The impacts of an explosion are tremendous and can have far-reaching effects on victims. In the immediate aftermath of a blast, victims are likely to experience serious injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, internal injuries, and more. These physical injuries will require medical treatment right away in order to stabilize the patient and ensure their physical well-being. While there are many immediate effects of an explosion, the long-term effects must also be considered as there can be severe adverse consequences for explosion accident victims. These long-term impacts are often overlooked or minimized during the course of an explosion accident claim. An attentive and competent explosion accident attorney will consider all factors when reviewing your case.
Here at Burg Simpson, our team of national explosion accident lawyers can help when you or a loved one has been injured in an explosion. We will look at all the evidence in your case and will stand up for your legal rights. This includes placing a value on your future well-being and considering the complications that might arise down the road as a result of the explosion. Here, we will take a look at some of the most commonly occurring long-term effects experienced by victims of gas explosions. This is intended as a general overview. For specific advice about your situation, you should contact a national gas explosion accident lawyer right away.
Permanent and Long-Lasting Injuries 
The force and impact of an explosion are both very substantial forces. Nearby individuals can be threatened both by the power of the blast as well as any projectiles, such as metal and other debris. These forces can combine to produce very serious injuries. One of the most common injuries suffered by explosion accident victims is a traumatic brain injury, or TBI for short.
The recovery from a brain injury is a long, tedious, and often unpredictable event. The nature of TBIs requires closely-monitored medical care by a specialized physician. In some cases, victims may never fully recovery and can experience debilitating symptoms for a prolonged period of time, including:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Light Sensitivity
- Balance and coordination deficits
- Memory issues
- Changes in mood and personality
- Suicidal thoughts or ideations
These impacts from a TBI can be scary and lead to an uncertain future. When attempting to settle a gas explosion claim, the cost of these negative consequences must be carefully considered before resolving the claim.
Respiratory and Other Illnesses
A gas explosion typically happens when combustible material is released into a space where it can be ignited. The released materials may be hazardous to human health. Explosions involving gas pipelines and refineries can have harmful effects when they are inhaled by victims.
Explosion accident victims can suffer serious long-term health consequences as the result of inhaling or breathing in toxic particles at an explosion scene. The September 11th attacks at the World Trade Center provide an example. Many of the WTC survivors later went on to develop serious health conditions such as lung cancer, bronchitis, asthma, and a condition known as World Trade Center cough. The connection between breathing in toxic particles from the explosion site and these illnesses has now been definitively established, with funds being established to help pay for the long-term medical costs of these victims.
While most explosion accidents are not on the scale of the 9/11 attacks, victims are still likely to experience similar effects if they breathe in harmful materials from the blast. These symptoms do not always manifest themselves right away. It may take many months or even years for respiratory illnesses to develop following an explosion. It is important for victims to be fully evaluated by a skilled medical provider in order to determine the potential for long-term illnesses due to toxic chemical exposure.
Environmental Hazards
Explosions not only have the potential to cause serious personal injuries, but they can also result in major environmental hazards. The chemicals from an explosion can easily affect the surrounding communities. An example of this is when the chemicals enter the ground and contaminate the local soil, thereby threatening the drinking water and other natural resources. The recent derailment of a train and controlled demolition at the derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio, raised concerns over the safety of the town's drinking water and forced many residents to evacuate the area. Although subsequent EPA testing confirmed that the water was in fact safe to drink, the concerns are all too common at sites where gas explosions occur.
It is often not until many years later that the resulting effects of chemical and toxic gas exposure begin to manifest themselves. Victims of gas explosions should be aware that they may experience delayed health effects as a result of being exposed to insidious sources of pollution and contamination of natural resources after an explosion. This hazard should be taken into account when resolving a natural gas explosion claim.
National Gas Explosion Lawyers
A gas explosion is a serious and potentially catastrophic event for victims. Both the short-term and long-term consequences of the explosion must be taken into account when representing clients in these cases. Simply looking at the immediate picture can result in an inadequate settlement that fails to fully compensate a victim for their losses. Here at Burg Simpson, our legal team is available 24 hours a day to provide assistance. When you or a loved one have been hurt in a blast, we have the skill and resources to fight for the compensation that you deserve.
Our firm always provides a free consultation and case evaluation for all potential and prospective clients. When you are in need of a tough and reliable firm to advocate on your behalf you can count on us to deliver the best results. We are standing by to take your call at any time and there is no fee until we obtain a recovery for you. To schedule your time to speak with one of our attorneys, please reach out to us using the link on our website or give us a call at (866) 295-6112.
