Faulty Wiring May Be Responsible for Hialeah House Fire
A news report suggests that bad Christmas lights might be to blame for a house fire that destroyed a home early on Dec. 10. The owner of the home, Roberto Gonzalez, told Miami’s Local 10.com that he and his wife awoke at about 1:30 a.m. after they smelled smoke. The couple managed to grab their children, ages four and five, and escape the fire, but nearly everything in the home was destroyed. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the station reported the fire started near the family’s Christmas tree, and that a firefighter told Gonzalez that a faulty cord was probably to blame.
According to the American Red Cross, bad wiring (including wiring of electrical appliances) is a leading cause of house fires. With strings of lights appearing every day in honor of the holidays, that’s worth keeping in mind. When a string of Christmas lights or another electrical device comes with bad wiring, it’s a defective product just like a tainted food product or a child’s toy with lead paint. Florida law holds manufacturers of defective products legally liable for any injuries, deaths and financial damages the product flaws cost. Even if the manufacturer didn’t know about the product’s flaws, those who are hurt as a result may still fire a Florida product defects lawsuit.
House fires that take place at night pose special dangers, because the residents of the home are almost always asleep. If they don’t wake right away and can’t be rescued quickly, they can inhale so much smoke that they are unable to wake at all -- causing death from lack of oxygen, burns or very high temperatures. If rescuers get victims out in time, those victims may still have serious injuries, including brain damage from asphyxiation and serious burns. These are physically, emotionally and financially devastating injuries that often lead to permanent disabilities or disfigurement.
This family was fortunate enough to wake up in time to escape without serious injury, but they have still lost everything in their home -- a difficult prospect at any time of year. If it turns out that their fire was caused by a product with unsafe electrical wiring, they would have the right to sue the product’s manufacturer for their financial losses, including missed wages from time off work as well as the loss of their property. Our firm, Cohn, Smith & Cohn, has handled many such Florida defective products claims. If you or someone you love is in a similar situation and you believe it may be due to a defective product, we would like to help. To set up a free consultation with an experienced South Florida attorney, contact us today.
