A structure fire is easily one of the most unexpected things that you can experience in Houston, Texas. However, burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in the United States. The odds of a person dying from smoke or fire stand at just under a staggering 1 in 1,500.
Leading causes of residential electrical fires
While electrical fires account for only around 6% of residential fires, 24,000 total residential electrical fires occur per year. Of those fires, 77% stem from some sort of malfunction or unexpected short circuit. The most common sources are:
- Malfunctioning outlets or appliances
- Extension cords
- Lights
- Space heaters
- Wiring
Aside from the potential misuse of any of these products, a short circuit frequently occurs due to defects within the product or their associated wiring. Although the majority of those treated in an emergency room from burns will survive, there exists the chance that these defects will cause significant pain and suffering over some time for the victims. A personal injury attorney could help you recover compensation for the losses that you have sustained.
Who is at risk?
Sadly, children under the age of 15 suffer nearly one quarter of all recorded burn injuries. In these burn injury cases, children younger than 5 experience a risk of hospitalization nearly two and a half times greater than that of the general population, and burns are one of the top five causes of death for all children under 9 years of age.
Residential fires are a serious concern with lasting consequences. Even non-fatal fires can cause substantial injury and damage, and electrical fires commonly result from issues that the homeowner would have no knowledge or forewarning about.
