Glen Burnie senior injured when wheel chair starts on fire

Officials at the Anne Arundel County Fire Department reported that a fire broke out early Sunday morning at a Glen Burnie, Maryland, senior citizens midrise complex on Crain Highway. The senior escaped serious injury when the wheelchair he was sitting in caught fire and filled the first floor of the complex with smoke. When firefighters arrived they found the senior sitting in the electronic wheelchair, which was on fire.

Any number of events in life can cause serious burn injuries and apparently requiring the use of a wheelchair is one of them. Although officials are still investigating the cause of this particular fire, one has to wonder if the electronic motor somehow caught on fire. Luckily for the senior, firefighters arrived in time and were able to rescue him before he was seriously injured.

If the wheel chair mechanisms malfunctioned causing the fire to ignite, it could be a case of product liability. The senior citizen was taken by ambulance to Baltimore Washington Medical Center with minor injuries however, it could have been much worse if firefighters were delayed by mere seconds. The cost of the ambulance and subsequent medical treatments can add up quickly so family members may want to watch the investigation closely.

In a case involving personal injuries that result from a defective product, the victim and family members may be entitled to compensation for injuries suffered through the filing of a product liability claim. A personal injury attorney can assist families with such a claim and help them determine the exact cause of the injuries and ensure complete documentation of product culpability and damages incurred.

Source: ABC2 News, “Senior escapes major injury when wheelchair catches fire,” May 20, 2012