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Explosions

Oilfield Explosion Attorneys in Corpus Christi

Representing Injured Victims & Their Families throughout Nueces County

On January 20th, an explosion occurred at the Southcross Energy natural gas plant in Gregory. Fire and clouds of smoke could be seen from miles away. Pipelines were shut off after the explosion erupted, but it still took two hours for the fire to die out as the smell of natural gas spread throughout the area. Fortunately, there were no reported deaths in the accident. Authorities have begun an investigation to determine what caused the explosion, though some believe it was caused by a defective valve.

With the large amount of energy production and chemical processing in the state, gas and fire explosions are a frequent risk to workers and communities. If you have been injured by an explosion, you should contact an attorney to see if you can get compensation for your damages. Oil production and processing facilities can be extremely dangerous, so they are tightly regulated and have high safety standards. If a facility was violating standard safety procedures when the explosion occurred, you will likely be entitled to compensation.

Contact the Corpus Christi oilfield explosion attorneys at Bandas Law Firm, P.C. for a free consultation regarding your case. Call (361) 238-2789 or submit an online inquiry form to get started.

Workplace Injuries

If you are injured at work, whether you are a gas and oil employee or not, you are entitled to workers’ compensation. If this happens to you, you should immediately inform your employer as well as begin the application for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation will provide for your medical expenses, as well as a portion of your wages but generally restricts your ability to sue your employer for additional damages. There are a few exceptions to this, so you should always contact a workers’ compensation lawyer after being injured in a gas or fire explosion.

Temporary Worker Injuries

In the past, temporary workers have had less protection in cases of workplace injuries and often were not given the same type of safety training as full-time workers. This has recently changed, and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is being stricter with companies that fail to protect their temporary workers from gas and fire explosions.

Last month, OSHA issued 13 citations to a Mississippi company after a compressed gas explosion killed one temporary worker and injured another. The two workers had received no safety training and were completely unaware that a tank next to their working area contained dangerous and explosive gases. OSHA requires that companies always train and educate workers about the risks if they are working close to compressed gases. The gases involved in the Mississippi accident, hydrogen sulfide and methane, are both explosive and dangerous, but these deaths may have been prevented if better training was offered.

If you are a temporary worker who has been injured on the job in gas and fire explosions, you should contact one of our Corpus Christi oilfield explosion and fire attorneys immediately. We will help you investigate what happened and see if workers’ compensation or a personal injury suit is available to you.

Common Causes of Oil Refinery Accidents

If you have been injured in a refinery accident caused by the negligence of another party or due to inadequate safety procedures, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit for financial compensation.

Some of the most common causes of oilfield and oil refinery fires and explosions include:

  • Faulty equipment
  • Negligent subcontractors
  • Poor safety procedures
  • Defective products
  • Poor maintenance of pipes, valves, and joints
  • Corrosion
  • Metal fatigue
  • Improper repair welds

You may have been told that your only available form of recovery for a refinery accident is workers’ compensation. This may not be true. If you have suffered injuries due to third-party negligence, you may have a basis for compensation through a civil lawsuit.

Oil Refinery Fire & Explosion Injuries

Possible injuries resulting from involvement in an oilfield or refinery fire or explosion may include:

  • Burn injuries
  • Permanent disfigurement
  • Head or neck injuries
  • Loss of limbs
  • Fractures or broken bones
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Brain damage
  • Death

Past Fire & Explosion Accidents in the Oil Industry

In March 2005, a fire and explosion occurred at BP’s Texas City refinery in Texas, killing 15 workers and injuring more than 170 other people. As a result of this refinery accident, BP was fined for hundreds of safety violations and charged with criminal violations of federal environmental laws. The company was additionally fined for failing to implement safety improvements following the disaster.

In September 2010, a gas pipeline run by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. exploded in California, resulting in devastating loss of life and property. According to authorities, eight people were killed in the pipeline explosion, dozens more were injured, 38 homes were destroyed, and 17 homes were deemed uninhabitable. Gas and oil pipeline explosions are relatively rare, but when they do occur, the consequences are typically catastrophic.

Liability in Oil Fire & Explosion Cases

When oil companies fail to follow federal safety regulations or take shortcuts to save or make more money, they put the lives of their employees at unnecessary risk. If you have suffered injuries resulting from a pipeline explosion on the job, contact the Corpus Christi oilfield accident attorneys at Bandas Law Firm, P.C. today. In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, you may be entitled to financial compensation, which you can recover by filing a personal injury claim against the negligent party. With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can protect your rights and collect the compensation you deserve.

Call our office at (361) 238-2789 or fill out and submit an online contact form today. Se habla español.

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