Fire Escape Accidents
Fire escapes are a lifeline for people who need to flee from the upper stories of apartment buildings, office buildings, and other high rise structures. While the name suggests that they are only used in the rare chance of a fire, sometimes occupants may resort to using fire escapes to get away from hazardous chemical spills, criminal activity, or other dangerous activity.
In these desperate moments, people rely on being able to negotiate a fire escape to secure their safety. If a fire escape fails to offer a safe route out of the building and to the ground, occupants may find themselves stuck in a hazardous situation or may be injured while trying to escape.
Typically fire escapes are structurally sound and reliable in an emergency as we expect them to be. Sometimes however, a fire escape may not be used for many years and may become loose or otherwise unsafe to support people. An unsuspecting occupant may jump onto the fire escape and become injured by slipping and falling or by dropping several stories to the ground. Alternatively, a pull-down fire escape may rust and become stuck, leaving the occupant with no safe way out. Any of these scenarios could result in severe injuries or even death for a person attempting to escape.
When a fire escape fails to deploy or becomes structurally unsound, someone may be held liable for any injuries or damages that occur as a result. A fire escape should be regularly and properly maintained to ensure that it is safely used. A property owner who fails to keep fire escapes maintained could be liable for malfunctions. Likewise, a maintenance worker who failed to properly inspect and fix any problems with a fire escape may also be legally responsible if an accident occurs.
Contact Us
If you have been involved in an accident with an unsafe fire escape, you may be entitled to compensation for injuries and damages. For sound legal advice and assistance with your fire escape accident claim, please contact Austin personal injury lawyer Vic Feazell, P.C. today at 877-948-4842.
