The Legal Chronicle
Sugar Mill Apartments Fire in Gulfport, MS Tragically Claims One Life, Two Other People Injured. (WLOX.com)
Could the death and injuries from this apartment fire have been prevented and are justice and compensation available to the victim’s family? Our firm represents victims of fire safety negligence across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $200 million dollars for our Clients. Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.
Local News
An apartment fire in Gulfport, MS Tuesday morning, May 21, 2024, tragically claimed one life and injured two others.
As reported by SunHerald.com, “[t]he structure fire happened at Sugar Mill Apartments, a 2-story, 58-unit complex on Mill Road. [the fire Chief] said the call came in at 10:24 a.m. he responded with seven units and 24 firefighters.”
WLOX.com is reporting, “firefighters witnessed the victim being carried out of a burning first-floor apartment unit by two other residents. The victim was first taken to Memorial Hospital and was then life-flighted to another hospital where he died from his injuries.”
According to the report, “two neighbors who helped the victim also suffered injuries — one suffered from smoke inhalation and the other received a burn on his hand. The fire happened Tuesday just after 10 a.m. The flames were extinguished in less than 20 minutes.”
Fire inspectors continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
Is Justice Available? Our Legal Take
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As authorities continue their investigation, premises liability attorneys with The Murray Law Firm question whether a lack of fire safety measures at the complex may have contributed to this incident.
- What fire safety measures, such as working smoke detectors, fire sprinklers and emergency exits, were in place and working at the time of the fire?
- When was the last fire inspection performed on the property?
- Were any safety measures added after any previous inspections?
- Was the property owner aware of any inadequate fire safety measures present prior to the fire?
As details of this fire continue to emerge, The Murray Law Firm suggests that it is possible that the apartment complex failed to undertake proper safety measures to protect those residents and guests legally on the premises. Under certain State law, the owner and management company of an apartment complex have a duty to protect residents and to keep the premises safe. If the owner or manager fails in this duty, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths that occur as a consequence. Should the apartment complex be found at fault, the family of the deceased victim may elect to hold the owner and management company civilly liable for their loss and suffering.
As insurance companies and unscrupulous property owners are often concerned with limiting their financial exposure in these incidents, it is crucial that the family of the deceased victim and any injured victims retain an experienced premises liability firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as a faulty fire alarm or a poor evacuation plan, is preserved and the families best interests are protected. The Murray Law Firm has extensive experience in premises liability and apartment negligence cases, such as this, and we offer our legal expertise, if needed.
If anyone has information to share, or if anyone is seeking information regarding this incident, please contact us at 888.842.1616.
OUR RESULTS: NEARLY $200 MILLION IN VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS FOR OUR CLIENTS
The Murray Law Firm has a long history of representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have obtained nearly $200 Million in verdicts and settlements for our Clients, including:
- A $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property.
- Settlement in excess of $10 million dollars for a victim of gun violence at an apartment complex.
- Settlement in excess of $10 million dollars for a family who lost a loved one to gun violence at a commercial property.
We offer our legal assistance, if desired. We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888-842-1616. Consultations are free and confidential.
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