Greensboro Explosion Accident Attorney

Have you been hurt in a workplace explosion in Greensboro, NC? If so, you may have several options for pursuing compensation for your injuries and related losses.

Contact Ward Black Law for a free initial case review with an explosion injury attorney. We’re ready to discuss how our firm can help you demand the money you need for your medical bills, lost income, pain, suffering, and other damages.

Picking the Right Law Firm for an Explosion Injury Case

When you’re dealing with life-altering injuries you suffered in an explosion, you need the right law firm to assert your legal rights and fight for your best interests. For years, accident victims have turned to Ward Black Law for legal advice and advocacy because:

• We treat clients like family. Our attorneys and staff strive to create a caring, conscientious environment that helps you feel comfortable and supported.
• We take a comprehensive approach to case planning. We leverage cutting-edge client relations management technology and efficient processes to develop effective case strategies.
• We have a proven record. We have successfully represented thousands of clients injured by the negligence and fault of others. Let us put our 30 years of experience to work for you.

Common Causes of Work-Related Explosions in Greensboro, NC

Workplace explosions typically occur due to conditions where flammable materials, substances, or gases can combust. Some of the most frequent causes of work-related explosions in Greensboro, NC, include:

• Electrical malfunctions
• Unsafe storage of flammable materials
• Hot work operations (welding, soldering, blowtorch, and plasma cutting, for example)
• Equipment malfunctions near fuel storage
• Inadequate safety protocols
• Smoking in the workplace and unextinguished cigarettes
• Natural or environmental factors, such as dry or drought conditions, lightning strikes, or tornadoes
• Oil, natural gas, or propane leaks
• Inadequate workplace ventilation and air filtration
• Employee negligence or recklessness
• Defective or poorly maintained gas storage tanks 

Where Do Explosion Accidents Happen Most Commonly?

Certain Greensboro workplaces have a higher risk of explosion accidents than others. Some examples of high-risk workplaces include the following:

• Construction sites
• Chemical plants
• Oil and gas rigs and refineries
• Fertilizer plants and storage facilities
• Oil and gas pipelines
• Power plants
• Fuel storage facilities
• Gas stations

Injuries Resulting from Explosion Accidents in Greensboro, NC

An explosion accident can inflict various severe, life-threatening, or catastrophic injuries. Common examples of severe injuries caused by explosions include:

• Blast lung
• Severe burns
• Broken bones
• Blunt force trauma
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Traumatic amputation and limb loss
• Internal organ damage and abdominal hemorrhage
• Air embolization
• Abdominal and hollow viscus injuries
• Blast injuries
• Inhalation injuries
• Pulmonary contusions
• Asthma and COPD
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Neck and back injuries
• Lung damage caused by inhalation of chemicals and particles
• Inner ear rupture and tympanic membrane rupture
• Hearing loss
• Retinal detachment and eye ruptures
• Vision loss
• Permanent disfigurement and scarring
• Prolonged or permanent disabilities
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological issues

Potential Compensation for Injuries in an Explosion

If you’ve been hurt in an explosion accident, several sources of compensation could be available to you. For example, if the explosion happened at your workplace, you may have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits from your employer, regardless of fault for the accident. In North Carolina, workers’ comp benefits can include:

• Medical benefits – Covers the cost of all reasonably necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation for injuries caused by an explosion
• Temporary total disability benefits – Provides partial reimbursement for lost wages for workers unable to work during their recovery from work-related injuries
• Temporary partial disability benefits – Reimburses a portion of the difference between a worker’s pre-injury average weekly wage and current wages in a lower-paying role necessitated by medical restrictions
• Permanent partial disability benefits – Provides financial payments after the injured worker reaches maximum medical improvement but continues to suffer from physical disabilities, with payments based on the nature and severity of the disabilities
• Permanent total disability benefits – Can provide ongoing benefits for workers who suffer specific types of permanent disabilities or disfigurement

In some cases, an explosion victim may have grounds for a personal injury claim against non-employer third parties responsible for their injuries. Compensation under a third-party claim can include money for:

• Medical treatment and physical therapy expenses, including coverage of future medical needs
• Costs of long-term disability care, including home health services, housekeeping, childcare assistance, or home renovations to install disability accommodations
• Full ongoing and future losses of income
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• Lost quality and enjoyment of life caused by disabilities, disfigurement, or scarring

When Explosions Result in the Wrongful Death of a Loved One

If you’ve lost a family member to an explosion someone else caused, you may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party, in addition to recovering workers’ compensation death benefits if the accident happened at work.

In North Carolina, the personal representative of your loved one’s estate can file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek financial recovery for losses such as:

• Your loved one’s final medical expenses
• Conscious pain and suffering your loved one experienced
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of your loved one’s income and financial contributions to the family
• Loss of your loved one’s household services, care, assistance, and protection
• Loss of your loved one’s companionship, comfort, guidance, and advice

Liability in Explosion Injury and Death Cases

Depending on the circumstances, several different parties could potentially be liable for an explosion injury, including the following examples:

• Property owners
• Construction companies
• Oil and gas utility companies
• Oil and gas drilling companies
• Refinery and pipeline operators
• Tool or equipment manufacturers
• Vehicle manufacturers
• Gas station or storage facility owners and operators
• Power plant operators
• Construction materials manufacturers