Petrochemical plants and refineries play a central role in the economy in and around Houston. While there are tremendous economic benefits that come with these facilities, there are also significant risks. When fires or explosions occur, the results can be catastrophic.
If you were hurt in a plant explosion, now is the time to consider your legal options. A dedicated personal injury attorney from Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP can review your injuries and help you understand your chances for financial compensation. Before you attempt to resolve your claim alone, schedule a consultation with an experienced Houston plant explosion lawyer.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Sustained in a Petrochemical Plant Explosion?
Serious injuries are commonplace following a fire or explosion in a plant or refinery. Even non-fatal injuries are likely to have permanent, life-altering consequences for those involved. After a chemical plant explosion in Houston, an attorney from our firm could help you seek justice for various injuries.
Severe Burns
The most common injuries stemming from this type of catastrophic accident are severe burns. Second- and third-degree burns can leave you with nerve damage, scarring, and a higher risk of future infections. You may also face a costly period of rehabilitation following the accident.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are also common in an explosion. They can occur as the result of being struck in the head by flying debris. Alternatively, you could be hurt if you are thrown to the ground and strike your head on concrete. Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries can lead to an array of unusual health consequences, from changes in your sense of smell to personality shifts. These injuries may also bring emotional distress, as psychological trauma is common among explosion survivors.
Spinal Cord Damage
An impact to your head, neck, or back could result in spinal cord damage. This is a catastrophic injury that could lead to partial or total paralysis. It can be difficult to immediately diagnose spinal injuries after an explosion if victims sustain severe external wounds.
Bone Fractures
Explosions can damage other bones in the body besides the spine. Bones throughout your body could fracture or break upon impact if you are thrown by the blast or struck by flying objects.
When you have sustained serious injuries, you need a lawyer you can trust to advocate on your behalf for maximum compensation. Our team is always trial-ready, and we will not stop until we achieve a favorable outcome. These orthopedic injuries can lead to chronic pain and, in some cases, permanent injuries.
Pursuing Options for Compensation
The circumstances surrounding your injuries will ultimately determine what paths toward compensation are available to you. If you were hurt in a plant explosion while at your workplace, you may have a workers comp claim, a lawsuit, or both depending on who is responsible. This is usually not ideal, as workers’ compensation benefits will not cover everything that you could claim in a personal injury lawsuit. Victims can seek economic damages such as medical expenses, future medical expenses, and lost wages, along with non economic damages for emotional distress and pain and suffering.
However, many employers in Texas are non-subscribers, meaning that they have opted out of the workers’ compensation system. Texas is the only state where private employers do not have to carry workers comp. In that scenario, you have the right to sue your employer and seek damages based on your injuries. Other third parties, including contractors, manufacturers, or companies responsible for defective equipment, may also be held liable in plant explosion cases.
The owners and operators of a refinery are not protected by workers’ compensation laws when the injured party is not an employee. The reality of chemical explosions is that the damage can extend well beyond the boundaries of chemical plants, industrial plants, or oil refineries, harming nearby residents and injured workers alike. You have a right to pursue legal action if you were injured in a blast.
Understanding the legal options available in a plant explosion injury claim can be difficult without help. While we only handle personal injury claims, an experienced attorney from our firm in Houston can provide advice and guidance for all legal options after a refinery explosion. If a loved one was tragically killed, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim or wrongful death lawsuit that can include financial support and funeral costs. Negligent companies can face punitive damages when they ignore safety procedures and safety regulations.
Speak With a Houston Lawyer About Your Plant Explosion Injury Claim
If you have been seriously injured in a refinery explosion, it is vital that you consider your legal options as soon as possible. Texas law generally gives you up to two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit, but some claims have shorter or different deadlines, so it is important to talk with a lawyer as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation, but pursuing these claims on your own is a risk you should avoid.
Experienced attorneys often conduct independent investigations, work with established expert networks, and use evidence from OSHA and other safety regulators to determine what happened and why companies failed to protect worker safety. These investigations may examine OSHA violations, inadequate training, defective equipment, pressure valves, improper storage, corrosion, chemical releases, industrial processes, and whether workers were exposed to hazardous or toxic, flammable, or combustible chemicals. Lawyers can also take immediate steps to preserve evidence, such as sending preservation letters, seeking court orders for inspections, or, when appropriate, requesting Temporary Restraining Orders. One misstep could cost you the damages you deserve, and Texas uses a modified comparative fault system where your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault, and you may be barred from recovery if you are found more than 50% responsible for the incident. Reach out to a Houston plant explosion lawyer today to learn more.