An explosion accident can be a devasting experience. Long-lasting injuries such as chemical burns, lung damage, vision loss, limb amputation, permanent scars, and even death can occur in a blast. There are many different types of explosions that occur in the United States, including:
- Natural Gas
- Butane
- Propane
- Methane
- Mechanical Explosions
If you were hurt in an explosion accident, you are likely feeling very overwhelmed. An explosion can cause you to suffer physical disabilities and can result in extensive and costly medical care. You may be out of work for a long period of time as you recover from your injuries. All of this can add up to seriously affect your life.
At Burg Simpson, our national fire and explosion accident lawyers are here for you when you have been injured. We will hold the negligent parties accountable and get you the compensation that you deserve. Besides seeking safety immediately afterward, there are some key steps that you should take to improve your situation following an explosion accident.
Seek Medical Treatment 
Following an explosion, victims must seek medical treatment right away. Many injuries sustained are life-threatening and will require immediate critical care.
There are four types of blast injuries:
- Primary: A primary injury normally takes place following a high order or HE explosive. An HE explosive is similar to a combat weapon such as a bomb or nuclear weapon. HE explosives are also found in certain workplaces where demolition and detonation occur. A primary injury from an HE explosive happens when the body makes contact with the pressurized wave from the explosion. Typical primary injuries include traumatic brain injuries or TBI, abdominal or internal injuries, and vision or hearing loss.
- Secondary: Secondary blast injuries occur because of flying debris and other objects from an explosion. Any part of the body, including extremities and other external and internal body parts, are at risk depending on the speed and force of the debris.
- Tertiary: A tertiary injury happens when an individual is thrown by the force of the blast itself. Brain injuries and TBIs commonly occur in this setting. Broken bones and other crush-type injuries are also possible.
- Quaternary: Any injury not caused by one of the three mechanisms listed above is considered a quaternary injury. This includes burns, broken bones, exacerbation of pre-existing conditions, long-term injuries, and other ailments which are directly related to or result from the blast.
After your initial treatment, you should meet with your doctor regularly for any scheduled follow-up appointments. You should follow all recommendations at your discharge and subsequent appointments. Doing so ensures that your recovery is not delayed or setback by further complications from the blast.
Do Not Speak to the Insurance Company
Fire and explosion accidents normally happen because someone was negligent. Whether you were hurt on the job, at home, or out in public, it is likely that one or more individuals could have prevented the explosion from occurring.
Cases involving explosions also normally involve insurance companies. Companies that are charged with handling and storing explosive materials normally have very comprehensive insurance policies with policy limits in the millions of dollars. Although they should do the right thing, insurance companies often refuse to pay a fair value for legitimate chemical explosion claims. Their motivation is to save money for the company and to pay as little as possible.
Following a natural gas explosion accident, you may receive a call from an adjuster. The adjuster will want to take your statement and ask about all the details of your natural gas explosion claim, including exactly what you were doing when the explosion occurred. They will seek a release of your medical records and may even offer to settle your case right away.
This is where many people make the mistake of accepting an offer. Injuries caused by explosions are often serious and require ongoing medical care. The initial settlement offer does not usually take into account the full cost of your damages, including your future medical treatment.
Contact a National Explosion Accident Attorney
While the insurance company is not likely to help your situation, a national explosion accident attorney works for you. Being hurt in a serious accident is a difficult and traumatic experience. In general, explosion accident victims could be entitled to the following compensation:
- Reimbursement of Medical Bills: If you were hurt, you should receive reimbursement for all of your medical and prescription costs, including all necessary initial and follow-up procedures.
- Pain and Suffering: Explosion accidents lead to tremendous pain and suffering, often leaving victims in a debilitated state. For legal purposes, juries and insurance companies will place a value on the amount of pain and suffering you endured in the days, weeks, and months after the blast.
- Lost Wages: Many explosion accident victims are forced to miss a substantial amount of work while they are recovering. The time that you are out of work is a compensable expense.
- Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are awarded in order to punish a bad actor for especially negligent or reckless conduct. These damages are not given in every case but are reserved for the worst and most reckless instances of negligence.
- Loss of Consortium: Some states allow a victim's spouse, partner, or family member to bring a claim for loss of consortium. These claims seek to recover for the loss of affection, society, and companionship of the injured person.
- Funeral and Burial Bills: Sadly, a blast explosion may be a fatal event. If your loved one was killed in an explosion, you may be entitled to recover expenses associated with funeral and burial or cremation.
There are many types of damages available to those who have been affected by a fire or gas explosion. Having an experienced nationwide explosion accident attorney by your side is a crucial piece to obtaining the compensation that you deserve.
At Burg Simpson, our attorneys have recovered more than 2 billion dollars in damages for injured victims. We offer free consultations for all potential clients. Your time to act may be limited. To see how we can help, give us a call now at (888) 295-2080.
