Wednesday, July 24th, Los Angeles Fire Department found a person dead inside a burning home in Boyle Heights.
Just after midnight LAFD was called to a vacant one-story home at 121 Mathews Street, near Pennsylvania Avenue. When they arrived there was heavy flames and smoke, which required them to use several hose lines to extinguish the flames. It took 24 minutes and the work of more than 30 firefighters to knock down the fire.
LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange said that after the fire was put out a search of the residence revealed a body. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Prange said that LAFD Arson investigators will investigate the cause of the fire and learn more details about the fatality.
Legal Options Available to the Family of the Deceased
“Learning about the death of a loved one is always difficult, but especially when the circumstances of their death are shrouded in mystery,” says Gerald Singleton, attorney of Singleton Schrieber, “I have faith that the LAFD and LAPD will work swiftly to identify the deceased, notify their family, and uncover the circumstances that lead to their death.
“As a personal injury attorney, I understand the emotional and financial impact an unexpected death like this can have on a family. The family may, however, have legal recourse, and though it will not bring their loved one back, it can help provide them with financial support to lay their loved one to rest.”
The death of a loved one, especially the unexpected death, can be difficult. However, in this case, the family may be able to file a wrongful death claim for the loss of their loved one, depending on the circumstances. The possible liable parties may include:
- The property owner – they may be held liable if they neglected to maintain a safe environment on their property. This can include not having proper security or fire prevention measures in place.
- The electric company – they may be held liable if the fire was caused by an issue that the electric company failed to address, such as faulty wiring or other dangerous electrical issues.
- Manufacturers – if an appliance or piece of equipment caused the fire due to being defective, the manufacturer of the appliance or equipment may be held liable for causing the fire.
- Previous occupants – if previous tenants left hazardous materials that caused the fire, they may be held partially liable.
- Contractors or maintenance workers – they may be held liable if they performed faulty repairs or improperly installed equipment or appliances which then caused the fire.
Determining the at fault party can be a complicated process, and it may be that multiple parties may share responsibility for causing the fire.
If you lost a loved one to a fire, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact the attorneys at Singleton Schreiber to learn more about your options. Call (619) 771-3473 or email info@singletonschreiber.com to get started today.
