A faulty furnace may be to blame for an Indiana explosion that killed two people, leveled two homes, and damaged 80 others in the neighborhood.
The co-owner of the home that's believed to have caused the explosion said that a furnace problem in the home likely caused the blast Saturday. Investigators are still looking into the case and have not yet pinpointed an official cause, reports USA Today.
The explosion occurred in an Indianapolis subdivision, and a neighboring young couple is presumed to have died as a result.
John Shirley told reporters that the home where his ex-wife and daughter live had experienced recent problems with the furnace. Less than two weeks ago, they had no heat and had to spend the night elsewhere, reports USA Today.
The heat later came back on, so Shirley's daughter and ex-wife moved back in. It's unclear if any repair work had recently been done on the home's furnace. No one was home at the time of the deadly explosion.
Despite the furnace possibly causing the explosion, investigators are still treating the blast area as a crime scene, reports USA Today. Authorities have not yet ruled out the blast as being intentionally set.
In the meantime, a young couple is dead and many residents are homeless. If it is discovered that a faulty furnace was to blame, the furnace's manufacturer could potentially face significant liability for both wrongful death and product liability.
The manufacturer of a consumer product is typically held responsible for any accidents, injuries, or deaths resulting from a faulty product. However, if the blast was intentionally set or if the furnace was not properly maintained, then the manufacturer may be able to avoid liability.
Those affected in this case (and others in a products negligence case) will need the assistance of a good products liability attorney to help them recover for their injuries. Liability in a products case can be difficult to prove, and an experienced attorney can help review your options.
Related Resources:
- Deadly Indiana blast puzzles officials, residents (CBS News)
- Allentown, PA: Gas Explosion Kills at Least 3 (FindLaw's Injured)
- Top 3 Space Heater Injury Risks (FindLaw's Injured)
