Electrical Failures: Montana Lawyers Can Help Manage the Disaster

The folks of Summit Mews in Pottstown, PA, were in for a rude shock in the early hours of March 6, 2010, when an underground electrical failure burned one of the townhomes in the neighborhood. This unfortunate incident could have been averted, had the load on the cable been properly distributed and all possible leaks in the cable been plugged in time. Every year in the United States, hundreds of people die and thousands are injured in accidents involving electrical fires.

Between 1999 and 2008, on an average, there were close to 400,000 incidents of fire annually in the US, resulting in close to 3,000 civilian deaths and 14,600 injuries every year. The average damage amounted to a staggering $6.5 billion. In 2008 alone, there were more than 400,000 cases of fire in residential homes resulting in 2,780 deaths and 13,560 injuries, and losses worth $8.5 billion.

Fires Due to Electrical Accidents on the Rise

December 2008 – the rest of the United States was celebrating the festive season, as were the residents in Billings, Montana. But little did they know, an electrical fault would destroy the houses of eight families and render them homeless. In March 2009, a barn between Laurel and Billings was incinerated due to an electrical fault, resulting in damages worth $1 million. In 2008, home fires in Billings caused damages worth well over $5 million.

These numbers indicate the growing menace of fires caused by electrical failures in all types of residential buildings. In urban areas, faulty wiring accounts for more than 33% of residential electrical failures. The results, more often than not, are disastrous and costly. Electrical appliances are also a prime reason for residential fires. The appliances most often involved are electric stoves and ovens, dryers, central heating systems and televisions, among others. Consumers often overlook the early warning signs, such as overheating, short-circuit and spark.

Checklist to Prevent Fires from Electrical Failures

Protect yourself, your loved ones and your dream home from a potential disaster by following some simple steps:

• Check the lights in every room, including ceiling fixtures, and the appropriate wattage
• Check all portable electrical heating equipment for overheating. Make sure they are kept far away from combustible products. Also, make sure that the equipment carry an endorsement from a nationally recognized testing laboratory
• Check the prong adapters, especially when attaching power cords from a 3-prong adapter to a 2-prong adapter, and vice versa
• Check all electrical outlets and switches for sparks, leakage and loose wiring
• Check Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected outlets wherever installed in your home
• Routinely check all counter top appliances, small and large appliances for overheating, signs of burn and electric spillage
• Check the fuse box and circuit breaker box regularly by making sure they are of the correct size and in proper working condition

Your home is your greatest asset. If you or your friend has suffered the trauma of fire due to faulty electrical wiring or appliances, get legal help immediately. If you have experienced a similar tragedy, or have received a burn injury associated with faulty wiring, please contact an attorney, like Solomon Neuhardt for help.

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