Did you or someone you love get injured in an industrial explosion? If it was due to someone’s negligence, you may have the right to collect compensation. Contact Burg Simpson to find out more and get a free case evaluation.

When an industrial explosion occurs, a blast wave is transmitted outward. This wave can cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities to those in the area along with considerable property damage. The amount of energy that is released during an explosion usually results in debris flying through the air as well as fire, both of which can cause death and destruction.

Although jobs in the industrial sector require skilled labor, tend to pay very well, and are good for the economy, they come at a very high price to those who work them. Industrial jobs are dangerous. These employees are exposed to workplace hazards on a regular basis. Unfortunately, those in management roles tend to be more focused on the company’s bottom line rather than ensuring the health and safety of their workers. Infractions ranging from poor supervision and insufficient training to outdated facilities and defective safety equipment all contribute to treacherous industrial working conditions that end up causing industrial explosions.

In many processing, manufacturing, and industrial plants throughout the United States, there are machinery, gasses, chemicals, and other combustible materials that could ignite and produce an explosion if they are not properly stored and correctly used. Explosions at manufacturing and industrial plants are almost always preventable.

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with other state-specific agencies are tasked with regulating the handling and storage of volatile materials, chemicals, and other workplace dangers. Manufacturing and industrial plant explosions are generally attributed to an employee, a vendor, or a company being improperly trained, using incorrect or unmaintained equipment, or violating regulations.

If you or a member of your family were severely injured during an industrial explosion that was caused by another person’s indifference to safety or general negligence, contact the industrial explosion attorneys at Burg Simpson for a free review of your potential claim. We can help you pursue the financial compensation to which you are entitled.

How Do Industrial Explosions Happen?

An industrial explosion is a combination of heat/ignition plus an energy source. Together, they create gas, which as it expands produces a combustion that is released quickly into the surrounding atmosphere. For instance, a sealed liquid might boil and produce steam when it is heated. As the steam starts to take up more space than the liquid, the amount of pressure inside the container will continue to increase until the container admits defeat in the form of a violent explosion.

The majority of industrial explosions are ignited with an open flame, such as sparks from hot machinery, or by electricity. Even static electricity can cause an explosion.

In an industrial setting, even dust particles floating in the air can explode. Combustible dust usually contains metal or organic particles that are finely ground. When this dust is ample in both concentration and quantity, the friction caused by the particles making contact in the air could generate enough heat to ignite. When combustion of this nature is confined to an enclosed space, such as a building, a room, or within a piece of processing equipment, the dramatic increase in pressure can result in an industrial explosion.

The five leading causes of industrial explosions in the United States are:

  • Hot work: Torch cutting, welding, brazing, and soldering can all create molten materials and flying sparks, both of which can easily reach temperatures of more than 1,000⁰F. They can travel over 35 feet and are capable of igniting an energy source and causing an explosion.
  • Combustible dust: In almost all accidents involving combustible dust, workers and their employers had no idea that the danger even existed.
  • Flammable gasses and liquids: Any work that involves incendiary gasses and liquids is dangerous. Fires are easily ignited and, under the right conditions, can cause industrial explosions.
  • Electrical dangers: When wiring is not up to code or is exposed, overloaded circuits, extension cords, overloaded outlets, and static electricity can result in a spark or fire, which could ignite any combustible materials in the area.
  • Defective machinery and equipment: Any piece of machinery or mechanical equipment could cause an explosion or present a fire hazard because of the amount of friction created by its moving parts. This friction can produce a flame or sparks.

Injuries Commonly Sustained in Industrial Explosions

Industrial explosions can lead to severe and unusual injuries that are rarely seen outside of combat. A major explosion can generate extreme heat. Farther away, the force produced by the explosion can cause a blast wave that results in blunt force trauma injuries to those who are nearby. The degree of heat forged by explosions can scorch the lungs of nearby workers, causing a deadly condition referred to as blast lung to develop. Smoke inhalation can lead to pulmonary injury if it doesn’t suffocate the victim first.

Those within the blast radius could be struck by flying debris acting as a projectile or by material falling off of broken structures. Flying debris can lead to blunt force injuries and penetrating injuries along with lacerations, contusions, and even burn injuries. Workers who are felled by the blast could sustain secondary blunt force trauma injuries.

The most common injuries caused by industrial explosions are:

  • Traumatic brain injuries: The force of an industrial explosion can cause a person’s brain to make contact with the inside of their skull, which will cause bleeding and bruising. Shrapnel launched by an industrial explosion could pierce a worker’s skull, causing irreparable damage to brain tissue. Falling rebar, brick, and other components of a damaged structure could also strike a worker in the head causing a concussion or a more severe head injury.
  • Burn injuries: Toxic chemicals, radiation, and heat are able to burn through layers of skin and into the bone and muscle underneath. 3rd and 4th-degree burns lead to serious tissue and nerve damage. Even with immediate emergency medical care, a severely-burned worker could succumb to complications caused by their injuries, such as sepsis and other forms of infection. Survivors often need reconstructive surgery to fix scarring and disfigurement.
  • Broken and fractured bones: When a person is stuck or knocked down by debris from an explosion, the blast force can fracture or break wrists, arms, ribs, legs, and other bones as well.
  • Back and spine injuries: Those who are thrown violently during an industrial explosion can be hit or land on their backs, causing injuries to soft tissue, muscles, vertebrae, and the spinal cord. Serious spinal cord injuries often cause paralysis.
  • Pulmonary injuries: The sudden increase in pressure in the atmosphere during a major blast can cause blunt force damage to the tissues in the lungs. This is known as a pulmonary contusion. The impact of an explosion can also create an air embolism in the lungs. Fire and heat, and especially smoke, will damage lung tissue if they are inhaled, as will any toxic gasses expelled by the blast.
  • Hearing loss and ear injuries: The force generated by an industrial explosion can damage the bones and structures of the inner and middle ear and puncture the eardrum. Severe lacerations and burns can leave the outer ear disfigured or scarred.
  • Eye and facial injuries: While objects propelled by an explosion can rip into flesh anyplace on the body, debris that pierces an eye can result in a loss of vision. Facial lacerations can result in disfiguring blemishes and scars. In some instances, the impact of an explosion can cause the eyeball to burst, leaving the victim permanently blind in that eye.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder: Surviving or even bearing witness to an explosion or any other life-threatening incident can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. People with PTSD can experience nightmares, flashbacks, and anxiety, and develop a fixation on the traumatic event. If the PTSD is so severe it can’t be treated, then the victim’s inexorable fear and anxiety can worsen, leading to self-harm and depression.

How Can an Industrial Explosion Attorney Help Me?

Any explosion that takes place at a manufacturing or industrial plant or factory that results in injuries or fatalities is going to trigger both federal and state investigations. As these investigations proceed, the victim might be hospitalized facing multiple invasive surgeries and various other medical treatments. Victims who do not survive will have a family mourning their loss.

Industrial explosion victims often encounter huge medical expenses combined with a loss of wages, along with their pain and suffering. Those people whose explosion injuries leave them permanently disabled will no longer be able to earn a living and will certainly face ongoing personal care expenses and medical expenses, possibly for the rest of their lives.

Anybody who has been severely injured or lost a member of their family in an industrial explosion will benefit from experienced legal advice about the best way to go about seeking financial compensation. A thorough investigation might reveal that several different parties share in the liability for the industrial explosion.

The insurance company is going to do everything in its power to reduce their policyholder’s liability. The injured party should work with an experienced explosion injury attorney who is able to investigate the explosion, prove liability, and aggressively pursue recovery on their client’s behalf.

The industrial explosion lawyers from Burg Simpson have the resources necessary to properly investigate large-scale explosions and to collect any relevant evidence that lets us identify and build a compelling case against anyone and everyone who shares in fault for the incident. We take all of our client’s damages into consideration, and we work with professionals who can calculate the costs of any future damages and monetary needs in cases of permanent injury.

At Burg Simpson, our lawyers have decades of experience handling nationwide catastrophic personal injury claims. Our main focus is always on getting justice for our injured clients. Our years of experience in personal injury law allow us to discern options for seeking compensation that other law firms overlook. We are aggressive negotiators who will not settle for a lowball offer. If we have to go to court, we will prepare a persuasive and strong case on our client’s behalf.

The nationwide personal injury attorneys at Burg Simpson believe that people deserve to have access to reliable legal representation no matter where they work or live. We operate on a contingency fee schedule. This means that we do not collect any money up front or expect you to pay anything out of pocket. We only get paid when we win your industrial explosion injury case.

Our staff will listen to your side of the story and work to understand all the ways that your injuries have affected your daily routine and general quality of life. This will let us build a case that comprehensively reflects your full recovery needs.

That can include seeking financial recovery for:

  • Current and projected medical costs
  • Lost current and anticipated income
  • Lost or diminished current earning capacity
  • Lost or diminished future earning capacity
  • Current and anticipated pain and suffering
  • Current and anticipated mental trauma
  • Physical disfigurement or impairment
  • Permanent injuries

At Burg Simpson, we are dedicated to achieving positive results for our injured clients. Call our offices today to speak with a lawyer about your rights and options.

We will fight for the compensation you deserve and will not be intimidated by the insured’s team of defense lawyers.

Who is Liable for Ensuring a Safe Workplace?

OSHA is the agency in charge of making sure that employers offer healthy and safe working conditions for their employees by establishing and enforcing safety protocols, providing proper education and training, and performing routine inspections in order to pinpoint and address any workplace dangers.

Is an Industrial Explosion a Personal Injury Case or a Workers’ Comp Case?

Depending on where the accident took place as well as any mitigating factors, an industrial explosion could be either a personal injury case or worker’s comp case. If the explosion happened during the course and scope of your normal job duties, you could be eligible to collect workers’ comp benefits, depending on the laws in your state governing the employer’s responsibility to carry coverage. If, however, your industrial explosion was the fault of a third party, someone who is not a colleague or your employer, you might be able to bring a personal injury suit against them.

What is the Time Limit for Filing an Industrial Explosion Claim?

The statute of limitations for bringing any kind of personal injury claim, including those arising from industrial explosions, varies from state to state. Some states have a statute of just one year while others give you as long as six years. Workers’ compensation also provides a fixed deadline for filing a claim that, again, varies depending on where your accident took place. The deadlines affixed to notifying an employer of a workers’ comp claim are usually significantly shorter than for a personal injury claim; typically between 30 and 60 days from the day your injury occurred. An experienced industrial explosion attorney can inform you of all important filing deadlines that apply to your accident.

What Kind of Evidence Do I Need to Collect After an Industrial Explosion?

In order to ensure the success of your claim, you should have as much evidence and information as possible. You need to have copies of your medical records that document the injuries you sustained in the blast, eyewitness statements, pictures or videos of the scene of the explosion along with your visible injuries, as well as any materials regarding training and safety procedures. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible after the accident can help ensure you get all the evidence you need collected before it begins to fade with time.

What if a Defective Product Caused the Industrial Explosion?

If an industrial explosion was the result of defective or malfunctioning equipment or product, you could have a valid product liability claim against the distributor or manufacturer of the defective equipment or product. This applies if there was a design defect, a manufacturing defect, or if a failure to warn existed.

Do I Need to Report the Industrial Explosion to OSHA? 

Federal law states that an employer is required to report any job site injuries, hospitalizations, or deaths to OSHA no more than 8 hours after the event. OSHA also requires all employers to report any serious injuries, such as amputations or the loss of an eye, no more than 24 hours after the event.

Is There a Limit to the Compensation I Can Pursue After an Industrial Explosion Injury?

When a worker is injured in an industrial explosion, the overall value of their claim will be dictated by the events surrounding it and the nature and scope of their injuries. The damages they are entitled to, including any caps, are set by the state in which the explosion occurred. This applies to both workers’ comp cases and personal injury cases.

Generally speaking, a personal injury claim for injuries sustained during an industrial explosion could demand recovery for:

  • Medical bills from the day of the explosion along with the expenses of any future personal care and medical treatment necessary for incapacitating injuries
  • Lost wages caused by being unable to work, as well as reduced or lost earning capacity
  • Damage to both personal and real property, including the cost of rebuilding
  • Funeral costs along with burial or cremation costs if a family member was killed
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of fellowship and care if a family member was killed

To make sure that you understand the laws surrounding your unique accident and how those laws might affect your right to compensation, call the law firm of Burg Simpson and schedule a free case review with one of our qualified industrial explosion lawyers today.

What If My Employer is Liable for My Industrial Explosion Injuries?

Industrial explosions are complicated legal matters that can only be properly investigated with the aid of a skilled personal injury lawyer. It is not uncommon for the person responsible for the explosion to be a colleague, the property owner, the product manufacturer, or some other third party who is going to fight tooth and nail to minimize their liability. To protect your right to compensation and ensure that you are not strong-armed into accepting a lowball settlement, you should work with a personal injury attorney who has your best interests in mind.

What If My Employer is Going to Pay for My Damages Personally?

If your employer approaches you with a proposal for direct payment for your damages, such as compensation for your medical expenses and time off of work, or offers you a single lump sum of money, call an experienced industrial accident lawyer as soon as you can before signing anything or agreeing verbally to any arrangement like this. Although it is not uncommon for an employer to offer a compensation package in exchange for you not filing a claim against them, it is usually not a viable solution. Your employer can go back on the offer, leaving you with nothing but an even larger stack of hospital bills, more lost income, and more costs that you have had to pay out of your own pocket. It does not matter how much you like or trust your employer, an industrial explosion case is serious and you should have an experienced attorney on your side who is focused on getting you everything you deserve for your injuries.

Reach Out to Our National Industrial Explosion Attorneys 

If you or a member of your family was injured in a manufacturing or industrial plant explosion in the United States, reach out to one of our qualified industrial explosion injury lawyers as soon as you can. We are dedicated to getting justice for the victims of industrial explosions who have been left with serious injuries. We also want to help families who have lost a loved one to a completely preventable explosion accident.

An experienced personal injury attorney from Burg Simpson can guide you through each step of the legal process, and help you avoid mistakes that could cost you your right to compensation. To schedule your free initial consultation, call our law firm today at (888) 895-2080 or fill out the contact form on our website.
Burg Simpson is a prestigious national law firm helping clients across the United States.  With over 100 years of combined experience, our team stands ready to represent you and make certain you receive the compensation you deserve
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