Denver Fire, Explosion and Electrical Accident Lawyers

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "Question", "name": "May Colorado’s state government be held liable for injuries or deaths caused by a prescribed fire?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The 2012 General Assembly added a seventh waiver of sovereign immunity, waiving claims against state government entities only, for injuries resulting from a prescribed fire started or maintained by the state or any of its employees on or after January 1, 2012. The waiver is to negligence claims and prohibits application of strict-liability theories against the state.[1]" } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are some of the main causes of a house fire?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It is important to know the multiple causes of a house fire because they may be extremely dangerous to both people and property. The Colorado River Fire Rescue states that unattended cooking, improper maintenance of heating equipment, smoking materials, electrical fires and candles are the leading causes of house fires.[2] It is important to have an escape plan that has been practiced to help keep you and your loved ones safe." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I be liable if a firefighter was injured putting out a fire at my residence?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Colorado has rejected the “fireman’s rule.”[3] The “fireman’s rule” bars lawsuits of professional rescuers from collecting damages that occur in the course of their duties, even in clear cases of negligence by other parties. In Colorado, civil servants are not deemed to have assumed all risks of injury by responding to an emergency. Police officers and firefighters are owed the same duty of reasonable care as that of a private citizen.[4]" } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "If I am injured in a house fire and the firefighters are not at fault who could be liable for my damages?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Fires may be caused by natural disasters such as lightening, earthquakes or tornados. If you have homeowners insurance you will most likely be covered under fire protection due to natural disasters. Fires may also be caused by the negligence of someone that was in your home. If this is the case, the homeowner may file a lawsuit against the negligent party to recover damages for injury or property. Furthermore, a fire may be caused by a defective product, such as a dryer, heater or power strip and the manufacturer of the product may be liable under a product liability suit." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "When will strict liability be imposed if I start a fire?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Strict liability is imposing liability on a party without having to prove fault. The plaintiff must prove that the injury occurred and that the defendant was responsible. Colorado has enacted two situations in which strict liability will be imposed on civilians for setting fires.[5] The first is any person that starts a fire to any woods or prairie that causes damages to another person will be held strictly liable.[6] The second is that railroad companies are strictly liable for all damages from fires caused by operating a railroad in the state of Colorado.[7]" } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "If I set a fire on my own premises but it damages my neighbor’s property will I be held liable?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In Colorado, where a property owner sets fire on their premises, absent any statute to the contrary, they are not liable for damage to the property of another caused by the fire unless they were negligent is controlling or starting the fire.[8]" } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "If I am injured by a blasting accident will the defendant be strictly liable?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Colorado follows the Restatement rule, which imposes strict liability on one who carries on abnormally dangerous activities.[9] Colorado has characterized blasting as an abnormally dangerous activity, therefore, the showing of negligence is not essential to establish liability of a party who uses explosives on their land.[10] Additionally, where the blasting causes damage to the property of another because of moving debris or rocks, or by vibration, there will be strict liability for the damage.[11]" } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "What are some of the common causes of electrical accidents?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Electrical accidents may be caused by old wiring, electrical cords that run under carpet, flammable materials left by exposed wiring, loose connectors, poor wiring, and lack of preventative devices such as a ground fault circuit interrupters." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Who may be liable if I am injured in an electrical accident?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If a defective product, such as a heater, has injured you the manufacturer of the product may be liable. If faulty wiring has injured you, the employee that installed the wiring or their company may be held liable for negligence. Additionally, if you are in a public place and you are injured by faulty wiring, the public entity or the power company may be liable for negligence." } }] }