New York City Fire & Explosion Injury Lawyer

Fires and explosions leave behind injuries that are unlike almost anything else in personal injury law. The burns, the smoke inhalation damage, the blast force trauma, the permanent scarring, the psychological aftermath. These cases demand a level of investigative work and medical understanding that goes well beyond the typical accident claim. At Cohan Law Firm, our New York City fire and explosion injury lawyers have recovered over $100 million for accident victims across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and surrounding areas, and we bring that same commitment to clients hurt in some of the most devastating incidents imaginable.

Where These Incidents Happen and Who Is Responsible

New York City’s dense housing stock, aging infrastructure, and heavy commercial activity create a specific set of fire and explosion hazards that are genuinely different from what you would encounter in less urban markets. Residential fires in older multifamily buildings often trace back to faulty electrical systems, landlord failures to maintain heating equipment, or blocked fire exits. Gas explosions in brownstones and apartment buildings frequently involve Con Edison pipelines, building-owned gas appliances, or corroded connections that a property owner or gas company should have identified and repaired long before anyone got hurt.

Construction sites across the five boroughs present their own category of hazard. Welding near flammable materials, improper storage of accelerants, electrical work done without appropriate precautions, and the use of pressurized equipment without adequate safety protocols have all contributed to serious fires and blast injuries on New York job sites. Workplace explosions in commercial kitchens, chemical storage facilities, and manufacturing operations also occur with troubling regularity in the city.

Liability in these cases rarely sits with one party alone. A landlord who ignored repair requests, a contractor who violated safety codes, a gas utility that failed to inspect aging lines, a product manufacturer whose equipment was defective, and a building management company that bypassed fire safety regulations can all share responsibility. Identifying every responsible party is one of the first things we do, because recovering full compensation often depends on it.

The Medical Reality of Burn and Blast Injuries

Burn injuries are graded by depth: first-degree burns affect only the surface, second-degree burns damage deeper layers and cause blistering, and third-degree burns destroy tissue entirely, often requiring skin grafts and leaving permanent scarring. Fourth-degree burns, which reach bone and muscle, are life-altering in ways that are difficult to overstate. Even burns that heal leave behind contracture scarring that can limit range of motion, require multiple surgeries, and cause chronic pain for years after the initial injury.

Blast injuries involve a different and often underestimated kind of trauma. The pressure wave from an explosion can cause internal organ damage with no visible external wound. Perforated eardrums, traumatic brain injuries from the concussive force, lung injuries from blast overpressure, and shrapnel wounds all appear in explosion cases. Victims sometimes walk away from an explosion feeling disoriented but physically intact, only to discover serious internal injuries hours later. This is one reason why getting immediate medical evaluation after any explosion, no matter how minor it seems, is genuinely important rather than just a legal formality.

Smoke inhalation is the cause of death in a significant number of fire fatalities, and survivors who inhaled smoke in a serious fire often deal with permanent respiratory damage. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause neurological effects that linger long after the incident. These are injuries that show up in medical records, in functional limitations, and in the daily quality of life of survivors, and they are injuries that belong in a damages calculation.

Building the Case: What Fire and Explosion Investigations Actually Involve

These cases do not get won on witness statements alone. A successful fire or explosion injury claim typically requires fire investigation experts who can reconstruct the origin and cause of the incident, engineers who can assess whether equipment or structures were defective, medical experts who can connect the specific injuries to the incident and project long-term care needs, and sometimes forensic accountants to document economic losses.

Physical evidence degrades quickly after a fire. The scene gets cleaned up, debris gets removed, damaged appliances get discarded. Identifying and preserving evidence early, whether through formal legal holds, independent inspection, or court-ordered access to a building or site, can make the difference between a strong liability case and one that is difficult to prove. This is not something to delay on.

New York also has specific building codes and fire safety regulations under the New York City Administrative Code, and violations of those standards are directly relevant to negligence claims. A landlord who failed to install working smoke detectors, a contractor who bypassed code requirements, a building owner who did not maintain required fire suppression systems. These failures are documented, and they matter in litigation.

When the cause of an explosion involves a defective product, the case may also support a product liability claim against the manufacturer or distributor, which opens additional avenues for recovery independent of what any property owner or contractor did or failed to do.

Questions Our Clients Often Ask About Fire and Explosion Cases

Can I file a claim if the fire started in someone else’s apartment but spread to mine?

Yes. If the fire originated due to another tenant’s negligence, the building owner’s failure to maintain fire barriers, or a defect in the building itself, you may have claims against multiple parties. Where the fire started is the beginning of the investigation, not the end of it.

What if a workers’ compensation claim already covers my injuries?

Workers’ compensation covers employees injured on the job, but it does not prevent you from pursuing a third-party lawsuit against a contractor, property owner, equipment manufacturer, or other non-employer whose negligence caused the explosion or fire. These two tracks can run simultaneously, and the third-party claim often results in significantly greater recovery.

The fire department report says the fire was accidental. Does that end my case?

Not necessarily. Fire department conclusions are relevant but not binding in civil litigation. An independent fire investigation may find evidence of negligence, a code violation, or a product defect that the initial report did not fully examine. We assess cases on their own merits, not on a preliminary government report.

How are damages calculated in a serious burn injury case?

Damages in a fire or explosion injury case typically include past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, skin grafts, rehabilitation, and ongoing care, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disfigurement, and where applicable, loss of consortium. Cases involving catastrophic injuries frequently result in substantial damages because the medical costs and life impact are severe and long-lasting.

What if a loved one died in a fire or explosion?

Surviving family members may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim under New York law. These claims can include funeral expenses, the financial support the deceased would have provided, and the loss of parental guidance or spousal support. Cohan Law Firm handles wrongful death cases arising from fire and explosion incidents.

How long do I have to file a claim?

New York’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is generally three years from the date of the incident, but there are important exceptions. Claims against New York City or another municipal entity require a notice of claim within 90 days and have their own procedural rules. Product liability claims may involve different timelines. Getting a legal review of your case early protects your ability to recover.

Does Cohan Law Firm handle cases outside Manhattan?

Yes. Cohan Law Firm represents clients across all five boroughs and handles fire and explosion cases arising in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and on Staten Island, as well as in Long Island communities adjacent to New York City.

Talk to Cohan Law Firm About Your Fire or Explosion Injury Claim

These are some of the most medically serious and legally complex injury claims that come through our firm, and we do not treat them as routine. Our approach is direct, organized, and focused on building the strongest possible case for every client we represent. If you were hurt in a fire, explosion, or blast incident anywhere in New York City, or if you lost a family member in one, we want to hear what happened. Consultations are free, we work on a contingency basis so there are no fees unless we recover compensation for you, and we are available in English and Spanish. Reach out to Cohan Law Firm to speak with a New York City fire and explosion injury attorney about your options.