Texas is well known as a capital of the American oil industry, with 10 of its refineries processing 2.6 million barrels of crude oil every day – nearly 15 percent of the nation’s total. Unfortunately, corporations sometimes sacrifice safety for profits with tragic results. If you were injured in an accident at one of these facilities, you need an experienced Pasadena oil refinery injury lawyer to help you pursue the financial compensation you deserve. Our personal injury attorneys are here to help.
An oil refinery converts or refines crude oil into usable petroleum products, including fuel for transportation or heating. Oil refineries separate, convert, and treat crude oil, breaking it down into its basic components and then reconfiguring it into new products.
Because of the complex tasks performed at oil refineries and the inherent danger of the materials they process, there are unique safety challenges to protecting its workers. An oil refinery is a hazardous place to work because of the risk of injuries due to:
A small fire can quickly lead to a massive explosion due to the chemicals present and processes performed at an oil refinery. While the work is inherently dangerous, accidents are often preventable. Companies that cut corners in safety training or maintenance are at a greater risk for accidents caused by:
An attorney in Pasadena can help determine the cause and responsible parties of an oil refinery accident.
The injuries caused by an oil refinery accident are often severe and debilitating, if not fatal, and commonly include:
While some injuries are immediately noticeable, others do not appear for months or years. The harmful gases emitted in an explosion or present during the refining process mean the risk of toxic exposure is greater for oil refinery workers. They might develop illnesses like cancer years after the explosion put dangerous chemicals into the air.
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BLEVE is an acronym for “boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion.” This type of explosion is due to the rupture of a vessel that contains pressurized liquid that has reached a temperature over its boiling point. The vessel’s contents can remain liquid as long as the vessel is intact. But if the vessel is damaged or compromised and the pressure loss drops the boiling point, the liquid will convert to gas and expand. If the gas is combustible, it will explode and potentially cause traumatic accidents.
Determining liability for an oil refinery accident requires a complex investigation, as multiple parties may be responsible. For example, the company that owns and operates the oil refinery may be held accountable for the accident if it failed to implement proper safety protocols and violated OSHA regulations. An investigation by an oil refinery injury attorney in Pasadena may also reveal that the company inadequately trained its workers or failed to replace outdated or defective equipment. Equipment manufacturers or installers may share liability for the accident depending on the nature of the accident, as could independent contractors.
The statute of limitations for a refinery accident injury claim is typically two years in Texas. That means you must file your lawsuit within two years of the accident date to avoid losing your right to seek compensation for your injuries and other losses in court. However, specific circumstances may extend or shorten the deadline for filing. You should contact an oil refinery accident lawyer in Pasadena as soon as possible after the accident to ensure you file on time.
If you were injured on the job, you may be entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp benefits could pay for your medical care, offset a portion of your lost wages, and provide you with certain other benefits. Depending on the circumstances, a workers’ comp claim could be your only avenue for recovering compensation or one of several options. An experienced Pasadena refinery accident attorney can review your case and advise you on your rights.
Depending on what you suffered in the refinery accident, you could be owed money for your:
The attorneys at Fleming Law understand that the legal process may feel unfamiliar and intimidating while you are recovering from injuries sustained in a refinery accident. That’s why you should consider letting an experienced attorney with our firm handle your case. We can work hard to establish liability and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation with an experienced Pasadena refinery injury attorney.
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