Explosion Accident Lawyer in Houston, TX

woman and man running up the stairs after accident

Due to the concentration of heavy industry in the Houston area including refineries and chemical plants, explosion accidents in the workplace are more common here than in other parts of the country. Workplace explosion accidents can leave workers with catastrophic life-altering injuries and in all too many instances, fatalities.

Without adequate compensation for the harm caused by a workplace explosion accident, you could be stuck with costly medical bills on top of painful physical injuries.

The Houston workplace explosion lawyers at The Callahan Law Firm know that these accidents can devastate the lives of injured workers and their families. That’s why we want to help you aggressively pursue full compensation for your injuries and damages. Our attorneys have over 25 years of experience helping injured workers secure the money they’re entitled to from at-fault corporations and their insurance companies.  Over the years we have a history of recovering millions of dollars for individual clients and their families.

Contact our office for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Houston workplace explosion accident lawyer.

Our Lawyers Help Victims of Explosions in Houston Workplaces

At The Callahan Law Firm, we have been fighting for the rights of injured Houston workers for more than a quarter-century. We’re prepared to help you by:

  • Investigating the accident to determine how it happened and who is responsible
  • Identifying all the potential ways of recovering compensation, including a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence, strict liability for a defective product, and gross negligence
  • Gathering evidence to support your case and document the full extent of your injuries related to the accident
  • Filing a lawsuit against those responsible for your injuries and damages
  • Negotiating a settlement, when possible, that is acceptable to you
  • Taking your personal injury case to trial and presenting it to a jury when the defendants and their insurance companies refuse to listen and be fair to you and your family.

How Explosions Happen in Houston Workplaces

In general, explosions happen at workplaces when a fuel source is ignited by a spark or flame. And with a large number of petrochemical refineries, chemical plants, and other industrial facilities in and around the Houston area, the likelihood of workplace explosions and fires is significant.

Workplace explosions however are not limited to Houston’s oil refining, chemical, and related industries. Accidental explosions can happen in manufacturing facilities, construction sites, warehouses, or even seemingly “safe” places like office buildings. A spark can trigger an explosive blast if flammable or combustible fumes are in the air. Therefore, any business that works with combustible fuel sources is at risk of an accidental workplace explosion.

What Are the Most Common Types of Workplace Explosions?

Some of the most common types of workplace explosions in Houston and throughout Texas include:

  • Petrochemical refinery explosions – Chemical plants and oil refineries use a variety of vessels, tanks, towers, piping, machinery, and heavy industrial equipment to process fuels and other chemicals into usable products. If flammable gases or liquids are exposed to a spark, open flame, or other ignition source, explosions and fires will happen.
  • Pipeline explosions – Pipelines typically contain oil, gas, or some other flammable substance that can leak and cause explosions and fires.  These leaks can result from poor pipeline maintenance, defective equipment, construction work near existing pipelines, or one of many causes which can prove catastrophic.
  • Propane tank explosions – Many businesses have on-site propane tanks for various purposes. If a propane tank is damaged, improperly maintained, or otherwise in an unsafe condition, the fuel inside can leak and then combust when exposed to an ignition source.
  • Chemical explosions – Chemicals under pressure or that are otherwise easily combustible must be handled with extreme care. A stray spark can lead to a deadly blast if it comes in contact with volatile gases or liquids.
  • Electrical explosions – Defective or faulty wiring in a workplace, whether at a refinery, chemical plant, on construction site, or on a drilling rig can cause a spark or electrical arc that leads to a blast when a combustible fuel source is present.

Common Causes of Workplace Explosions

Examples of the many potential causes of accidental workplace explosions in Houston and throughout Texas include:

  • Improper handling of flammable materials, such as oil, natural gas, and industrial chemicals
  • Unsafe storage of combustible liquids and gases
  • Inadequate maintenance of equipment and vessels
  • Failure to follow safety policies and procedures including lockout/tag-out rules
  • Inadequate training for workers handling combustible materials
  • Failure to properly clean up spilled or leaked chemicals
  • Faulty or defective electrical wiring
  • Inadequate supervision, monitoring, and inspections of work sites

Common Injuries Resulting from Workplace Explosions in Houston

Workplace explosions can cause severe injuries, either because of the initial blast or secondary physical trauma. Some of the most common types of injuries stemming from workplace explosion accidents include:

  • Severe burns
  • Damage to the lungs and respiratory system
  • Amputations
  • Fatalities
  • Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Crush injuries from workers or equipment thrown by a blast force
  • Psychological distress including PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and depression

Types of Claims that can be made for Compensation for a Houston Workplace Explosion Injury

In general, there are two different types of claims that could be available as a result of an accidental workplace explosion in Houston.

The first is a workers’ compensation claim.  This type of claim can be made when your employer carries workers’ compensation insurance and you were hurt on the job.  With this claim, the workers’ compensation insurance carrier should pay for most medical care related to your injuries and a portion of your missed wages. The benefits available through the workers’ compensation system, however, are limited and do not provide full justice to the injured worker.

The second type of claim is made by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the company or companies (not your employer) that caused or contributed to the workplace accident and your injuries.  Defendants in the lawsuit can include one or more companies that were on the work site, the manufacturer and seller of a defective product, or some other company whose negligence caused the incident and your injuries.  Claims that are made in a personal injury lawsuit can be based on negligence, strict liability for a product defect, and gross negligence.  In the lawsuit, the injured worker can seek full compensation for the injuries and damages.

Damages – in the past and future – that can be recovered in a personal injury lawsuit include the following:

  • Medical care expenses
  • Loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement
  • Mental anguish
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of consortium

Our workplace injury attorneys can tell you more about what compensation you may be able to recover for your injuries from a workplace explosion.

Contact Our Experienced Explosion Accident Lawyer Today

If you’ve been injured in a workplace explosion in Houston or anywhere in the state of Texas, The Callahan Law Firm is ready to fight for your rights. Contact our office today for a free case review with an experienced explosion accident lawyer in Houston.

Workplace Injury

What Should I Do After a Workplace Accident?

To protect your interest and your legal rights, you should take the following steps after a workplace accident occurs:

  1. Seek medical attention immediately.
  2. Verbally notify your employer about the accident as soon as possible.
  3. As soon as possible and ithin 30 days, report the accident to your employer in writing and keep a copy of the notification for yourself.
  4. Contact an experienced workplace accident attorney to discuss your legal options, which may include bringing a personal injury action, a workers’ compensation claim, or both, depending on your situation.
  5. Keep track of your time off from work, medical bills, and healthcare records.
  6. Follow your physician’s treatment plan.

Types of Workplace Injury Cases Our Law Firm Handles

The trial lawyers at The Callahan Law Firm represent injured workers in a wide array of workplace accidents, including:

Do I Need a Workplace Injury Lawyer?

Pursuing worker’s comp benefits without legal assistance can be complex and challenging, particularly when recovering from a severe injury. Retaining the services of a skilled attorney can provide the help you need to ensure you receive maximum compensation under Texas labor law.

If your employer does not have workers’ compensation coverage, or when a third party is responsible for your accident and injuries, the assistance of an experienced workplace accident lawyer is essential. Your attorney will investigate the facts of the incident to determine what happened and why, work to preserve and gather critical evidence, hire the appropriate experts, and take the necessary legal steps including filing a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible parties.

What’s the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Workplace Injury Lawsuit?

The general rule, under Texas statutes, requires you to file a personal injury workplace accident lawsuit that is based on negligence within two years of the date of the incident. You may lose your right to pursue a claim if you miss the deadline. For this reason, it is important to consult with a workplace accident lawyer as soon as possible. You’ll discover the proper statute of limitations for filing your claim and which legal path will optimize your financial recovery.

Can I Claim Workers’ Comp Benefits If I Was in an Accident at Work?

If your employer has workers’ compensation insurance and you were injured on the job, then under Texas law you can make a workers’ compensation claim and are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

If your employer does not have workers’ compensation insurance (is a non-subscriber) and you were injured on the job, your employer will only be required to pay for your medical care, lost wages and other damages, if you can prove that your employer’s negligence caused your injuries.

If the negligence of a third-party (someone other than your employer) caused your injuries, a claim can be made against that third-party for your damages including medical care expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, physical impairment, mental anguish and other damages.

Depending on the facts of what happened, you may have the right to compensation from multiple sources, including workers’ compensation benefits as well as a lawsuit against the company(ies) that caused or contributed to your injuries and damages.