Natural Gas Explosion

Natural gas explosions caused by leaking, ruptured, or faulty gas lines can endanger gas company workers, plumbers, contractors, and members of the public. Natural gas explosions expose victims to fire and blasting debris from a blast, and can cause burn, crushing, and inhalation injuries that lead to death. Workers in the oil and gas drilling industry are at the highest risk of suffering an explosion-related injury.

Natural gas explosions can also cause damage, injury, and death in residential settings. In 2019, a gas company employee died and fifteen (15) people were injured when a natural gas line exploded. The explosion caused a serious fire that leveled a family home. The gas line rupture causing the explosion occurred after the contractor failed to call 811 to check for gas lines before beginning to dig in an area.

Our Personal Injury Lawyers can Help

If you have suffered an injury from a natural gas explosion, you may be entitled to compensation. When the employee of a gas company negligently causes an explosion, the employee and the gas company are liable for any injuries caused by the negligence. Alternatively, an employer may be liable to pay compensation to an employee injured in an on-the-job gas explosion. Persons injured in a gas explosion should contact our personal injury lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation as soon as possible.

Causes of Natural Gas Explosion

Natural gas explosions can occur in a residential home when gas leaks into the home as a result of rupturing or a faulty line connection. Gas company workers have a duty to install gas lines in safe areas and to make safe repairs to existing gas lines. When gas company workers fail to use reasonable care, they may be liable for injuries resulting from gas explosions in a home. The following household appliances can cause an in-home natural gas explosion:

• Dryer;
• Barbecue grill;
• Water heater;
• Gas generator;
• Swimming-pool heater;
• Fireplace;
• Propane tank;
• Gas space heater.

In the industrial setting, a lack of implementation or execution of proper safety protocols is often the underlying cause of an explosion. Neglecting to use necessary safety equipment, or using defective or worn-out equipment, can place workers at a greater risk of injury than those using proper safety equipment. Natural gas drilling employees are often expected to work long hours in difficult conditions, resulting in fatigue, which can increase the likelihood of making an error that will trigger a natural gas explosion.

Common Injuries Caused by Natural Gas Explosions

Drilling and fracking workers often suffer severe life-altering injuries when they are involved in an explosion. Natural gas explosions can cause injuries resulting in temporary or permanent disability. Fatalities are common in major industrial gas explosions. Many of those injured in explosions suffer injuries including:

• Severe second and third-degree burns;
• Fractured bones;
• Traumatic brain injuries;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Amputation of limbs;
• Crushed limbs;
• Heat and chemical burns;
• Blunt-force head trauma;
• Injury from poisonous gas or a chemical release;
• Fatalities caused by burns from a natural gas explosion.

Who is Responsible for Natural Gas Explosions?

The first and most critical part of any personal injury case is determining who is responsible for paying damages for an injured person’s injuries. The components, appliances, and devices involved in natural gas usage are often the source of an explosion. When manufacturers create unsafe products, they may be liable for injuries that result from a defective design under so-called products liability laws.

Additionally, the distributors and retailers of defective products may be held liable for injuries caused by defective products. The following persons or entities may be responsible for injuries sustained in a natural gas explosion:

• The natural gas or propane company;
• The manufacturer of an appliance or equipment;
• The distributor of the appliance;
• The marketing company or equipment sales team that sold the appliance;
• Installation professionals or contractors;
• Maintenance professionals or contractors.

The Importance of Hiring a Skilled Lawyer

A person injured in a natural gas explosion should contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible after suffering injury. The professionals at Arnold & Smith, PLLC possess the necessary courtroom experience to effectively represent clients during the entire personal injury process. Our legal team understands how difficult it is to recover from a serious personal injury.

We offer potential new clients a free case evaluation. After reviewing the facts of your case thoroughly, we can help you determine how to proceed with your compensation claim. Contact our skilled personal injury lawyers as soon as possible to learn how we can help you fight for compensation for your injuries. Our firm has offices in uptown Charlotte, in Monroe, and in Mooresville. We handle cases across the entire State of North Carolina.

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