New York, NY personal injury attorney Robert Vilensky talks about his experience in representing victims of high-rise apartment fires in New York. He notes that he has been handling apartment and fire cases for almost 15 years. In the early years, the cases were smaller, but over time, due to his experience and professional connections, the volume and complexity of cases grew. Today, he estimates that his firm handles more fire cases than any other in New York City.

For example, one fire on 181st Street in January 2021 involved over 100 people from a single building. Another, the Glenwood fire, started due to an electrical baseboard heater that had been malfunctioning for some time, despite the landlord’s awareness. He represented 75 people from that incident. Earlier, he represented 45 people in the Harlem explosion case of 2014, which involved a gas pipe explosion and subsequent fire. He served on the committee overseeing the case, which required the judge to select the most experienced lawyers for the litigation. In total, his firm represented 40 of the 260 claimants.

To date, he has likely represented between 700 and 1,000 clients affected by fires. He notes that fire cases differ significantly from car accidents or slip-and-fall cases. The impact of a fire is immediate and total: victims lose identification, money, phones, clothes, and their homes. They cannot live in their apartments, and the trauma extends far beyond material loss.

Many fire victims experience extreme psychological distress, comparable only to the trauma of drowning. Those trapped on fire escapes, forced to evacuate via narrow metal stairs while flames and smoke spread, often suffer lasting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even after relocating and regaining some stability, the sound of a fire truck or news of a fire can trigger vivid flashbacks. Victims often prepare “go bags” with essentials in case another fire occurs.

The devastation of a fire extends beyond physical damage. People lose personal belongings, heirlooms, electronics, and everyday items in seconds. Psychologically, the trauma can affect children’s school performance, cause recurring nightmares, and create ongoing fear. The combination of property loss, fear of injury or death, and psychological impact makes fire cases uniquely devastating.

In his 43 years as a lawyer, he has seen nearly every type of personal injury case. Yet fire cases remain particularly harrowing. He has witnessed burnt stuffed animals, frozen goldfish in tanks after winter fires, and the complete destruction of homes. While the physical injuries may sometimes be minor, the emotional and psychological toll is profound, often persisting long after the flames are extinguished.