Understanding more about electrical fires

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Premises Liability, on Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Massachusetts residents might benefit from understanding more about the most common causes of electrical fires. The U.S. Fire Administration estimates that more than 28,500 electrical fires occur in the country each year, resulting in approximately 1,100 injuries and over 300 fatalities annually. Due to the increased use of lights and heating appliances, December and January are the typically the months with the highest number of electrical fires. The majority of the fatalities result from fires that started in the den, family room or living room. However, the majority of the fires actually originate in the bedroom. House fires typically occur from homeowners overloading extension cords and or electrical outlets. Most fires ignite from an appliance failure or defective outlet within the home. Frayed wires and cords, as well as defective switches or receptacles, are some of the most common causes of these fires. Fires are often caused by a worn cord igniting nearby a combustible surface, like the curtains, a rug or the floor. Removing the ground plug for convenience starts a fire because the cord can overload an outlet it was not designed to it fit in. Defective lamps, bulbs and light fixtures are the other most common causes of fires in the United States. Many people cause fires by misusing or overusing extension cords to compensate for having a mismatch with the outlet. Space heaters and old wiring are also attributed to a significant proportion of the fires occurring in the U.S. Anyone with serious injuries caused by a fire started from defective wiring or poor construction may benefit from contacting legal counsel. A lawyer may be prepared to investigate the incident and help identify any parties who may be culpable for the resulting injuries.