. A qualified injury lawyer can help you gather the evidence that you need to seek justice on behalf of your loved one.

Indiana law gives most surviving family members up to two years from the date of death to file a claim. Although this timeline may seem generous, if you are serious about holding the at-fault parties accountable, time is of the essence. Reach out to a lawyer as soon as you can.

Dangers Leading to Fire-Related Injuries

Injuries related to building fires are made worse when buildings lack proper maintenance and planning. While no property owner expects that a serious fire will destroy their property, it is their job to anticipate and plan for the possibility. The following structural issues can make a dangerous situation much, much worse for building occupants:

Ineffective Fire Alarms – Whether in a residential or commercial property, working fire alarms are crucial in detecting fires and saving lives. Quick detection is critical, so a broken alarm could ultimately cost people their lives.
Broken Fire Escape – When a fire escape is out of commission, occupants of a building are effectively trapped inside.
Exceeding Capacity – The fire department imposes capacity limits for public venues like restaurants, theatres, and other gathering places. Capacity limitations ensure that people can make a timely escape from a building if the need arises.
Lacking Proper Signage – In an emergency, people rely on immediate and obvious help. Well-lit and strategically places “Exit” signs will help people evacuate a building safely.
Blocked Stairwells – When building guests can’t safety use elevators to exit a burning building, they will rely on the stairwells. Locked stairwell doors, unnecessary blockades, or other obstacles are a hazard that should be dealt with before an emergency.

While insurance may cover the bulk of a premise liability claim, an individual property manager may also be liable for their hand in causing your injuries. If poor building design or failing emergency notification systems have left you with serious injuries and expense, you need to contact a legal professional as quickly as possible to make sure you receive the compensation for your injuries that you need and truly deserve.

Contact Us

Unfortunately for many victims, fire-related injuries are accompanied by extensive medical bills and a lifetime of recovery. If you have been injured in a fire that was due to problems on someone else’s property, you should not have to cover the cost of your medical treatment and care. Contact the Indianapolis fire attorneys of Hankey Marks & Crider today at (317) 634-8565.