Elevators can be deathtraps during a building fire. Such was the case with a 32-year-old Chicago woman when she was killed while returning to her building, unaware that a fire raged in an apartment above. The woman’s mother has filed a wrongful death claim in the case.
The victim was returning to her apartment building on the morning of January 8 with her breakfast when, not knowing that a fire was in progress on a floor above, she boarded the elevator. The door opened on the twelfth floor, and immediately the woman was hit with 1500 degree heat from the blaze. She was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning and inhalation of smoke.
A cause of the fire has not been released, but the couple in whose apartment the fire originated apparently propped their door open to allow their terrified cat a chance to escape as they, themselves, fled. City fire codes have been in place since 1957 that require doors opening into common hallways to close automatically. It was this propped door that led to the victim’s death.
The victim’s mother has filed a lawsuit against the building management on several points. For one, there was no sprinkler system in the building. The building was exempted from this requirement on the understanding it would be fitted with other fire safety equipment. On another point, the building did not have a fire alarm or a system to disable the elevator in the event of a fire. Finally, the mother contends that management should have warned her daughter as she entered the building that there was a fire in one of the units.
Eventually the couple whose apartment caught fire will be named as defendants as well, according to the mother of the victim. She is seeking over $50,000 in damages.
Wrongful death suits can be challenging, since the plaintiff is generally the victim, and therefore cannot testify. Experienced legal representation is the key to the success.
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence or fault of another anywhere in Ohio, contact the lawyers at Slater & Zurz LLP for a FREE consultation by calling 1-800-297-9191. You may also send a Blog Message to schedule a time to talk that is convenient for you.
To learn more about wrongful death, please visit www.slaterzurz.com.
January 26, 2012
Wrongful Death