Houston Refinery Accident Attorney

Those who work at refineries know full well that there are risks associated with the job. However, Houston refinery workers should not have to worry about the careless or negligent actions of other employees or their employer that could cause an explosion. Refinery explosions can lead to significant injuries and even fatalities.

At the Doan Law Firm, our team is here to help if you need a Houston refinery accident attorney. Our goal is to help ensure that injury victims recover the compensation that they need in these situations. We also help family members of those who have been killed secure closure and compensation for what happened.

Call Today For A Free Consultation (800) 349-0000

Houston Refinery Accident Explosion Resources

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Why Choose the Doan Law Firm?
How Will a Refinery Accident Attorney Help Your Claim?
Is Hiring a Lawyer Necessary After a Refinery Explosion?
Proving Liability After a Refinery Explosion
Leading Causes of Refinery Accidents
Houston Refinery Accidents Can Result in Severe Injuries
Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Refinery Blast
Potential Compensation Available in Your Case
How Our Houston Refinery Accident Lawyer Stands Out
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Why Choose the Doan Law Firm for This Case?

• The Doan Law Firm has offices in more than 40 cities throughout the US, and we have extensive experience handling mass casualty incidents such as refinery explosions.
• We have a network of resources and experts that we can call upon help our Houston explosion accident attorney conduct complete investigations into refinery explosions.
• We take Houston refinery accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that our clients will only pay legal fees after we obtain the compensation they are entitled to. No upfront or out-of-pocket costs will be necessary.

How Will a Refinery Accident Attorney Help Your Claim?

The role of a Houston refinery accident lawyer will be multifaceted. Explosion accident victims do not have the resources needed to take on well-funded oil and refinery companies. However, an attorney can use their resources to handle every aspect of the claim.

A skilled attorney will work with both state and federal regulators as well as law enforcement officials and the refinery company when determining what happened. An attorney will gather various types of evidence in order to prove liability, including the following:

• Refinery company safety records
• Training and safety records of the employees
• Any photo or video surveillance available from the Internet
• Statements from eyewitnesses
• Information from accident reconstruction experts

Is Hiring a Lawyer Necessary After a Refinery Explosion?

Explosion incidents that happen at refineries or any industrial area quickly become challenging claims, particularly for those who sustain injuries or property damage. The owner of the refinery or any third party responsible for refinery operations will most certainly have insurance carriers and legal teams get involved immediately, and this will place a hindrance on you, the refinery explosion victim.

Recovering the compensation you and your family need after a Houston refinery accident is possible, but an attorney needs to be involved early in the process. When you have legal assistance, you will have an advocate with extensive resources needed to stand up to the other parties, conduct a complete investigation into the incident, and make sure that you are treated fairly every step of the way.

Proving Liability After a Refinery Explosion

After a refinery accident occurs, it is essential to determine liability for the incident. This is true even if you will be recovering money through a workers’ comp claim. First, not every employer in Texas is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and even when employees are able to file a claim, there may be other parties who can be held responsible through a personal injury lawsuit. Thus, determining liability is important, and refinery accident victims should take steps to gather evidence as quickly as possible.

When working to determine liability, there are various types of evidence our attorneys will want to obtain. It is important to understand that no two refinery explosion claims are exactly alike, so the types of evidence that will be gathered may look different from claim to claim. However, some common types of evidence obtained in these situations include the following:

• Photographs of the area, both before and after the incident
• Video surveillance footage of the incident
• Statements from those involved or who saw the accident
• Company training and employment records
• Maintenance records for the area or equipment involved
• Records of any third-party entities allowed near the area

There may be various parties who can hold by these incidents, including companies that manufacture defective equipment, employers who fail to follow safety standards, companies that operate vehicles or equipment going in and out of the refinery, contractors or subcontractors involved in the refinery activities, and others.

Leading Causes of Refinery Accidents

Refinery accidents can occur due to a variety of reasons in and around the Houston area. Some of the most common causes of refinery incidents include:

• Mechanical Deterioration. Over time, equipment and machinery in oil refineries undergo mechanical wear and tear. Without regular inspections and maintenance, the metal components may weaken and corrode, potentially leading to structural failures. The surrounding environment, in some instances, may trigger oxidation following metal corrosion.
• Chemical Hazards. Federal regulations dictate the quality and usage of chemicals in oil refineries. The use of impure or contaminated chemicals can result in dangerous chemical reactions, leading to incidents such as fires or explosions, causing significant casualties and severe injuries.
• Electrical Issues. Improper installation or maintenance of the electrical system in oil refineries can expose workers to abnormal levels of electricity. This may result in electrical burns and other life-threatening injuries, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a safe electrical environment.
• Lack of Maintenance. Inadequate maintenance of crucial equipment, including boilers, pressure vessels, and storage tanks, poses a serious risk of accidents. Failure to properly care for essential machinery increases the chance of severe injuries in the event of malfunctions.
• Ventilation Challenges. Adequate ventilation is crucial in oil refineries, where confined spaces contain various hazardous chemicals, flammable gases, and vapors. Deviations from federal regulations regarding ventilation can lead to dangerous situations, including fires and explosions, highlighting the need for precise control of oxygen levels.
• Vehicle Incidents. The use of heavy machinery, such as forklifts, in confined spaces by oil refinery workers may lead to collisions. Failure to adhere to proper safety protocols during machinery operation can result in serious injuries or fatalities, underscoring the importance of strict adherence to safety guidelines.

Houston Refinery Accidents Can Result in Severe Injuries

The reality is that refinery accidents in or around the Houston area often result in severe injuries for those involved. These injuries can be caused as a result of the initial explosion or during the reaction events that occur as a result of the explosion, such as crumbling infrastructure, smoke inhalation, fires, and more. Some of the most common injuries that the explosion attorneys at the Doan Law Firm help clients with include the following:

• Traumatic amputations
• Penetrating injuries
• Amputations
• Blunt injuries
• Middle ear damage
• Ruptured eardrum (TM rupture)
• Blast lung
• Globe eye rupture
• Brain injuries
• Open head wounds
• Broken bones
• Impalement
• Abdominal hemorrhage
• Abdominal perforation
• Eye penetration
• Lacerations
• Sprains
• Soft tissue injuries
• Bruises

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Lethal Refinery Explosion

When examining Texas wrongful death laws, we can see that these claims can arise anytime a person loses their life due to the “wrongful act, neglect, carelessness, unskillfulness, or default” of another (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 71.001 to 71.012).

In the event you believe that your loved one lost their life in a refinery accident caused by the negligence of another, you may be able to recover compensation. In Texas, a surviving spouse, child, or parents of the deceased are eligible to file wrongful death claims. We strongly encourage you to reach out to an explosion accident wrongful death attorney who has experience handling these types of incidents so you understand the most straightforward path for recovering compensation.

Potential Compensation Available in Your Case

Successful refinery accident claims often bring various types of compensation to survivors and families of those killed by the incident. No two claims are exactly alike, and we encourage you to speak to your attorney about your expected compensation for the claim. However, in general, both economic and non-economic damages are recoverable in these situations.

Economic damages for a refinery accident include the calculable expenses victims will likely incur due to the incident. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Medical expenses (current and expected future expenses)
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity if a person cannot work moving forward
• Out-of-pocket expenses related to the injury and recovery process

Non-economic damages available for a refinery accident claim involve more immeasurable losses that accident victims will likely incur. This includes monetary compensation for a victim’s physical, psychological, and emotional pain and suffering, as well as compensation for any disability, scarring, and disfigurement the person suffers from as a result of the incident.

There is no set amount of compensation paid to refinery accident victims in Houston, but attorneys from our firm will work diligently to ensure you are treated fairly throughout the entire process.

How Our Houston Refinery Accident Lawyer Stands Out

When you are the victim of serious injuries and losses due to an accident at a refinery, you may be unsure where to turn for guidance. These are complicated cases, and not all personal injury firms take them on as a result. Yet, when you are facing serious injuries and a long road to recovery, you deserve to have an experienced Houston refinery accident lawyer by your side. There are several ways our law firm stands out:

Complex Case Success

These cases typically involve numerous parties. That means more than one company may owe you compensation. There are often dozens of legal implications involved due to safety risks and regulatory violations that could slow down these cases and make them more challenging.

Having an experienced legal team that has navigated these types of cases before – and recovered fair compensation as a result of them – can make a big difference in the long term for your case. Our experience in navigating and overcoming these complexities ensures that your rights remain protected, even in the most challenging situations.

Industry Expertise

Our Houston refinery accident lawyers possess specialized skills in this area, as we have a deep understanding of the industry’s nuances. That includes:

• Safety regulations applicable to the industry and specific tasks within the job
• Understanding of how equipment and systems work within the refinery environment
• The various procedures that are typically in place to minimize risks and why they are often overlooked
• Changing rules and regulations in the oil and gas industry and how they impact worker safety and requirements
• The ability to analyze data from safety reports to pinpoint potential violations

Our industry expertise in the oil and gas sector allows us to understand what went wrong and why it happened. That helps our Houston refinery accident attorneys get the results they need.

Expert Witnesses and Network Resources

With the guidance of our Houston refinery accident lawyers, we can bring in expert witnesses who can go beyond our knowledge to demonstrate the extent of your losses and the reasons behind them. For example, if a piece of equipment fails to work properly, an expert witness can determine if there is a design flaw that caused the issue, potentially holding the manufacturer responsible. Alternatively, it may be due to improper maintenance, which could mean that the refinery operators are responsible.

Additionally, our industry experts also have a better understanding of the implications of these accidents, including the severity of injuries as well as your ongoing limitations after such accidents. This depth of insight can help build an evidence-based case that protects your right to full and fair compensation.

Trial Experience

Another critical factor when choosing a Houston refinery attorney is ensuring they have been to court in these cases. While the ideal situation involves settling your case out of court for maximum compensation, these are big industries and powerful insurance companies. They will work tirelessly to make that challenging. It is possible that you could end up in court, and you want to be sure the lawyer you have has the industry experience to support your legal claim.

Litigation in the oil and gas industry can escalate quickly beyond local court systems. If there are violations within these locations that implicate multiple people, various organizations, and the environment, the case can become complicated quickly. Select an attorney with trial experience to ensure you always have a skilled advocate by your side.

Why You Should Not Just Settle Your Case

Victims of these types of accidents often face a long road to recovery, and it is not uncommon for them to face serious injuries that impact their futures. Yet, insurance companies representing the oil and gas companies will “encourage” or pressure you into settling your case quickly. They may even promise to save you money by not having to pay an attorney. However, there are several key reasons why this can be a big mistake.

When you hire our Houston refinery accident lawyer, we will not let those obstacles get in your way. We do not encourage you to settle until it is in your best interests to do so. Some of the key reasons why this is critical include:

• Extensiveness of your injuries. You simply cannot file a claim that is accurate and robust enough until you have reached your maximum recovery level. If your doctor has yet to say that you are not going to improve any further, you cannot know the extent of your injuries. Settling too soon leaves money on the table.
• Non-economic damages are challenging to prove. Most victims focus on medical bills and lost time at work. Yet, your pain and suffering from serious injuries like this can be incredible and very valuable. Insurance companies know this, and that is why they will encourage you to settle quickly, often for less than you are owed.
• There is no risk in reaching out to a lawyer. Keep in mind that if you hire a Houston refinery accident lawyer to represent you, you do not pay anything out of pocket for our legal services. You never pay us at all if we do not recover damages for you. There is no risk in working with our legal team.
• Delays can be costly losses. Sometimes insurance companies will prolong the settlement process. Perhaps you already filed a claim, but they are delaying it. They want you to run out of time and therefore forfeit your right to compensation. We prevent that from happening to you.
• You are agreeing not to take further action. When you settle your case, you are agreeing not to take further action against the at-fault party. If something changes in the future or you have not included some of your owed compensation, you will miss out. This can be a very costly mistake.

By making the decision to hire a Houston refinery accident lawyer, you gain an advocate who has the sole goal of helping you. With the guidance of our legal team, you are never left to try to navigate this process on your own. We handle the entire process for you, including:

• Determining all parties at fault
• Gathering all evidence to demonstrate all of your losses
• Building a solid claim that includes every type of compensation owed to you
• Negotiating fiercely with the insurance company
• Protecting you from making statements that could be used against you later
• Going to trial when there is a need to do so

Put your future in the hands of our Houston refinery accident lawyers. Let us help you every step of the way.

Call our Houston Refinery Accident Attorney Today

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a refinery accident in or around the Houston area, you need to reach out to the Doan Law Firm for help as soon as possible. We pledge to use our resources to fully investigate every aspect of your case, and our goal is to secure the compensation you need to get through this. This can include coverage of your medical bills, lost income, lost future earning capacity if you are disabled, pain and suffering damages, and more. When you need a Houston refinery accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling 800-349-0000.