Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Two men apparently died in a recent fire at a 16-story apartment building on Chicago’s South Shore Drive. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, a man in his 30’s and a 50-year-old both suffered a massive heart attack as a result of smoke inhalation. Both were reportedly found on the seventh floor of the building and later pronounced dead at local hospitals. A woman also allegedly suffered a heart attack in the lobby of the building. After paramedics performed CPR on the woman, she was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center for further treatment. Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford stated one firefighter suffered minor injuries while battling the unexpected blaze.
According to Langford, the extra alarm fire broke out on the seventh floor of the building and spread to the eighth floor. At least ten ambulances were reportedly summoned to the scene as firefighters used ladders to battle the blaze on one side of the building and rescue building occupants on the other. It allegedly took less than an hour for firefighters to put out the flames.
The damaged building is reportedly one of hundreds of residential structures erected prior to 1975 that has no fire sprinkler or internal communication system installed. In 2004, a Chicago ordinance required the owners of all such buildings to install modern safety measures by January 1, 2012. Unfortunately, that deadline was later extended to January 1, 2015. Tom Lia, Executive Director of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, stated much of the fire damage at this particular building could have been prevented by a sprinkler system.
Although most of those injured in this tragic case suffered smoke inhalation, many people are burned in building and other fires each year. In fact, the American Burn Association estimates that about 450,000 Americans required medical treatment for a burn injury in 2011. More than half of those burned reportedly required hospitalization and about 3,500 died as result of their burns. Approximately 68 percent of individuals admitted to a specialized burn center were purportedly hurt at home. In addition, about 10 percent of severe burns occurred at work and seven percent resulted from a traffic accident.
Burn accidents may be caused by building fires, electrical accidents, car wrecks, scalding, and industrial accidents. Sadly, the victim of a serious burn will normally require long-term medical care. If you were severely burned due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to collect compensation for your pain, suffering, loss of income and benefits, medical expenses, and other damages. Contact a skilled personal injury attorney to discuss your options for recovery.
If you were the victim of a burn accident, you should call Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 475-9596 today. Our experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to help you file your case. For a free consultation with a hardworking and diligent personal injury attorney, do not hesitate to contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
More Blogs:
Pedestrian Traffic Deaths in Chicago Spiked in 2012, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, January 28, 2013
Without the Help of an Accident Lawyer, Insurance Companies in Illinois Have the Upper Hand When Settling Personal Injury Claims, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, January 25, 2013
Additional Resources:
Victims in fatal South Side fire identified, by Bridget Doyle and Patrick Svitek, Chicago Tribune