A fire, particularly at your home, can be very damaging. While most fires are accidental, even those set on purpose have the potential to injure you–or more likely, cause you to be totally displaced.
According to a story from KHQ, one person was arrested and another was displaced after an apartment fire on Saturday, March 31, 2024. Spokane Fire Department (SFD) responded to the call of a fire on East 7th Avenue and South Helena Street, and found that the apartment was engulfed in flames. Investigators say the fire was initially started in the garage and then spread to the apartment complex. They also say that they suspect arson, and their suspect was arrested on felony domestic violence charges. Another person was displaced in the fire, presumably the tenant in the apartment. The manager of the complex confirmed that they are looking for housing for those that were impacted by the incident.
Can You File an Injury Claim After Arson?
While not something you probably want to face, it’s still helpful to know you have legal options–even after a fire caused by arson. In legal terms, arson is a criminal charge, but the injuries and other losses you experience in the incident can be recovered in a civil claim. With that option, the question then becomes what your damages are and who is responsible.
In cases where the fire was started by someone intentionally, they’ll be liable for your damages. But there’s others that could potentially share some of the responsibility, depending on the circumstances, like:
- Property owners could be responsible if they didn’t prevent arson or keep security measures up.
- Others could also be liable if they contributed to the conditions that caused the fire or benefited from it.
In terms of damages,
- Medical expenses – These are meant to cover your medical bills and things you need because of the injuries from the fire, like surgeries, ongoing care, and medical equipment.
- Property damage – This covers repair or replacement costs for items and personal belongings lost in the fire.
- Pain and suffering – These cover any physical pain and mental anguish caused by the fire incident. You can get separate damages for emotional distress.
- Lost income – This category of damages allow you to potentially recover any lost wages from missed work or lost earning potential.
- Displacement costs – This covers the cost of having to find a new place to live, transportation, or changes in your cost of living.
- Wrongful death expenses – If someone dies in the fire, surviving family members can recover damages to help pay for things like the funeral, the money the person would have made, and loss of companionship.
- Punitive damages – In cases where the fire was caused intentionally, further damages could be awarded on top of these. It’s designed to punish the wrongdoer and prevent other incidents.
If there’s an accident, focus on staying safe and checking for injuries. Once you’ve made sure everyone is okay, you can think about what to do next, and our team will be there to help.
Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers in Spokane
At CCD Law, we’ve been helping Spokane injury victims since 1948. When you’re hurt in a fire accident that happened because of someone else’s negligence you can count on our personal injury lawyers for help. We’ll explain your options, help you gather evidence, and guide you through the claims process. Contact us today for a free consultation to talk about your options.
