Las Vegas Wrongful Death Fire Attorneys

Arson is a very common crime in cities like Las Vegas. Unfortunately, it is a widespread event that is still worrisome, since it causes damage, injures people, and can even take their lives. In legal terms, causing a fire due to carelessness or negligence, endangering the life, physical integrity, or property of a person is a crime, and the offender is punished by civil means with full reparation to a close relative of the victim of all the damages caused, as well as by criminal proceedings, the person responsible can face years in prison.

When it comes to causing a fire, the law allows the agent to be held responsible in two ways, willful or negligent. Nevada law provides that the plaintiff can only be criminally liable when he commits a crime in the intentional modality, that is when the agent intends to produce the result. In turn, there is the possibility of making the agent responsible in the culpable modality only for the cases expressed by law. A fire caused on purpose will be intentional, which means that the agent causes the fire consciously. The death of a loved one is a very painful tragic event for family members, even more so when it occurs unexpectedly, taking them by surprise. Wrongful death by fire is undoubtedly an event that requires professional legal support, which will have the ability to help you, or another family member navigate the sudden death of a relative.

WHAT IS WRONGFUL DEATH FIRE?

The concept of wrongful death, in principle, is quite simple. After all, as its name suggests, it is any death caused by an accident. However, what is considered an “accident” is what may be open to interpretation if an insurance company is acting in bad faith. Wrongful death by fire is caused by an unforeseeable event.

This type of death occurs when you commit a negligence or irresponsible act that caused a third party to die from a fire-related incident. This lawsuit takes place when, due to the unjust death of a person, his relatives decide to take civil action to claim damages for what happened, this does not mean that they cannot also pursue criminal action for this fact. In Las Vegas, it is usually the surviving spouses, children, or family members who file this lawsuit after losing their loved ones.

WHEN IS A WRONGFUL DEATH BY FIRE CONSIDERED?

Several situations can lead to a wrongful death by fire. A person, business, or another type of entity that acts negligently or carelessly and causes a fire that ends up causing the death of a person, may be subject to a lawsuit.

The most common situations and accidents that can lead to a wrongful death by fire are described below:

• Electrical systems and equipment in poor condition
• Throw away cigarettes that are not entirely extinguished
• Heat sources, stoves, or fireplaces that have been left on
• Matches and candles
• Worn or damaged cables
• Products with defects
• Short circuits
• Storage of flammable liquids in inappropriate circumstances
• Car accidents
• Accidents on a construction site

HOW TO ACT IN CASE OF FIRE

1. Turn off machines or equipment,
2. Activate the alarm, alert people, nearby, and seek help,
3. Do not leave tools or materials on the road that may hinder the movement of other people,
4. Do not return to pick up any objects,
5. Touch the door with your hand. If it’s hot, don’t open it. If it’s cold, try this: open the door slowly and stand behind it. If you feel heat or pressure coming out of the opening, keep the door closed,
6. If you can get out, breathe through your nose, in rapid inhalations, and crawl to the exit since the air is purer near the ground,
7. Do not use the elevators. I went downstairs. Only go up if it’s impossible to go down. Fire and heat always go upwards. A reasonable fire may cause power to the elevators to be cut off. Close all doors behind you,
8. Trapped inside a room, throw anything that can burn easily out the window: curtains, rugs, chairs, plastic, etc. With the help of a table lying down, facing the fire, protect yourself from radiated heat, which spreads in a straight line,
9. Stay dressed and wet your clothes, if possible,
10. Locate an emergency exit. Look for the nearest exit and stand with your back to it. That way, it will be possible to escape faster in an emergency. Always keep your back to the exit, so that you can easily locate yourself and not get disoriented when leaving,
11. After evacuating the property, contact emergency services as soon as you are safely out. Even if you can extinguish the fire, you must call the fire department in case of any unforeseen events. In addition, the fire brigade will also be able to inspect whether the fire has been put out correctly.

WHO CAN FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH FIRE LAWSUIT IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA?

Nevada law states that only the deceased person’s heirs and/or a legal representative of the deceased person’s estate can file a wrongful death fire lawsuit. The people who can request a lawsuit for wrongful death by fire are presented in detail, and they can be:

• Heirs in a direct line, such as the surviving spouse or domestic partner
• Heirs in a direct line, such as surviving children
• Heirs in a direct line, such as the parents of the deceased, if there is no surviving spouse or children
• A legal representative of the estate of the deceased person, in case there are no relatives in a direct line

WHO MAY BE LIABLE FOR A WRONGFUL DEATH FIRE?

A person, an establishment, and even a government entity can be responsible for wrongful death by fire, due to negligent or intentionally premeditated actions. These types of claims are quite complicated, so the guilt of the case must be duly proven and supported to achieve a positive result for the plaintiff.

WHAT DAMAGES CAN A RELATIVE RECOVER WITH A WRONGFUL DEATH FIRE LAWSUIT?

According to the laws of Las Vegas, Nevada if you lose a loved one due to a wrongful death by fire you can receive compensation for all the losses that this event involves, for this reason, it is advisable to hire an attorney immediately.

Economic Damages:

• Burial expenses
• Funeral expenses
• Medical expenses by the victim before death
• Loss of income of the surviving family member

Moral damages:

• Pain and suffering caused
• Emotional stress and traumas

NEVADA WRONGFUL DEATH FIRE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

A time limit is established in Nevada through its statute of limitations, within which a period is designated to file wrongful death fire lawsuits. This lawsuit may be filed in a court in this state within two years of the date of death of the deceased person. If the claim is not filed within this time, it is most likely that the relative of the deceased person will lose the right to do so and therefore, receive compensation for the death of their relative.

HOW CAN A LAWYER HELP IN A WRONGFUL DEATH FIRE LAWSUIT?

A wrongful death fire attorney can help the victim’s family members by:

• Granting free counseling to the relative(s) for their case.
• Establishing communication channels with insurers
• Identifying the person(s) responsible for the fire
• Investigating the location where the fire occurred
• Documenting all losses due to death
• Keeping a detailed record of expenses
• Representing the interests of the party in mediations or the court

CONTACT A WRONGFUL DEATH FIRE ATTORNEY IN LAS VEGAS

If you need information about wrongful death fire claims or you are looking to get a free consultation to clarify your questions, call Heidari Law Group today at 1-833-225-5454. Facing a situation like this is very difficult for anyone since the death of a loved one is a very painful experience. Our firm has a team of attorneys specializing in US wrongful death claims who have all the knowledge necessary to represent you and get you compensated for the loss of your family member. Also, you don’t have to worry about canceling our fees in advance, since our contingency fee allows you to cancel us only when we have achieved a result for your case. Contact an experienced Las Vegas wrongful death fire attorneys today.