Apartment Explosion Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Nobody really thinks about their home exploding, but sadly, this happened at an apartment in Orange County on March 1. A woman inside the apartment was badly burned, dying a week later. Her family is now filing a wrongful death lawsuit to warn others about the situation.
The explosion occurred on the morning of March 1, just a few minutes after the woman arrived at her unit at Woodhill Apartments. The blast caused her to suffer third- and fourth-degree burns on more than 40% of her body.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed on April 2. The suit alleges wrongful death, blaming the property owner, manager, and gas service provider. Named in the lawsuit are SPT Wah Woodhill LLC, Highmark Residential LLC and the Lake Apopka Natural Gas District. It seeks damages in the loss of earnings from the day the woman was injured to when she died, as well as the loss of income to her family as a result of her death. The lawsuit asks for all medical and funeral expenses to be paid and demands a jury trial.
The lawsuit claims Orange County fire crews located an unplugged natural gas line in the woman’s laundry room. Gas allegedly leaked out of this unplugged natural gas line, causing the fatal gas explosion. Investigators are still trying to confirm if the unplugged line was the cause of the explosion.
There apparently is some history behind the gas leak. The lawsuit mentions years of complaints regarding the smell of leaking gas in the 600 building of Woodhill Apartments, where the woman had signed a lease just two weeks prior.
This natural gas line was not plugged when the woman and her family began their lease. In addition, another gas line in the woman’s apartment remained unplugged for weeks even after the explosion.
This is a sad situation. The woman’s husband said that he, his wife, and their three children moved to Florida two years ago for a “new beginning.” The man has been barely eating and sleeping since his wife’s death.
Making matters worse is that the explosion could have been prevented. There were four calls to Woodhill Apartments between January 1, 2023, and March 5, 2024, regarding a gas odor. Also, since January 1, 2023, Lake Apopka Natural Gas District has received 54 total calls regarding potential gas leaks within the community. The company claims to have followed proper procedures in response to every call.
Contact a Wrongful Death Attorney Today
Unfortunately, a catastrophe can happen at any time, causing serious injuries or death. Something like an explosion can be caused by various factors.
Who is at fault? A Tampa wrongful death attorney from Moore Law can help you deal with such a traumatic experience. Let us assess your case and get you the compensation you deserve. Fill out the online form or call 813-510-5400 to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
clickorlando.com/news/local/2024/04/03/wrongful-death-lawsuit-filed-after-explosion-at-orange-county-apartment/
