A building or residential fire can lead to severe injuries, substantial property damage, and even death. Often, these fires result from another party's negligence or carelessness.
Why does this matter? Because if you are a victim, you can recover compensation for your damages.
At the Wyatt Law Firm, we work with clients who have been through such a tragic event, helping people in difficult situations obtain the compensation they deserve. Our firm serves injured individuals throughout Texas and the nation, including Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Laredo, and Corpus Christi.
Case evaluations and consultations are always no-cost with no obligation, so you can learn about your legal rights and options risk-free. Never wait to seek help getting the compensation you need to cover injury and damage-related losses from a fire in San Antonio. Wyatt Law Firm is ready to help you.
Why Choose Us?
When you've been through a fire injures, you need an experienced San Antonio building and residential fire lawyer who will stand up for your rights. You'll find that attorney at the Wyatt Law Firm.
Our seasoned trial lawyers are committed to providing you with the personal injury representation you need to get the results you need and deserve. We recognize clients' expectations when they hire our firm and focus on exceeding our client's goals in each case we are privileged to handle.
When you hire the Wyatt Law Firm, you will experience our passion for justice firsthand. Not only that, but we also know that each case is unique. We steer clear of cookie-cutter approaches and tailor your case to the circumstances that brought you to seek our help.
We value teamwork and will always work together to seek success for our clients. Our attorneys take great pride in holding liable parties accountable to make society safer for everyone.
We've recovered over $500 million in compensation for our clients.
Some of our recent successes include:
- $6.27 for victims suffering burns in an apartment
- $9.07 million for a defective fan that caused burns to a minor child
- $1.89 million for a client suffering burns from a defective Christmas tree
Our office is conveniently located just north of Sunset Memorial Park and South of Oakwell Farms at:
21 Lynn Batts Lane
Suite 10
San Antonio, TX 78218
Building and Residential Fire Compensation
It's common for injured victims to wonder how much their case is worth. While no one has a crystal ball, when you schedule a free case consultation with our firm, we can estimate what we believe your case is worth based on the known facts.
Compensation for this type of event can range depending on such factors as:
- Your injuries
- The value of your destroyed or damaged property
- Who our lawyers can hold liable for the fire
- Who owns the building
- How the first started
- The insurance policies covering the liable parties
- The amount and strength of the evidence in your case
- If you are willing to take your case to trial
Generally, the more serious your injuries are and the more damage the fire did to your house or other personal property, the more compensation you should receive.
Where Do Fires Occur in San Antonio?
Unfortunately, fires can happen in any building or home in San Antonio. No structure is immune; some are at higher risk due to their use or age.
Those more likely to experience fires include:
- Restaurants or buildings near them
- Construction sites or buildings near them
- Older homes and buildings, such as those in La Villita, Alamo Plaza, King William Historic District, and South Alamo Street to St. Mary's Street
In addition, sometimes fires can start outdoors as wildfires and overtake other buildings or structures.
The San Antonio Firefighting Division delivers fire protection, rescue services, and medical first responder service to more than 1.3 million individuals in an area of over 460 square miles. With the city's recent growth, the division handles nearly 120,000 emergency incidents annually.
Building and Residential Fires
Causes of Building and Residential Fires
Fires are one of the most devastating events that can occur in a building or residential area. They can cause significant property damage and even result in life loss.
Several factors can contribute to the occurrence of fires, and our lawyers can identify how they started and who we can hold liable for them.
- Faulty electrical wiring - One of the most common causes of building and residential fires is faulty electrical wiring. Electrical systems not appropriately installed or outdated can easily spark and cause a fire. This is why building owners need to check the electrical systems regularly by a professional to ensure they are in good condition. Not doing so can leave them liable if a fire starts.
- Misuse of heating equipment - For instance, space heaters can be hazardous if not used properly or left unsupervised. They should always be placed away from flammable materials and turned off when not in use. Even still, sometimes, when these products cause a fire, their manufacturer can be liable for creating and distributing a faulty product. Having a San Antonio building and residential fire lawyer on your side to help determine how the fire started and who should be held responsible is imperative.
- Cooking - Cooking is responsible for over 170,000 fires in the U.S. each year. People should always monitor stoves, ovens, and other cooking appliances while in use and never leave them unattended.
- Smoking and vaping - Smoking and using vape products is also a leading cause of building and residential fires. Cigarettes that people fail to properly extinguish can easily ignite and cause a fire. Smokers should always extinguish their cigarettes and avoid smoking in bed or areas with flammable materials. In addition, some vape products have overheated, exploded and started a fire.
- Arson - Sadly, arson, or the deliberate starting of a fire, is a significant cause of building and residential fires. Building owners and homeowners must have proper security measures to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering and potentially starting a fire.
Types of Injuries Due to Building and Residential Fires
The most common injuries from San Antonio building and residential fires are:
Burn injuries - Caused by contact with heat or flames from a fire or explosion, burn injuries are classified as 1st through 4th-degree burns depending on the number of layers of skin affected. The more tissues affected, the higher the degree of the burn and the longer it will typically take to heal. Doctors can also identify whether underlying bone and muscle tissue suffered damage, as well.
Inhalation injuries or lung damage - Smoke inhalation injuries often happen when a victim's respiratory system suffers exposure to direct heat from fire and toxic chemicals from smoke. Over half of the deaths from fires are attributable to inhalation injuries.
Symptoms of inhalation injuries include:
- Coughing and phlegm
- Scratchy throat
- Irritated sinuses
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or tightness
- Headaches
- Stinging eyes
- A runny nose
Death - Substantial burns and respiratory failure can lead to death from a building or residential fire.
Fighting the Insurance Company
Fires in commercial, industrial, residential, or other types of buildings or structures can cause millions of dollars in damages. It's no wonder why insurance companies fight these claims so hard. They will do anything to devalue or deny your claim, including denying any wrongdoing by their insured or belittling your severe injuries.
Insurance companies use many tactics to decrease what they pay on claims. You might think that your claim is straightforward and that it's evident that the insurance company should pay your claim. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter.
You aren't an individual to them like you are to the Wyatt Law Firm. You are another claimant they are hoping to push off and make go-away so they can pay you nothing or as little as possible for your injuries and damages. Without strong representation from a San Antonio building and residential fire lawyer on your side, it's unlikely that you will receive what you should for your damages.
However, with an attorney representing you, you have a much better chance of receiving full and fair compensation. Insurance companies know that claimants who hire attorneys are serious about getting compensation. They also know that an experienced San Antonio building and residential fire lawyer can spot their unethical tactics from a mile away and shut them down.
If you haven't hired an attorney already, it's time to call the Wyatt Law Firm if:
- The insurance company requests documents they already have
- The insurance company requests irrelevant documents—such as past medical records or employment records
- The insurance company appears to ignore you or delay your claim
- The insurance company denies your claim
- The insurance company contacts you almost immediately after the fire offering you a settlement (never accept a settlement, no matter how desperately you need the money to pay your bills before speaking with an experienced attorney)
How a San Antonio Building and Residential Fire Lawyer Can Help You Fight the Insurance Company?
If you had a fire in your building or residential area, you know how devastating the aftermath can be. Not only can fires cause significant damage to your property, but they can also result in loss of life. Turning to your insurance company or the applicable insurance company for help is common in these situations. However, sometimes insurance companies may not provide the coverage you need or deserve.
One of the many ways an attorney can assist you is by reviewing your insurance policy or any others that may apply to you in your circumstances and determining what coverage you have.
They can also help you understand what damages are covered and what your rights are as a policyholder. If your insurance company is denying your claim or not providing enough compensation, they can help you negotiate a fair settlement.
Sometimes, insurance companies may act in bad faith, meaning they intentionally withhold or delay payments to policyholders. Suppose you suspect that your insurance company is acting in bad faith. In that case, a lawyer can help you take legal action, hold them liable for their actions, and pursue compensation for your fire-related damages.
Having a lawyer by your side can help you navigate the complex process of interacting with insurance companies after a fire. They can provide trustworthy legal advice, negotiate a settlement on your behalf, and help you get the compensation you deserve. Don't hesitate to get the help of a qualified lawyer if you are involved in a building or residential fire.
What to Do After a Building or Residential Fire?
In addition to hiring an experienced attorney to handle your fire claim, you can take several other steps to ensure your claim's success.
These include:
- Following your medical treatment plan. You've likely already seen a doctor, which is an important step after any injury claim. However, following your treatment plan and doctor's advice is critical to your claim. Not doing so can be detrimental to your claim.
- Keep receipts. If you have paid out of pocket for medications, prescriptions, supplies, and other things you have needed as a result of the fire, be sure to keep your receipts so you can pursue compensation for those amounts.
- Request copies of reports. Whenever possible, obtain copies of police reports, fire department documentation, and any other paperwork related to the fire, your injuries, and property damage. These will also help support your claim.
Bring all your receipts and related documentation when you meet with an attorney. They can give you an initial idea of your rights and what your claim might be worth.
Contact Wyatt Law Firm Today
If you or someone you love suffered an injury in a fire, now is the time to hire a well-versed San Antonio building and residential fire attorney. Call us today at (210) 340-5550 or contact us online for your free case review. We can help you take the next steps.