Multiple explosions and commercial fires have occurred in the greater Houston area within the first six months of this year alone. In January 2020, a terrible fire occurred at a Chesapeake Energy oil well site in Burleson County, located just outside Forth Worth, TX. The fire killed three workers and injured others, leaving behind bereaved families looking for answers.

In the wake of the deaths, lawsuits were filed by the families of the deceased employees. These victims claimed the companies were negligent and failed to provide a safe working environmental or adequate medical care to the workers. This made them responsible for all damages resulting from this tragic incident.
​Houston Communities in Harm’s Way

In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency rolled back some chemical and hazard safety regulations. Since then, there has been an uptick in the number of commercial accidents. And unfortunately for Houston residents, the State of Texas also adopts a lax approach to commercial and industrial regulations. This means that remedies for workers and bystanders who are harmed by dangerous, and often fatal, events are often left for the courts to sort out.

Government oversight sets industry standards. Regulators conduct inspections to help ensure the safety of the facility workers and surrounding communities. And with less and less regulation, unsafe conditions are arising at more and more Houston facilities. Fires at industry facilities are tragic, but they may be a sign of more similar incidents to come. In fact, there is always the potential for more explosions and chemical releases from the same plant where the fire broke out in the first place.

Should Houston Residents Expect More Industrial Accidents?

Events like the Chesapeake Energy oil well fire are serious problems and need to be addressed. The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has been called to visit plants more often during the past two years. The role of this organization is to investigate causes of disasters and issues to prevent them from occurring in the future. However, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board lacks the same type of authority that Texas Courts are empowered with. This means that the board cannot provide remedies to the injured and the family of the injured when these horrific accidents occur.

Williams Hart & Boundas helps the Houston community fight for just compensation. As injured parties yourself, or on behalf of a deceased family member, we can represent you against the company that brought you harm. We are experts who have helped 100,000 clients receive just compensation for property damage, injuries, and losses from accidents caused by the recklessness and negligence of others. Contact us today for a free consultation – we can help.