Proving Fault in Fatal Electrical House Fires

Electric failures are a common cause of house fires. Electrical systems are designed, installed, changed, and repaired by people who sometimes make mistakes. An error causing a fire may be so serious that it could be the basis of a lawsuit seeking compensation for injuries, deaths, and property losses.

Lawsuits involving house fires can be complex because we need to find the fire’s cause and who is responsible. Don’t let that stop you from talking to a Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorney if you believe your injury or a loved one’s death was caused by a fire started by negligence. We can be reached at (855) 385-9532.

House Fire Caused by Electrical Problem Kills 13-Year-Old from Ashland

These types of house fires happen every day in the US. All too often, someone inside doesn’t survive. An example is a recent fire that happened in Ashland.

Seven people were inside a house that caught fire in March, including five children. Firefighters found thick smoke, flames, and Brooklyn Johnson trapped in a bedroom. They pulled her out through a window and rushed her to the hospital, but she didn’t survive, according to WCHS. The fire, which spread to two other buildings, was caused by an electrical problem, according to an investigation.

How Often Do Electrical Malfunctions Cause House Fires?

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) tracks fire data across the country. They report that from 2015 to 2019, for each of those years:

• Fire departments responded to about 46,700 home fires caused by electrical problems, or 13% of all home fires
• These house fires killed an average of about 390 people and injured about 1,330. That’s about 15% of deaths and 12% percent of injuries to non-first responders 

About $1.5 billion in damage was caused to homes and property annually during this time frame. 

How Do Electrical Problems Cause House Fires?

The NFPA states that the most common electrical problems involved the following:

•  49% Electrical distribution, lighting, and power transfer equipment
• 15% Cooking equipment
• 9% Heating equipment
• 6% Fans
• 3% Air conditioners
• 3% Clothes dryers

Home fires caused by electrical failures or malfunctions primarily involve arcing, an unintentional electrical discharge. With enough time and current, arc faults can produce enough heat to start a fire. Arc faults can be produced by the following:

• Worn-out receptacle contacts
• Damaged conductors and connectors
• Frayed appliance cords
• Loose connections in junction boxes or on electrical devices
• Faulty switches and receptacles

Arc faults may happen anywhere in a home and involve virtually any electrical fixture or equipment. Aging electrical systems in older homes can cause arc faults, through the following:

• Normal wear and tear
• The systems can’t handle the increased demands of modern appliances and other devices

Electricity flows along the path of least resistance, which is normally the shortest path. A short circuit happens when current flows through an unintended, shorter path instead of following the intended circuit. It may or may not produce an arc. Short circuits from defective and worn insulation caused 14% of civilian home fire deaths. This can be caused by:  

• Electrical cords pinched by doors or furniture
• Repetitive flexing of appliance cords
• Damaged wiring inside walls from nails, screws, or drill bits that puncture insulation
• Electrical cords under carpets that become worn

A lawsuit or insurance claim against a responsible party can’t go forward unless the cause of the fire is known. Given the possibilities, this requires an investigation by an expert in house fires and their causes.

Who Might Be Responsible for a House Fire Caused by Electrical Problems?

It depends on the cause of the fire and who set it in motion through their negligence.

That may be you if you did defective electrical work on your home or overloaded your electrical system. If you performed work on your electrical system that didn’t meet building codes, or it required a building permit and inspections that were never obtained, you risk your homeowner’s policy insurer denying your claim.

If you aren’t the problem, it could be any number of people or parties, including the following:

• If you were renting your home, the landlord may have known about bad wiring or broken electrical parts and failed to fix them. If an outside company were hired to manage the property and keep tenants safe, they may be responsible
• An electrical contractor who did substandard electrical work in your home may have caused the problem
• If an unsafe and defective product, appliance, electrical panel, or wiring started the fire, companies that made, distributed, and sold it may be responsible
• If your home was built with cheap or unsafe materials, the builder may be to blame

 Identifying the cause of the fire is critical to determining who may be legally responsible. Those responsible may have insurance coverage available to compensate those harmed. If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, we are prepared to pursue your claim in court and present your case to a jury.

When Should I Contact Satterley & Kelley, PLLC?

Time is critical after a fire. Evidence needed to determine the cause of the fire and identify those who may be responsible can be lost during cleanup, as damaged materials are removed and discarded before they can be examined.

 Your home may need to be partially or completely demolished before it can be repaired or rebuilt. During that process, wiring, electrical panels, appliances, and other critical evidence may be removed, discarded, or destroyed. Once this evidence is lost, it can become much more difficult to determine what caused the fire, identify those who may be legally responsible, and pursue the compensation available to those injured or to the families of those who lost their lives.

If Satterley & Kelley, PLLC gets involved early, we can:

• Take photos and videos of the fire scene before anything is moved or cleaned up
• Bring in fire experts who know how to read clues in the debris and who may collect relevant evidence, which may determine what went wrong, why, and who’s responsible
• Talk to witnesses while they still remember what happened
• Work with local or state fire marshals who may conduct their own investigations
• Deal with your insurer if they’re not paying your claim, dragging their feet, or trying to shortchange you

Waiting too long might result in losing the chance to prove your case. That is why calling us right away is so important.

Lawyers Experienced in Kentucky Injury Law

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys take on insurance companies and win when house fires caused by electrical failures injure and kill innocent people. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars for victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death settlements and verdicts.

Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.