Injured in an Oil or Gas Plant Blast? Get Help from a Houston Refinery Explosion Lawyer.
Oil and gas is one of the biggest industries in Texas. Injuries and deaths in this industry are also among the highest, including from deadly explosions at refineries and elsewhere. The increasing rate of severe injuries and fatalities in the petroleum industry is extremely troubling. It indicates a degree of danger not found in any other workplace setting.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding workplace fatalities demonstrates this clearly. The CDC found that the fatality rate for people in the oil and gas industry was seven times higher than the national industry average (the average rate is 3.8 for every 100,000 workers in other industries and 27.1 for every 100,000 in the petroleum industry).
As our experienced Houston refinery explosion lawyers know from handling these cases, dedicated oil and gas workers in Texas put their livelihoods and even their lives on the line every day. Firefighters and other first responders to accidents are also frequently placed at risk. Additionally, residents near oil and gas refineries can pay the price when things go wrong. If you or someone you know has suffered injuries in such incidents, it’s crucial to consult with a burn injury lawyer for expert legal assistance.
Call an Experienced Refinery Plant Explosion Lawyer
If you’ve been hurt or lost a family member, contact a Houston refinery plant explosion lawyer from the accident and injury law firm of Terry Bryant. We help injured workers and their families get compensation when preventable blasts happen that are caused by negligence. We also stand up for first responders and residents near oil and gas sites. When you need help to get the money required to pay medical and other bills after an explosion injury, we are here for you. Additionally, if you believe your injury resulted from medical malpractice, it’s important to consult with a medical malpractice lawyer who can provide the legal expertise you need during this challenging time. Call our Terry Bryant Accident and Injury law firm today to arrange a free consultation at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000.
Here is a sampling of settlements and awards we’ve won for clients in refinery explosion cases:
- $2.06 million for arm, shoulder, and neck injuries from refinery explosion
- $1.72 million for back surgery due to refinery explosion
- $1.16 million for injuries in plant explosion
Where Dangerous Oil and Gas Explosions Happen
Deadly plant explosions that cause injuries and death can happen throughout the process of turning oil into fuel. Blasts happen at:
- Oil and gas refineries
- Storage tanks and terminals
- Oil and gas pipelines
- Oil wells and rigs
From Crosby to Port Neches and elsewhere, deadly refinery explosions resulting in injuries and death rock southeast Texas far too often. If you’ve been the victim of an oil and gas blast, call us today to arrange a free consultation. We can be reached at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000.
Why Deadly Oil and Gas Explosions Happen
Oil plant explosions are often the result of inflexible corporate demands that place safety at the bottom of the priority list. The pressure on people to work faster to make oil companies more money can result in dangerous shortcuts being taken at refineries, oil platforms, and elsewhere.
An Example of Corporate Negligence: Deepwater Horizon
One notorious example of corporate negligence was the deadly Deepwater Horizon explosion and fire. This disaster resulted from a catastrophic blowout. In most cases, a blowout happens when drilling and extraction are not properly controlled by the attending crew. There were many safety concerns expressed by numerous workers prior to the blowout. However, BP and Transocean company officials were hostile to employees raising safety concerns that would delay drilling. As a result, safety measures were ignored, resulting in a blowout of methane gas. The explosion killed 11 people, resulted in numerous injuries, and caused billions of dollars in damage. If you or a loved one were affected by this tragedy and have questions about worker compensation, it may be advisable to consult with a worker compensation lawyer for legal guidance and support.
As shown by this example, when making money is involved, oil companies don’t always put the proper emphasis on safety. Companies that don’t pay proper attention to safety regulations can be held liable for their negligent actions.
If you believe your injury was due to negligence, our law firm may be able to help you. You may have more than one option for getting compensation, depending on the circumstances of your case. Call us today at (713) 973-8888 to find out how we can help you.
If Your Employer at a Refinery Plant Carries Workers’ Compensation
If your company carries workers’ compensation insurance, you can file a claim for benefits. Benefits you may be able to get following an on-the-job injury include:
- Medical benefits for the explosion-related injuries or illness
- Income benefits to partially replace lost wages
- Funeral and death benefits if a family member has died
Employers and their insurers often don’t make it easy for workers to get these benefits. Even though you are entitled to them if your employer carries them and you are hurt at work, the filing process can be confusing and complex.
Our Houston refinery explosion lawyers can guide you through the claim filing process, helping to ensure that all necessary information is included and your initial claim is accepted. We can also help you in appealing a rejected benefits claim.
Third-Party Legal Claims in a Refinery Explosion Injury Case
While workers’ compensation provides some benefits, it doesn’t pay nearly enough for the debilitating injuries oil and gas explosions can cause, and if your employer carries workers’ comp, you can’t sue them for additional compensation. In some cases, however, injured workers or family members of workers who died can file third-party lawsuits. A third-party lawsuit is a legal claim against someone other than your employer whose negligence contributed to the accident. A third party could be another company contracting at the refinery, well, or other location; a manufacturer of refining equipment that is defective; or another party.
When we meet with you and learn the facts, we’ll advise you whether a third-party lawsuit could be an option in your case. Call us at (713) 973-8888.
Legal Claims if You Work for a Refinery Plant that Is a Non-Subscriber Company
In Texas, employers aren’t required to carry workers’ comp insurance. Companies that don’t carry it are called non-subscribers. Unlike companies that provide workers’ comp, non-subscriber employers can be sued by employees who are injured in blasts. Because non-subscriber companies know this, some of them may try to make it appear as if the insurance they provide is workers’ comp. If you aren’t sure whether your company is a non-subscriber, we can investigate and advise you whether you may be able to bring a legal claim.
Compensation You Could Get in a Refinery Explosion Legal Claim
Every case is different, but types of damages that may be pursued in an injury claim include compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost or reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering for physical pain and emotional trauma
- Punitive damages for especially bad negligence
If you’re a spouse, child, or parent of someone who died in a refinery explosion, you may be able to get compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. Compensation could include payment for funeral and burial expenses, medical treatment, lost earnings, lost love and support and more. (You may also be able to bring a survival action.)
No two cases are alike, and compensation can vary greatly. We’ll advise you about a possible value range based on your damages.
Learn How a Refinery Plant Explosion Lawyer Can Help You
You go to work to earn a living and feed your family. When that living and your family’s financial well-being are threatened by a negligent plant explosion accident, we’ll stand up for your rights. We know how to take on big oil companies and their teams of attorneys who try to shut down claims from injured workers. Once we learn about the details of your case, we will advise you about your legal options. Schedule a free consultation with a refinery plant explosion lawyer by calling (713) 973-8888 today.
We Advocate for First Responders and Residents Living Near Oil and Gas Plants
If you’re an emergency responder who was injured due to a refinery explosion, we’ll advise you about your legal options. And if you live near a refinery or other petroleum facility and an explosion or its aftermath of leaking gases and chemicals harmed you, we will help ensure that your rights are upheld.
Our law firm advocates for brave first responders and innocent people living near oil and gas plants. You can arrange a free consultation with an experienced Houston refinery explosion attorney by calling or texting (713) 973-8888.
Protecting Your Rights Following an Oil and Gas Explosion
Steps to take to help preserve evidence and protect your rights:
- Get medical treatment right away.
- Keep a file with medical bills and medical records.
- Consider keeping a journal describing the daily impact of your injuries.
- Speak with an experienced refinery plant explosion lawyer.
Speak with a Knowledgeable Houston Refinery Explosion Attorney
When deadly oil and gas accidents occur, workers can’t rely on their employers to look after their needs. Instead, workers often have to fight for their right to injury coverage. Getting the coverage and compensation you need after a debilitating injury is best done with the help of an experienced refinery explosion lawyer. Our skilled attorneys at the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant in Houston understand how rich oil companies operate. We know what it takes to get these companies to pay for their negligent actions.
Whether you are a worker, a first responder or someone living near a plant who was injured, we want to learn how we can help you. Call our law firm today at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
