Serving Injured Workers in Texas, Louisiana & Nationwide
Over 100 years ago, manufacturing is what transformed America into a world power. Our ability to mobilize our citizens into a skilled workforce allowed us to build state-of-the-art factories, manufacture thousands upon thousands of consumer and commercial products, and supply the nation's ravenous appetite for clothes, medicine, construction materials, fuel, and weaponry.
Unfortunately, the speed at which we moved had a cost: factory workers were losing limbs (and lives) to "feed the machine." So, our great-grandparents fought for safety rules that prioritized human lives over productivity. If factories had to move a little slower, that was okay—we could (and did) innovate around it.
There was one thing upon which the first worker advocates would not budge: personal safety would not be an acceptable price for faster factories. Today, Arnold & Itkin carries on the work started by our forebears. When factories explode, when injuries are catastrophic and life-changing, when families lose their loved ones, our top-rated Houston factory accident attorneys are there to hold employers accountable. More importantly, we're there to make sure our clients get everything they need to put their lives back together.
Call (888) 493-1629 or use our short online form to learn how our factory injury attorneys can help you rebuild and recover after a serious factory accident. One phone call could change your life forever.
The Deadliest Factory Accidents in U.S. History
The Falk Corporation Explosion (December 2006): An explosion triggered by a gas leak at a gear factory killed 3 workers and injured 47 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The explosion leveled multiple buildings.
The PEPCON Disaster (May 1988): A chemical factory in Henderson, Nevada caught fire and triggered multiple explosions that killed 2 and injured more than 300 people.
The Benton Fireworks Disaster (May 1983): An illegal fireworks-making operation exploded in Benton, Tennessee, killing 11 and injuring 1. It caused damage for several miles around the makeshift factory.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (March 1911): A garment factory caught fire while the doors were locked, leading to the deaths of 145 workers—most of them young girls. This factory accident inspired public action on behalf of workers throughout the United States.
Factory Accidents We've Investigated
The 2013 Williams Olefins Explosion
In the early 2000s, Williams Olefins was warned that their reboiler system had a fatal flaw that would make it easy for the reboiler tanks to become pressurized bombs accidentally. The company ignored the warnings and didn't spend the few dollars it would have taken to fix it. In June 2013, the warnings came true–the reboiler exploded, killing 2 and injuring 167. We represented several of the workers who were injured, securing $15.45 million in an initial trial and $18.5 million in a second trial only weeks later.
The 2005 BP Refinery Explosion
Eight weeks before the second-largest oil refinery in the United States exploded, BP received a report about their facility. The report, which was privately commissioned, outlined the grievous safety issues workers at the plant were facing. Rather than stop production to fix these problems, however, BP elected to continue. The exact problems brought up in the report caused an explosion that killed 15 and injured hundreds. Our factory injury law firm helped ensure that the victims of this explosion received enough money to recover from their serious injuries.
The 2014 Georgia Pacific Plywood Plant Explosion
Three different companies were responsible for a massive explosion that rocked a factory near Corrigan, TX. The plant owners, the suppression system company, and the air filtration manufacturer were all found legally at fault for the severe burns our client suffered after the blast. The explosion also killed two other workers and left our client in need of multiple surgeries. The jury awarded our client $39 million.
$171 Million Awarded in Confidential Settlements After a Massive Factory Fire
In one of our most heart-wrenching cases, Arnold & Itkin represented a group of refinery workers who were severely burned when their workplace caught fire. Burns are the costliest injuries anyone can suffer, but their employer wasn't helping with the recovery at all. The employer refused to settle for years, dragging out the litigation process. Our attorneys continued relentlessly gathering information.
Finally, our factory burn attorneys developed a case that proved the fire was the employer's fault. They finally took their workers' claims seriously, settling for $171 million. Thanks to our guidance and resources, we compelled one of the largest companies in the world to take worker safety seriously and do the right thing by our clients.
See for yourself what plant and refinery workers think about their experience with us!
“I was able to actually witness them in court. They went in there like straight bulldogs, and they won. They’re unstoppable! They definitely have the experience you need. They're fighting for these little people that can’t handle themselves when a giant comes. Almost like the David and Goliath. It’s amazing thing to see. I would recommend them to anybody, I mean anybody. When they say Super Lawyers, that's what they mean.” - Shawn Thomas
“I felt like family because they were there to listen and hear—not just brush you off because ‘you're just a client.’ They let me know when I met them that everything was going be all right. Ever since the day I met them until today that I'm sitting here, they have always had my back.” - Veronica Sowell
“They're very professional. They didn't back down. That's why I like my lawyers. Even when I had to do my testimony in court, they didn't let those lawyers run over me. They fought hard. You have some lions with Arnold & Itkin. They not going to back down.” - Maurice Dilworth
Burn Injuries Sustained in Factory Accidents
When it comes to factory accidents, burns are a real risk. They can occur as a result of a fire or explosion at the facility or from exposure to hazardous chemicals or toxins. Burn injuries can cause scarring and disfigurement, plus loss of muscle function and control. They are extremely painful, particularly during recovery, which may require multiple surgeries and skin grafts.
One of the most catastrophic industrial accidents in U.S. history was a factory fire. The incident took place on March 25, 1911, at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in Manhattan, New York City. While the exact cause of the fire was never officially determined, it broke out on the 8th floor of the building in a scrap bin that held about two months' worth of accumulated cuttings. There was no fire alarm and no way to contact workers on the 9th floor of the building, and several of the exits were locked (a practice used to keep workers from taking unauthorized breaks or from stealing factory property). As a result, the factory fire quickly turned tragic.
146 garment workers at the factory were killed, including 123 women and girls and 23 men. The factory owners were charged with manslaughter and then acquitted. They were found liable in a wrongful death suit in 1913 and plaintiffs were awarded $75 per deceased victim.
When factory workers are burned, they need aggressive representation to ensure they receive the best treatment and complete financial compensation for their injuries. That's where our Houston burn injury attorneys can make all the difference. When workers are burned in fires or other incidents at factories, we help them recover.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits for Fatal Factory Accidents
Some factory accidents, like the tragedy mentioned above, claim workers' lives. When this happens, families have the right to come forward with lawsuits to hold negligent parties accountable. A wrongful death case for a factory accident may be linked to faulty equipment, improper worker training, poor implementation of safety practices and policies, and other forms of carelessness or wrongdoing. At Arnold & Itkin, we believe in helping families find answers after fatal factory accidents. Our Houston wrongful death attorneys fight tirelessly to uncover the true cause of a worker's death so we can bring the responsible parties to justice. We know we can't bring back a lost spouse or other loved one, but we can bring families peace of mind and the financial support they need to rebuild.
Call (888) 493-1629 to Discuss Your Texas Factory Accident
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a work accident, call the Houston factory accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin. Our firm has the resources, experience, and tenacity to level the playing field between you and your employer. More importantly, our factory personal injury attorneys know how to fight for the amount that you need to survive—enough to pay for past and future medical care, provide for your family, and rebuild your life.
It all starts with a phone call. Here's how it works: you'll request a time to speak with a lawyer in a free review of your case—you can either call us or send us a message through our simple form. Together, you and your attorney will go over your options and the best way forward. If we can help you, we'll cover the cost of your case from beginning to end; our clients never receive an invoice or a bill. You can afford the best representation.
If you're ready to begin, we're ready to hear your story. Call (888) 493-1629 to have a lawyer go over your options with you.
CommonQuestions
Is Factory Work Dangerous?
Factory workers are responsible for constructing and manufacturing virtually every type of product on the market, from children’s toys to motor vehicles. They have one of the highest rates of workplace injuries and deaths in the U.S. They work around and with heavy machinery and may also be exposed to hazardous substances, extreme temperatures, and other potential dangers. When factory owners observe safety standards, maintain equipment, and properly train employees, however, the risk of injury is far lower. The truth is that the field may have inherent dangers, but nearly every factory accident could have been prevented if the right precautions had been taken.
Factory work becomes dangerous when companies care more about profits and production than their hard-working employees. At Arnold & Itkin, we stand up for injured factory workers and their families, exposing these injustices.
What Are Some Types of Factory Accidents?
Factory accidents may range from slip and fall accidents that cause minor injuries to explosions that claim multiple workers’ lives. The workers who are harmed in these accidents have the right to receive medical care and financial support for their work-related injuries, through workers’ compensation or personal injury lawsuits. Families can file wrongful death lawsuits against at-fault parties.
Arnold & Itkin handles factory accident cases involving fires and explosions, assembly line accidents, heavy machinery malfunction, slip and fall accidents, falls from heights, chemical spills, exposure to toxins, injuries caused by falling objects, and many others. Our factory personal injury attorneys fight to set things right.
What Should I Do if I Lost a Loved One in a Factory Accident?
If you lost a parent, spouse, child, or another family member in a factory accident, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. You may also be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit if workers’ comp does not apply or a third party (someone other than your loved one’s employer or co-worker) was involved. Because workers’ comp provides limited benefits, it is important to determine whether a wrongful death case would be appropriate. Bringing responsible parties to justice in this way brings peace of mind and helps a family recover additional compensation to ensure they’re taken care of for life. That's the goal of our factory death lawyers.
