Detroit, MI (February 25, 2022) – A house fire ended the lives of an elderly couple on Thursday morning, February 24. The fatal incident happened on the west side of Detroit at around 8:15 a.m.
The Detroit Fire Department is currently investigating the double-fatality that occurred on Cherokee Street near 8 Mile Road and Telegraph Road. Reports indicate that the blaze was extremely large with very heavy smoke.
Firefighters who responded to the scene found the two elderly people, a man, and a woman, inside their house. The two were the only occupants of the single-family home.
When firefighters arrived, the woman was found already deceased while the man was still alive and fighting for his life. He was transported to an area hospital where he later died.
Investigators said it appeared that the fire started in the basement, and does not seem to be arson-related. It remains unclear whether there were working smoke detectors in the house.
An investigation into the circumstances of the fire is ongoing.
We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased at this time.
Structure Fires in Michigan
In the United States, over a quarter of the fires reported from 2015-2019 occurred in home environments. In addition, about 75% of civilian fire deaths and almost 75% of reported civilian injuries related to fires during that same time period were related to home structure fires. Firefighters in the United States responded to more than 346,000 home structure fires every year in that same five-year period.
When victims lose their lives in serious fires, their surviving family members are often left to grieve and pick up the pieces. Severe burns and smoke inhalation are usually factors that contribute to the deaths of victims. Sometimes both of these things combined can take a person’s life. Surviving family members usually find themselves stuck with medical bills and funeral costs. They may even be without a source of income they once relied on.
Negligence can be the main cause of a fire. For example, a landlord who did not obey fire safety laws or an employer who did not use proper safety regulations. In this case, a deceased victim’s surviving family members may be able to collect financial compensation for the loss of their loved one. Compensation can cover some or all of the costs associated with their family member’s death.
Unfortunately, landlords, property managers, and insurance adjusters dedicate a lot of time to minimizing the payouts that families deserve. A wrongful death attorney in Michigan may be able to help you if you have recently lost a loved one in a fire. An attorney will ensure that you are not taken advantage of by anyone and that you are able to collect full and fair compensation for the death of your loved one. A lawyer will also help you hold negligent parties responsible for their actions.
Detroit Wrongful Death Attorneys
The Detroit wrongful death attorneys at Michigan Legal Center specialize in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Our firm is made up of a highly experienced team who works hard to recover fair compensation for our clients. Over the years, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Our job is to make sure that you’re able to recover not only financially, but also emotionally and physically. The well-being of our clients is one of our first priorities.
Contact Michigan Legal Center at your earliest convenience to be connected with a skilled and compassionate attorney. One of our lawyers will be able to inform you of your existing legal rights surrounding personal injury law. You deserve to be fully compensated If you have recently been injured or lost a loved one due to another person’s negligence. You can reach us at (248) 886-8650 to see how we can assist you to obtain the best outcome for your case.
Note: Our firm utilized outside sources when creating this post. We have not independently verified the facts regarding this accident. If you find information that is incorrect, contact Christopher Trainor & Associates immediately so that we correct the post to reflect the most accurate information available about the accident. This post can be removed upon request.
Disclaimer: This information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. The photograph used in this post was not taken at the actual accident scene. This post is not a solicitation for business.