Firefighter Smoke Inhalation Disease Lawyer In NYC
Burn injuries are not the only major threat to the safety of a firefighter who enters a blaze. Smoke inhalation poses a serious risk of injury or death to anyone working in the vicinity of a fire. Firefighters receive extensive training to protect themselves and their fellow crew members from the dangers of smoke inhalation, and they also use equipment, such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), to guard against this hazard. Despite these efforts to ensure safety, firefighters continue to be injured and killed by the inhalation of smoke and vapors.
According to U.S. Firefighter Injuries – 2010, a study published by the National Fire Protection Association, inhalation of smoke or gas vapors is listed as causing 1,500 firefighter injuries in 2010, which accounts for 2.1 percent of all injuries reported in the study. The effects of this type of injury may be immediately apparent in severe cases, but a firefighter often will not manifest symptoms of an illness caused by exposure to chemicals in the smoke for many weeks, months, or even years after the initial exposure. Whether you have been diagnosed with a respiratory illness or cancer that you believe may have been caused by the cumulative effect of fumes and smoke you have inhaled during the course of your career, or if your family has lost a loved one to asphyxiation or airway collapse caused by breathing smoke, you can come to The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny for help.
Fighting For Compensation
There are several possible scenarios in which you may be entitled to sue for monetary damages in connection with smoke inhalation in the line of duty. If the accident was caused by faulty equipment such as a malfunctioning SCBA, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. If another firefighter or your superior in the department caused the accident through a violation of an applicable statute, ordinance, or rule, you may have grounds to sue under General Municipal Law §205-a. Many New York firefighters have been diagnosed with illnesses resulting from inhaling smoke while working at ground zero, and if this is true in your case, you could be eligible for benefits through a 9/11 Zadroga claim. Contact our firm today for a free consultation to review your options and begin working on a strategy for your case.
