Deadly Fires and Explosions

California and Nevada Fatal Fire Attorneys

Explosion and Fire Wrongful Death

Fires caused by carelessness pose a grave risk of death. Between one and two million Americans need medical attention for burn injuries every year. Four thousand five hundred Americans will die from burn trauma in 2007. Two Americans die of a burn-related injury every three hours. The burn injury specialists and wrongful death attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have represented the survivors of parents, spouses, children and domestic partners killed in accidental house fires, commercial fires, industrial explosions and work-related tragedies.

Many hazards can cause fatal burn injuries. In the industrial setting, hot or molten liquids are often the most frequent culprit. In the home setting, frayed or defective electrical wiring, defective electrical appliances, water heaters, furnaces or natural gas leaks may cause fires or explosions that take the lives of home occupants.

Third degree burns, the most severe type of burns, often lead to infections that may ultimately prove fatal even with optimal treatment. Other fatal complications that may result from burns include dehydration and anesthetic complications during skin grafting or debridement.

If a member of your family has sustained a fatal burn injury, regardless of how the injury occurred, call the professional burn injury wrongful death attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger. We have handled fatal injury cases for more than 45 years. Our experience is extensive. We have the resources and the skill to make certain that those who are left behind are cared for, and properly compensated.

Examples of burn injury cases we have handled in the past include the following:

Residential Fire - $1,500,000 Settlement

Our premises liability team represented the mother and father of a 23-year-old college student who needlessly and tragically died when the rented apartment in which he slept, owned by a Bay Area landlord, burned because the landlord negligently left a sofa over a floor furnace and failed to equip the home with functioning smoke detectors. Our attorneys proved that the landlord, who owned more than 60 properties, had failed to make required and proper inspections, and to make certain that smoke detectors were in working order. After the fire, our attorneys, through investigators, demonstrated that not a single operational smoke detector was present on the second floor of the dwelling unit where our clients' son perished. The settlement, in the amount of $1,500,000, was paid by the insurance company for the property owner.

Propane Explosion - Wrongful Death of 4 Year Old/Injuries to Parents

- $52,000,000 Jury Verdict -

On January 20, 1996, at approximately 6:30 a.m., an explosion and fire occurred at the temporary residence of a Nevada family. In the explosion, the family's daughter aged 4, was killed. Her parents and her 5-year-old brother were badly burned. Walkup's fire and explosion wrongful death litigators proved the fire and explosion were the result of a liquid petroleum gas leak when the father attempted to light a furnace which had gone out during the night. The subsequent fireball entrapped all four victims and completely destroyed the 8 x 30 foot travel trailer the family was using as a residence. After three difficult years of litigation, the case proceeded to trial where the jury returned a unanimous verdict awarding the family a total of $52,135,000.

If a loved one has died because of injuries sustained in a fire or explosion, or complications resulting from burns, contact our burn injury wrongful death lawyers today. Make an appointment for a free consultation. toll-free 1.888.732.8897.

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The wrongful death attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger represent the families of wrongful death victims in California and Nevada including the cities of San Jose, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Fresno, San Mateo, Walnut Creek, Concord, San Rafael, Napa, Redwood City, Stockton, Modesto, Los Angeles, San Diego, Reno, Las Vegas, Elko, Carson City, and Tahoe.