Man Hospitalized After Jumping from Burning Apartment Complex on the North Side

According to a KSAT News report, a person was hospitalized after jumping from a second-story window of a burning apartment complex this week.

SAFD reported the fire started around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24th, at an apartment complex in the 3900 block of Barrington Street. The fire was reported on the first and second floors of two units, but they are investigating to determine if other units were affected. A person jumped from the second-story window of the complex and was hospitalized for injuries from the fall. Two others were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

The affected units were without power and gas at the time of the report. The initial investigation indicated the fire was started by unattended cooking, but the official cause has not been released. The investigation is ongoing.

---

Did You Know?

More people die from smoke inhalation than burns in a fire.

---

Can You Sue for Smoke Inhalation Injuries in San Antonio?

When most people think of fire-related injuries, they imagine burns. But smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death in fires—and it can cause life-threatening damage, even without a single burn.

Whether you’re a tenant, a worker, or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, you may be entitled to compensation if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence.

What Is Smoke Inhalation?

Smoke inhalation occurs when you breathe in harmful chemicals and toxic fumes during a fire. These toxins can cause serious injuries such as:

• Upper airway injuries

• Lung and throat irritation

• Chemical damage to the respiratory system

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Oxygen deprivation (asphyxiation)

Many of these injuries require emergency care and long-term treatment—and some result in permanent health damage or death.

Can I File a Personal Injury Lawsuit for Smoke Inhalation?

Yes—if someone else’s negligence led to the fire or unsafe conditions that caused your injuries, you may have a case.

To successfully file a personal injury claim for smoke inhalation, you must prove four key elements:

1. Duty of Care – The person or business owed you a responsibility to act safely (e.g., a landlord maintaining fire-safe units or a manufacturer designing a safe product).

2. Breach of Duty – That person or company failed to meet that standard (e.g., ignored fire hazards or produced a defective product).

3. Causation – Their failure directly caused the fire that led to your injury.

4. Damages – You suffered harm as a result (medical bills, missed work, property loss, or emotional trauma).

Example: Faulty Space Heater Fire

Imagine this scenario:

A defective space heater in a neighboring unit sparks a fire. The fire damages the building and fills the hallway with smoke as you flee. You suffer from serious smoke inhalation and require hospitalization. An investigation reveals the heater had a known design flaw that caused it to overheat.

In this case, you likely have grounds to sue the product manufacturer for negligence—and possibly the property owner if they failed to address the fire hazard.

Injured in a Fire in San Antonio? Call Shaw.

If you or a loved one was injured by smoke inhalation or fire due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• ER Visits and Hospitalization

• Ongoing Medical Treatment

• Lost Wages

• Pain and Suffering

• Property Damage

• Mental Anguish

• And More

Let us help you find out if you have a case—at no cost to you.

Call Carabin Shaw at 800-862-1260 to schedule a free consultation with a smoke inhalation injury lawyer in San Antonio. There are no fees or obligations—just the expert legal advice you need from a firm Texans have trusted for over 32 years.

We look forward to serving you.

¹KSAT Report

²NFPA on Smoke Inhalation