Houston Plant Explosion Lawyer
PRACTICE AREAS
Houston Plant Explosion Attorney
- Chemical plant explosions
- Refinery explosions
- Industrial explosions
- Oil and gas industry explosions
What Causes Plant Explosions in Texas?
Sometimes, accidents happen. However, many cases involve negligence as the catalyst for those accidents. A variety of factors cause plant explosions, including workplace safety violations, equipment failures, improper training, and more.
A few factors that we see frequently include the following:
Human Error
Human error can take on many forms, but it often includes failure to follow proper safety precautions for both employees and management. This can include using safety equipment improperly or not at all. It can also involve a failure to ensure that volatile chemicals are safely stored. An experienced Houston plant explosion attorney can help you determine all of the at-fault parties.
Inadequate Training
It is vitally important that all plant employees undergo proper training and know how to follow safety protocols. Training is always the employer’s responsibility.
If a plant employer fails to provide proper training, he or she may be liable for any deaths or injuries of a plant explosion. After all, these employees cannot be expected to perform their jobs at an acceptable level of safety if they were not properly trained.
Manufacturer Defects
Plant workers use a variety of industrial tools and machinery in order to complete their daily tasks. They often depend on these tools to be safe.
When a tool or piece of machinery fails, it can cause a chain of events that can lead to a plant explosion.
If this happens, both the manufacturer of those tools as well as your employer may be held liable for plant explosion injuries or deaths.
Common Causes of Plant Explosions
Common causes of plant explosions in Texas include but aren’t limited to:
- Electric hazards
- Natural disasters, such as earthquakes
- Improperly maintained boilers
- Lack of proper maintenance
- Cigarette smoking
- Use of contaminated chemicals
- Unsafe conditions or procedures
- Flammable materials
- Equipment failure or malfunctions
- Corrosion of equipment or surfaces
- Poor or improper labeling of substances
- OSHA safety violations
What Causes Fertilizer Plant Explosions?
Synthetic or mineral fertilizers are highly combustible. A common component in synthetic fertilizers is ammonium nitrate. While this compound is stable when left alone, it creates a deadly reaction if exposed to something like a spark. In order for ammonium nitrate to react violently, it must be exposed to high temperatures, sparks, or flames. If stored in large quantities, the explosions become even more deadly.
Due to ammonium nitrate’s high level of danger, it is subject to very strict regulation in most locations. In fact, the United States Department of Homeland Security put rules in place to limit the sale of the compound. To demonstrate the power and destructive capabilities of ammonium nitrate, we reference the 1947 explosion of the compound in Texas City, Texas. The blast from the 2,300 tons of ignited ammonium nitrate was felt 10 miles away in Galveston and killed an estimated 581 people.
Plant explosions may result from a number of different people showing negligence. OSHA has strict guidelines for best practices, safe work environments, and responsibilities for employers and employees alike. When even one person exhibits negligence, this could lead to refinery and plant explosions.
What Happens if an Explosion Occurs Near a Power Plant?
Plant explosions near power plants can result in catastrophic injuries, long-term health effects, and property damages.
In order to prepare for the aftereffects of an explosion, we recommend following these guidelines:
- Know your designated evacuation routes and zones. Especially in the event of an explosion in or near a nuclear or chemical plant, this is extremely important. Power companies must publish evacuation information in telephone directories and online.
- If you have a disability or if you need special assistance, contact emergency or social services to ensure that you receive proper accommodations.
- Keep spare batteries handy and charge up all electronic devices beforehand. Many residential areas near power plants have sirens that indicate evacuation.
- Review siren testing schedules to stay informed on which sirens indicate an emergency.
- Depending on the severity of the incident, local or state officials will recommend one of three courses of action:
- Continue your normal activities while monitoring the news until the emergency subsides.
- Shelter in place while monitoring the news until the emergency subsides.
- Evacuate immediately. Be sure to take all necessary items, including medicines, toiletries, and personal belongings, to the evacuation area. Stick to your designated evacuation route.
- If you suffer a serious injury, seek immediate medical attention. It is imperative that you speak with a doctor as soon as possible after suffering damages. This will help our law firm tie your injuries more closely with the explosion.
What Damages Can I Sue For After a Chemical Plant Explosion?
Chemical plants are an essential part of many industries across the world. Unfortunately, they also tend to be dangerous places to work. This is why completely adhering to all safety procedures is imperative. Due to the possible severity of injuries linked to an explosion, any and all victims may be entitled to compensation.
Below, we outline the damages we will likely seek on your behalf in a plant explosion claim:
- Current and future lost wages
- Current and future hospital bills
- Any and all doctor fees
- Current and future medical bills
- Current and future physical, occupational, or speech therapy
- Home health care fees
- Medical device costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability compensation
These damages intend to reward monetary compensation for those whose quality of life suffered as a result of their injuries.
If you or someone you know suffered debilitating injuries due to negligence at a power plant, you need an experienced Houston personal injury attorney at Reich & Binstock.
My Business Lost Revenue Due to the Explosion, Can I File a Suit for Lost Revenue?
Absolutely. Many businesses have business income insurance or business interruption insurance. This provides coverage for businesses that have expenses or a loss of income due to a suspension of business operations. This suspension could be the result of physical damage caused by the explosion.
While claims for lost revenue are hard to prove, our experienced attorneys know how to get compensation for you. The negligent actions of someone else shouldn’t make your business go under.
Lost Revenue Due to a Plant Explosion
Below, we detail how we will prove that your business lost revenue due to a plant explosion.
- First, we must prove that your losses resulted from the actions of the other party. A proximate, or direct, cause must exist between the explosion and your loss of revenue.
- Then, we must establish whether or not your loss of profits was foreseeable. Could the party responsible for the explosion have foreseen that their actions would cause you to lose revenue?
- Finally, we will prove the damage within reasonable certainty. This means that, without the plant’s explosion, you would not have lost revenue.
Do I Have to Communicate with TPC or Their Adjusters?
In the days or hours after your plant or refinery explosion damages, you will likely receive a call from an insurance adjuster.
Be sure to hire an experienced Houston plant explosion attorney as soon as possible. We will help you properly prepare for your first conversation with a claims adjuster.
Here, we list our tips for that conversation:
- Stay calm. Stay polite. It is best to remain cordial with them, as getting on their good side certainly won’t hurt your case.
- Get the adjuster’s contact information. Acquire their name, phone number, and insurance company name before saying anything.
- Only give out necessary personal information. You are not required to discuss your schedule or income with an adjuster. Provide your name, address, and phone number, but no other irrelevant information.
- Adjusters will try to take a statement from you about the incident. Do not give any details regarding the incident or your injuries from it. It is always important to have your facts together before relaying this information.
- Refuse to settle right away. Companies look out for their own interests over yours in almost every case. That means you’ll likely receive a lowball offer. We will help you understand exactly how much your claim is worth and how you can get that compensation.
Is a Plant Explosion a Class Action Lawsuit?
Plant explosions are deadly, but not just for the workers at the plant. Nearby homes and residents could sustain injury or damage as well, and there could be a high number of refinery explosion victims. Negligence on the part of just one person could result in catastrophic damages. In these cases, class action lawsuits are a great option for the dozens or hundreds of lives affected. For the surrounding community of a plant, class action lawsuits send a powerful message to negligent parties. They also help to build an aggressive, strong case to recover as much as possible in damages.
Who is Liable for Plant Explosions in Texas?
- Employers have a responsibility to create safe work environments, check the conditions of the workplace, maintain all tools and equipment, and train employees properly.
- Facility maintenance crews must utilize their training and tools to the best of their abilities. Poorly-repaired equipment poses a risk if overlooked or improperly maintained.
- Industrial workers are expected to have a deep understanding of any and all machinery they work with. Employees are responsible for exercising proper judgment and use of their training to perform their job duties.
Should I File a Claim With my Homeowner’s Insurance or Speak to a Plant Explosion Lawyer First?
We highly recommend speaking with an experienced plant explosion attorney before anything else. The legal process for refinery explosion cases can be quite complex. For this reason, speaking with qualified personal injury lawyers is imperative. The legal team at Reich & Binstock has extensive experience with insurance claims, so we can help you determine the next step in your case.
What Are Plant Explosion Injuries?
The list of potential injuries in a chemical plant or refinery explosion is nearly endless.
Sometimes, these chemical plant explosions are fatal for plant workers. Others in a nearby vicinity could sustain very serious injuries.
Some common plant explosion injuries resulting from a chemical plant explosion, refinery accident, or other plant disasters include but aren’t limited to:
- Broken bones
- Blunt force trauma injuries
- Lacerations or cuts from flying debris
- Internal bleeding
- Respiratory problems from toxic fumes
- Severe head injuries and brain injuries, such as traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Severe chemical burns and burn injuries
- Long-term effects such as cancer or other illnesses from toxic chemicals
- Orthopedic injuries
Other lasting effects from these catastrophic accidents include post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other injuries or aftereffects. If you are an explosion accident victim, Reich & Binstock is standing by to offer you a free consultation about your case.
Experienced Houston Plant Explosion Lawyers
At Reich & Binstock, we know how high the stakes are. Our chemical plant explosion attorneys have handled catastrophic injury cases, as well as class-action lawsuits in the past, so we know how to get the best compensation for you. Our law firm is dedicated to recovering compensation for the medical expenses, severe injuries, and other losses that chemical explosion victims suffer.
Reich & Binstock’s chemical plant explosion lawyers have extensive experience in the field of personal injury. We have handled countless catastrophic injury cases over the years. In other words, our personal injury lawyers are standing by to represent those who work in inherently dangerous industries. If you suffered an injury as a result of negligence at an industrial plant, call our office today at 713-622-7271, or visit our website for a free consultation. All information is confidential through attorney client relationship.
There is never a fee unless we recover on your behalf.
Additionally, clients are not obligated to pay expenses if a recovery is not made.
