Since summer is just around the corner, many friends and families are starting to gather around backyard fire pits. While this can be a great way to create lasting memories, it’s important to be aware of the dangers that come along with them. If you’re not careful, you could easily find yourself in the middle of a personal injury lawsuit.
Murphy, Falcon & Murphy in Baltimore, MD, possesses over 70 years of experience in personal injury law, and we’ve handled many personal injury claims over burn injuries throughout that time. Here are some tips from our accident attorneys on how to avoid backyard fire pit injuries and personal injury lawsuits:
Supervise Children at all Times
This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s important to stress nonetheless. Kids are often drawn to fire, so they must be supervised at all times while around the fire pit. Murphy, Falcon & Murphy advises that you instruct children to stay at least 10 feet away from the fire. Negligent supervision is a prevalent cause of fire pit burn injuries, so you can never be too careful.
If someone's child sustains burn injuries from a backyard fire pit, they may be able to file a personal injury claim against the property owner. It's best to work with a reputable accident attorney, such as Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, to handle the process of filing personal injury claims.
Prevent Intoxicated Persons from Getting Near an Open Fire
If someone has been drinking, it’s best to keep them away from the fire. Not only can this help prevent accidents, but it can also help to avoid personal injury lawsuits. It is more difficult to prove that the property owner is liable for burn injuries if the injured party was intoxicated at the time of the accident. This is because intoxicated persons are more likely to be considered at fault for their injuries. To avoid any potential legal trouble, it’s best to just keep intoxicated persons far away from the fire.
Disclose Your Fire Pit to Your Homeowner’s Insurance Company
It is very important to disclose your fire pit to your homeowner’s insurance company upon purchase. This way, you can be sure that you are covered in the event someone is injured or the property is damaged. Without proper insurance coverage, you could be held liable for any injuries or damage that occurs.
Check with Your Local Fire Department or Municipality
Before using a fire pit, it’s always best to check with your local fire department or municipality, since some areas do not allow fire pits due to the risk of wildfires. If a fire pit is not allowed and someone suffers from burn injuries as a result, the property owner could be held liable. Coming from our years of experience with personal injury law, Murphy, Falcon & Murphy knows that it’s always best to err on the side of caution and check with your local authorities before using a fire pit.
Have a Working Fire Extinguisher
This is a must-have for any backyard fire pit. Murphy, Falcon & Murphy advises that you have a working fire extinguisher on hand at all times and that you know how to properly extinguish fires and dispose of ashes and embers. People can sustain burn injuries from ashes and embers long after the fire has been extinguished, so it’s important to be aware of this danger.
Don’t Throw Anything into the Fire
Never throw any flammable materials, gas, or other accelerants into the fire. This is a surefire way to cause an accident. Even if you think the fire is out, ashes and embers can stay hot for hours or even days after the fire has been extinguished. If you must dispose of flammable materials, be sure to do so in a safe way, such as in a metal container. People may file personal injury claims if they are burned by embers or gas, so it’s important to take this safety precaution as a property owner.
Know the Wind Conditions
It’s best to avoid having a fire on a windy day, as this can cause ashes and embers to spread and people or objects to catch on fire. If you do have a fire on a windy day, Murphy, Falcon & Murphy advises having guests sit on the upwind side of the pit to keep clear of the smoke. Even though you can't control the weather, it’s important to be aware of the wind conditions and take necessary precautions to avoid burn injuries due to flying embers.
Proper Fire Location
Keep your fire pit in an open area away from buildings and trees or other flammable materials. If someone is injured as a result of a fire that was too close to a flammable object, they may file a personal injury claim against the property owner. As an accident attorney, Murphy, Falcon & Murphy knows that it’s important to take all safety precautions to avoid such accidents.
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By following these simple tips, you can help to prevent any accidents or burn injuries that may occur as a result of using a backyard fire pit. However, if you or someone you know has been injured, be sure to find a reputable personal injury lawyer, such as Murphy, Falcon & Murphy in Baltimore, MD, to discuss your legal options. Get help when you need it the most. Contact Murphy, Falcon & Murphy to learn more.