The last thing any person expects is that they will sustain an injury caused by a pipeline explosion. Pipeline workers typically take extensive precautions to prevent explosions from occurring. However, there are times when the careless or negligent actions of employers, coworkers, or other parties lead to unsafe conditions that cause explosion incidents. When a pipeline explosion occurs, any person injured should be able to recover various types of compensation. However, the types of compensation available will depend on whether or not the injury victim is an employee of the pipeline or another party in the vicinity that sustained injuries.

Workers Can Recover Certain Types of Compensation

Any pipeline worker who sustains an injury as a result of an explosion while they are on the job should be entitled to workers’ compensation. Just about every employer in Texas and the surrounding states is covered through the respective states’ workers’ comp laws. When an on-the-job injury occurs, the injury victim should be entitled to:

• Complete coverage of all medical bills caused by the explosion
• A significant portion of lost wages if a victim cannot work (usually two-thirds of average weekly wage)
• Possible permanent disability benefits in the event an explosion accident victim is unable to return to work because of the severity of the injuries

In the event a worker sustained an injury caused by a third party other than their employer or a coworker, they may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit in order to recover additional types of compensation. This will step the claim outside of the workers’ compensation system and typically allow the employee to recover much more compensation than they would have otherwise received. However, unlike a workers’ compensation claim, the injury victim has to prove the negligence of another party in order to be successful in a personal injury lawsuit.

Other Parties Injured by a Pipeline Explosion

If individuals other than workers sustain injuries or property damage as a result of a pipeline explosion, they should be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the owners or operators of the pipeline in order to recover compensation for their losses.

In these cases, it will be necessary to prove the negligence of the pipeline owner or operator in order to be successful with the claim. In these circumstances, victims may be entitled to a variety of types of compensation, including the following:

• Medical bills arising due to the explosion accident injuries
• Lost income if a victim cannot work while they recover
• General household out-of-pocket expenses
• Property damage expenses
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of quality of life damages

Contact a Pipeline Explosion Attorney Today

If you or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained property damage as a result of a pipeline explosion in Texas or elsewhere throughout the United States, reach out to the team at the Doan Law Firm for help as soon as possible. Our pipeline explosion attorneys in Houston have an extensive track record of success handling these claims, and we want to help make sure that you recover the compensation you are entitled to or your losses. You can contact us for a free consultation or by calling (800) 349-0000.