Refinery and plant explosions are some of the most catastrophic tragedies to occur in modern times. Thousands are hurt in the aftermath, lives are lost, homes are destroyed—and these accidents occur far too often.
From oil refineries to factories, honest, hardworking Americans are endangered every day when they go to work. At Arnold & Itkin, we refuse to stand by and let that happen. Throughout the years, we have had the privilege of standing beside these families, helping them recover from the toughest time of their life. In almost every situation, we have seen companies who not only failed to prevent these accidents from occurring in the first place but companies that then abandoned their employees during their time of need.
We will not stand idle while that happens. We refuse to allow large corporations to prioritize profits over the safety of their employees—to prioritize profit over their workers' very lives. If you have been involved in a plant, factory, or refinery accident, or if you lost someone you love in wrongful death, you cannot afford to procrastinate. You need to act immediately to protect your future and secure a stable tomorrow for your family.
Talk to a Pasadena plant and refinery accident lawyer at our firm today. Call (888) 493-1629 for your free consultation!
Billions Won for Our Clients, Including Plant & Refinery Accident Victims
At Arnold & Itkin, we have a long-standing history of helping those involved in catastrophic accidents, including explosions at plants and refineries. We have helped our clients win billions in verdicts and settlements, including cases that set state and national records and hundreds of cases in excess of $1 million.
Some examples of industrial cases that we have won include the following:
$97 million settlement won for individuals injured in a refinery fire.
$87 million settlement won for a worker who suffered life-threatening burn injuries.
$39.7 million verdict won for a man injured in a dust fire and explosion at a plywood plant.
Fires are responsible for more American deaths than all natural disasters combined. When it comes to chemical plant explosions, it's not the initial blast that causes the most damage—it's the fire that rages for hours afterward. Volatile chemicals and chain-explosions can cause hundreds of workers to suffer burns in the immediate aftermath of an explosion. Our burn injury lawyers have helped thousands of workers seek treatment and resources after suffering severe burns. One of the major reasons burn victims seek legal help is that burns are the single-most costly injury an industrial worker can suffer, with recovery costs routinely in the six figures or higher.
Pasadena workers suffer severe industrial injuries of all kinds, including:
Wrongful Death from Factory Accidents & Chemical Plant Explosions
Too many workers pay the ultimate price for negligence at the managerial level. When that happens, the Pasadena wrongful death lawyers at Arnold & Itkin fight for families to get justice—to get the resources they need after the loss of their loved one. Many of our clients came to us because their loved one was the provider for the family, meaning their industrial accident didn't just claim a spouse or a parent—it claimed the family's entire future.
Wrongful death cases fight for families to recover:
Loss of income
Funeral costs
Emotional pain and suffering
Loss of companionship
Loss of a parent
Punitive damages against negligent parties
"Wrongful death" is a lawsuit to address a death that never should have happened. While industrial work has always been dangerous, companies will cut corners on safety just to push productivity a little further. All of the deaths we've heard about or investigated were preventable. No matter how dangerous your loved one's job was, he or she never should have died.
May 2018 Kuraray America Plant Explosion
On May 19, 2018, tragedy struck at a Kuraray America chemical plant in Pasadena, TX. For 250 employees, the day started like any other Saturday at work. By 11 a.m., all of that changed. It’s believed that a valve malfunctioned, potentially due to over-pressurization of piping, resulting in a plant explosion and subsequent fire. Nearly two dozen people were hurt by the blast, suffering catastrophic injuries that ranged from hurt backs and knees sustained while running away to burns that required them to be taken via helicopter for emergency medical care.
In the aftermath, we came alongside the injured to demand justice. We represented several workers who were hurt.
As one of the most brutal industrial accidents in recent memory, the Geismar explosion stands as one of the most egregious examples of negligence in an oil refinery. One morning in June 2013, a worker turned on a reboiler that had a fatal design flaw—a flaw that turned the reboiler tank into an enormous bomb within minutes. The explosion left 2 dead and 167 injured, but the real shock came when the truth was revealed months later:
Williams Olefins knew that the explosion was a likelihood.
The petrochemical giant was warned that their reboiler system was designed in such a way that one simple mistake could create a deadly explosion. They had multiple opportunities over the course of a decade to provide a simple and inexpensive solution...but chose to favor productivity over safety. Nearly a dozen workers from the plant came to our Pasadena refinery accident attorneys to hold the company accountable, but Williams Olefins was confident that a jury wouldn't understand the depth of their negligence.
Much to their surprise, two separate juries understood their negligence just fine—both juries awarded our clients $18.5 million and $15.45 million in two trials scheduled only weeks apart. Williams Olefins was finally forced to reckon with the damage they caused.
What Industrial Workers Say About Our Plant Explosion Attorneys
At Arnold & Itkin, we are proud of the relationships that we have built with our clients. When we work with clients, they are more than just numbers on a page—they are family. That’s why, when you listen to our clients talk about their experience with Arnold & Itkin, they often talk about how we put them at ease. How we took the time to listen to their story and supported them every step of the way.
To see and hear for yourself, we encourage you to watch through these testimonial videos today.
“Definitely go with Arnold & Itkin because they do what they say they are going to do. They don’t give you the run around. You're looking for a firm that’s going to have your back and willing to go to trial and stick up for you. Go with Arnold & Itkin if you want results. They take their job seriously.” - Kevin Hillard
“I needed to talk, express my feelings about what I was really going through. I could always get in contact with them. This whole process, it was rough, it was hard, but Arnold & Itkin made it easy with communication, understanding, and trust. I got my life back.” - Johnny Mouton
Contact Our Pasadena, TX Plant Explosion Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Do not hesitate to get the help that you need. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we are here to help you through this. We have walked down this road with people just like you before. We know how to help you through it—and we know how to fight for the maximum compensation. Compensation that will put your life back on track again.
We offer completely free consultations with zero obligation on your side. So don’t wait. Contact us for the help you need.
CommonQuestions
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Plant Explosion?
Every state has its own statute of limitations for personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death lawsuits related to plant explosions. In Texas, you have two years from the date of your injury to file suit. If you were injured while working at a plant or refinery, however, different deadlines apply. You need to inform your supervisor, manager, or foreman within 30 days of the incident. You then have one year from the date of the explosion to file a workers’ compensation claim.
Why Do Plant & Refinery Explosions Happen?
The nature of the work at a chemical plant or refinery is inherently dangerous, but this is not enough of an explanation as to why explosions and other catastrophes occur. While the details may vary, most have one common thread: someone has put profits over safety. Delayed or rushed turnarounds, lax safety procedures, failures to repair or replace aging equipment—these things endanger the lives of every single worker at a plant or refinery. Companies cut corners and disregard safety standards to try to make more money, but Arnold & Itkin holds them accountable in civil court. This helps the victims recover and rebuild their lives, and it shows these large, for-profit companies that it is not cheaper to ignore worker safety.
How Long Will My Plant Explosion Case Take?
It’s impossible to say exactly how long any given plant explosion lawsuit will take because there are so many variables at play. Some cases settle relatively quickly, while others require lengthy courtroom battles to see justice served. It could be a matter of months or sometimes years for a case to be fully resolved. At Arnold & Itkin, we know you need support through the duration of your lawsuit. That’s why we’re there to assist you in getting the medical care and financial help you need, even if your case has not yet settled or resolved.
