Help!!! In July of 2005, the duplex my boyfriend and I, along with our two small children, were renting caught fire. We were in the dwelling when it caught fire. I was cooking in the kitchen, my b/f in the living room watching T.V. (he was disabled at the time, if that matters), my youngest baby asleep, and my 2 year old son was playing.
I started to smell something burning while I was cooking, and at first, assumed it was the food. Then, my 2 year old son runs into the kitchen, pointing franticaly at my bedroom. I looked in that direction, and the room was lit up. I ran in there and saw my closet going up in 8 ft. flames. There was a hot water heater in this closet, if that matters. I called my b/f, he came in, we tried to beat the flames out with pillows (we were panicked) for maybe a minute. We saw that wasn't working, So, I ran out of the room, grabbed my 2 babies, and ran out of the house and to a neighbor's. Told them to call 911 fast! My b/f ran out less than a minute later,
2007-04-16 10:01:39 · 3 answers · asked by a person 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
and we stood across the street, waiting for the fire dept. and watching the place go down in flames.
We lost everything. We didn't have renter's insurance. The firefighters took our statements. They asked what might have happened. I said I didn't know. They asked if we had any candles burning, lighters or matches lying around, I said we had matches. They asked if my son ever playes with matches, and if I thought he could've started the fire. I said no, I never saw him play with matches, and that I didn't think he would start a fire.
Now even almost 2 years later, we've gotten maybe 3 letters about this matter. I got one today from a law firm saying we owe almost $78,000 for fire damage caused by MY CHILD'S NEGLIGENCE in a unit leased by me and the other parent. It says if we don't make payment arrangements in the next 5 days, they will take the appropriate legal action against us.
Do they have a case? How can they prove the fire was started by my child and not an electrical
2007-04-16 10:02:37 · update #1
malfunction? I'm really worried.
Does my family have any case against the landlord, this insurance company, or this law firm?
Also, I forgot to mention an important detail. The duplex was not equipped with a fire hydrant. Had it been, we might have had a chance of putting out this fire. We live in Florida.
And I'm so thankful my family and I made it out safe and unharmed.
25 minutes ago
Sorry this is so long. The fire did not start in the kitchen, it started in a bedroom closet.
Also, I tried several times to go to the fire department and get an official fire report, but no one would help me. It's a long story, but they always seemed to be unavailable, the fire dept. would be empty, or they would give me some half a s s information about what the fire inspector's findings. No one once said to me that they determined the sure cause of the fire, or what it was.
2007-04-16 10:03:37 · update #2
Lets see if I can help here. You dont have to prove your innocence but they have to prove you were negligent in starting the fire. You may need to get an attorney, may be ale to get one thru legal aid association if you need, to get the evidence you seek. Personally I would say it had something to do with a faulty water heater but without concrete evidence,its hard to say for sure. The attorney can open doors that seem closed to you. The last person from what you wrote, I wouldsuspect started this would be your son. You can go after whoever you feel you need to but your case will have to come first. Did you two ever contact your landlord about any problems with either the heater itself or the water in your apartment? If so,did your landlord attempt to fix the problem and/or couldnt? The fire dept should have been able to trace the fire back to where it originated and figure out what exactly started it. I know this is very serious but dont really see where this could even begin to be your sons fault.. Too many things dont seem right and they are probably hoping you can be blamed somehow. Have you ever been formally charged with arson or even with neglect? If you or yours have never been charged or found guilty,I dont understand how they can sue you for costs, but then thi is Florida so this doesnt surprise me here. Dont agree or sign anything from anyone without seeing an attorney first or if you havent found one yet, let me know at thunder_wright@yahoo.com and Ill help you as much as I am allowed. Dont worry a this will turn out allright
2007-04-16 10:47:39 · answer #1 · answered by Arthur W 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
touch the fireplace branch which replied on your fireplace. while fires are from an unknown reason, it incredibly is ordinary that the police and fireplace dept request an arson examine. The Arson examine Unit would desire to enable you to have a replica of their document, and conclusions, for submission to the courts and insurance firms in contact. in spite of in case you probably did no longer have renters insurance, they might desire to nevertheless supply you a replica of the document. in the experience that your hire contract demands which you carry renter's insurance, then you definately have been for sure in violation of the hire. If the hire did no longer require you to hold insurance, then the owner of a house would desire to be sensible sufficient to hold it. discover out who's suing you...the owner, or the insurance business enterprise. And BTW? it's time to discover a criminal expert. examine which comprise your interior reach criminal help society.
2016-10-22 08:24:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact a lawyer. Call around and I bet you can find one willing to help you fairly inexpensively.
2007-04-16 10:08:46 · answer #3 · answered by sierra33ok 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋