All types of burns can be serious, causing significant damage to the skin and extreme pain. Chemical burns caused by explosions can be particularly devastating, as the chemicals can cause instant and ongoing burns. If you were hurt in an explosion with chemicals, seek immediate medical care and discuss your case with an explosion injury attorney.

What Is a Chemical Burn?

A chemical burn may be caused by the acids or bases within the chemical. When those substances come in contact with the skin’s tissue, they damage it. Both acids and bases are caustic, which means they can cause significant damage and penetrate into the deeper layers.

In an explosion, those chemical components can become airborne, striking those nearby and causing significant, painful injuries. Chemical burns typically result from exposures to chemicals ranging from cleaning products to industrial materials. They can penetrate all three layers of the skin, cause bone damage, and lead to amputation or loss of life.

Causes of Chemical Burn Explosions

Various factors can contribute to when a chemical burn occurs, including:

• Mixing chemicals that are unsafe to mix
• Defective equipment, including workplace materials
• OSHA violations
• Lack of safety and protective gear
• ·Lack of training for staff or those exposed
• Improper storage of chemicals or flammable materials
• Defective machinery in garages or kitchens

Burns from chemicals can occur in any environment where an explosion involving chemicals occurs. The chemicals may have caused the explosion, or a fire may have broken out for other reasons. Immediate medical care is critical in any of these situations.

Determining Responsibility in a Chemical Burn Caused by Explosions

For victims who suffer serious burns like this, the risk of complications is very high. For some, disfigurement and scarring are common, but for others, exposure to chemicals can lead to loss of mobility and vision. If you are in an accident like this, it is critical to speak to a Houston refinery accident attorney who can help you determine who is at fault. Consider some examples:

• The company manufacturing the chemicals did not warn about storage risks
• A manufacturer of a piece of equipment using chemicals that is defective or improperly tested
• Workplace supervisors and business owners who allow employees or others to be exposed to chemicals and high-risk situations without proper protective measures
• Property owners storing equipment and chemicals in an unsafe manner
• Parties that lack training for the proper use and management of chemicals but maintain them

In each situation, your attorney must demonstrate that the property owner should have known of the risks and failed to take action or warn against them. If that failure led to the accident that caused your burns, you may be able to seek fair compensation from that party. Compensation may include coverage for medical bills, scarring, and pain and suffering.

These can be complicated injury cases requiring the insight of medical professionals and attorneys who have a team of resources to help support your claim. If you were hurt in such an accident, seek out an explosion injury lawyer ready to fight for you and willing to do the research and hard work to determine what caused your accident, who is at fault, and what your losses may be worth. Your burn injury can lead to significant lifelong complications that cost thousands of dollars in rehabilitation.