Man Dies in Fire at Norfolk, VA Cleaning Business

Rick is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

10/6/2011
Richard N. Shapiro
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Man Dies in Fire at Norfolk, VA Cleaning Business

A fire at a Norfolk, Virginia (VA), cleaning business that claimed the life of a 25-year-old man leaves plenty of unanswered questions about who is to blame.

The blaze broke out in a business on Campostella Road on the morning of October 5, 2011, the Virginian-Pilot reported. Firefighters entered a warehouse building and battled thick smoke and flames inside the building, according to the Pilot Investigators, and found a tent-like structure. Authorities are considering the possibility that people were living or sleeping in the structure.

View Larger Map of the site of the fire

Our thoughts are with the family of the victim in this terrible incident. As experienced Virginia personal injury attorneys, my colleagues and I have seen a number of fatal fires in cities such as Norfolk, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, VA.

This case also raises liability issues. In a case where people are sleeping in industrial premises, the owners could face a wrongful death lawsuit. The cause of this fire is not yet known, but warehouses are generally not suitable places to sleep because they can contain a number of hazardous substances and lack some of the safety features of hotels or apartments.

The need to safeguard residents against a fire risk was recently illustrated at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, when the authorities banned students from using fireplaces in historic rooms after an inspection found problems such as cracks in the chimneys.

The duty of an employer to protect employees from fires, was recently illustrated by a $27 million settlement made by a power company to the family of a man who died in a cage in a burning smoke stack in West Virginia (VW) along with two other workers who were trapped.

Alternatively, if defective equipment has caused a fire a manufacturer could be liable. Our experienced Virginia personal injury attorneys have reported on the considerable numbers of fires caused by space heaters, as many as 25,000 house fires a year. Even in our own homes, if the fire has been caused by a piece of defective equipment the manufacturer may be liable for damages.

DM

Category: Wrongful Death

Labels: accident Attorney blaze Campostella cleaning equipment faulty fire flames injury investigation lawyer liability Norfolk personal Shapiro sleeping smoke tent VA Virginia warehouse

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling wrongful death cases. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if your family member or loved one was killed as a result of someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Form since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms.

Our VA personal injury firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential case consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

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Man Dies in Fire at Norfolk, VA Cleaning Business

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