Were you injured in an explosion accident?

Explosion accidents are catastrophic events that can cause equally devastating injuries to those involved. Severe and permanent disability is common among explosion victims who survive. And this disability can be expensive in various ways.

If you suffered debilitating injuries in an explosion accident, how are you going to pay for your medical bills? Are you going to be able to return to work? You can recover the compensation you need by filing a personal injury lawsuit against the party at fault for the explosion.

Our team of Nashville explosion accident attorneys will provide an evaluation and explain your legal options so you can make an informed decision about what to do next.

Causes of Explosion Accidents

Negligence is a significant cause of explosion accidents. When businesses or individuals ignore safety guidelines, they can put others at risk. Some common causes of explosion accidents resulting from negligence include:

  • Industrial Accidents – Improperly handling and storing hazardous materials in industrial settings can lead to fires, which lead to explosions. Additionally, the improper maintenance of industrial worksites can cause dust explosions.

  • Gas Leaks – Faulty gas lines can leak and cause explosions in commercial and residential buildings. Manufacturing defects, improper installation, or poor maintenance may cause these leaks.

  • Chemical Explosions – Mixing the wrong chemicals in a laboratory or industrial setting can lead to an explosion. Chemical containers should always have proper labels and a set of safety guidelines for workers to follow.

  • Electrical Faults – Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and other electrical malfunctions can lead to explosions. This is most common in older buildings that need maintenance or when electrical systems aren’t installed correctly.

  • Construction Accidents – Explosives may be on a construction site, such as during ongoing demolition. Demolition experts should handle explosives carefully and store them in a secure location.

  • Motor Vehicle Crashes – In some cases, such as if a fuel tank or line ruptures, car and truck crashes can lead to explosions. Trucks carrying hazardous materials may also increase the risk of explosion during an accident.

Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC

Common Explosion Accident Injuries

Explosion accidents can cause significant injuries, including:

Burns

Burns

Severe burns are a common injury suffered by explosion victims. Burns may require extensive treatment and rehabilitation.
Blast Injuries

Blast Injuries

The blast from the explosion can cause traumatic injuries, including broken bones, concussions, and internal organ damage. Sometimes, internal injuries may not be immediately apparent, so you should seek immediate medical attention.
Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss

Temporary or permanent hearing loss or damage is a common injury caused by the intense sound of the blast.
Respiratory Issues

Respiratory Issues

Inhaling fumes after an explosion can lead to long-term respiratory issues, especially if hazardous chemicals are the cause.
Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC

Gathering Evidence after an Explosion Accident

As with any accident resulting in injury, it’s crucial that you gather evidence supporting your claim as soon as possible. With an explosion accident, your injuries may be too severe for you to gather evidence on your own immediately. If so, you should get someone else to do it for you, like your attorney.

Some evidence commonly used in explosion injury claims includes:

  • Incident Footage 1

    Nearby security or traffic cameras may have captured the explosion that injured you or the events leading up to the accident.

  • Aftermath Photographs 2

    Photos of the surrounding area after the explosion and of your injuries can show the destructive force of the blast and how severe your injuries from it are.

  • Eyewitness Statements 3

    Others nearby may have witnessed the explosion that harmed you. You should get their contact information so your lawyer can follow up with them later to obtain their statements.

  • Expert Witness Testimony 4

    Your attorney may hire expert witnesses to testify at trial. These may be experts in whatever caused the explosion, medical professionals who can speak on your injuries, or even financial advisors who can provide context for how your injuries impact your earning potential.

  • Medical Records 5

    Your medical records detail the surgeries, treatments, and prescriptions necessary for healing your injuries. Your medical bills may also be evidence showing the cost of those treatments.

  • Financial Documents 6

    If your injuries prevent you from working, or if they make it so you can only work in a lessened capacity, your financial documents can show how much less money you’re making post-injury.

Compensation for Explosion Accident Victims

Victims of explosion accidents can seek compensation for their economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are monetary losses, and non-economic damages are non-monetary losses. Damages you can seek compensation for include:

  • Medical Expenses – Any medical bills you receive for past or future treatment for your injuries, including hospital stays, medications, and medical devices, count as medical expenses.

  • Lost Wages – If you had to take time off work to recover or if you won’t be able to return to work in the same capacity, you can seek compensation for your past lost wages and future loss of earning potential.

  • Pain and Suffering – The physical pain and suffering you experienced due to the accident is a non-economic damage that your attorney can assist you with estimating the value of.

  • Disability and Disfigurement – If your injuries left you disabled or disfigured, you can seek compensation for things like the loss of enjoyment of life or home and vehicle modifications you needed to make to accommodate your disability.

  • Loss of Consortium – Spouses of injury victims can seek compensation for loss of consortium, which is the loss of a spousal relationship. If your injuries are severe, your spouse may now be your primary caretaker.

   

Contact Our Nashville Explosion Accident Attorneys

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(615) 676-7060

Non-Economic Compensation Caps

Under Tennessee Law, there are caps on the non-economic compensation you can receive through a personal injury claim. The default cap is $750,000. If your injuries are “severe,” however, then that cap increases to $1,000,000. “Severe” injuries include:

  • Spinal cord injuries resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia
  • Amputations of both hands, both feet or one of each
  • Third-degree burns on over 40% or more of the body or face

Determining Liability in an Explosion Accident

To determine who is liable for your injuries after an explosion accident, your attorney will investigate the cause of the explosion. Was it a defective product? A negligent driver? Poor maintenance? A failure to enforce safety regulations?

What party is responsible for your injuries depends on the circumstances of the explosion. And in some cases, there may be multiple parties at fault.

For example, let’s say you were in a traffic accident which resulted in an explosion when your vehicle’s fuel line ruptured, leaking gas onto the engine. In this case, the other motorist who caused the crash would be at fault. The ruptured fuel line manufacturer may also be partially at fault, however.

Or, if the explosion happened due to faulty wiring on a construction site, the site manager and the electrician who installed the wiring could be liable. The electrician could be liable for their poor installation, and the site manager could be liable for not enforcing safety regulations.

Tennessee Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

In Tennessee, victims of personal injuries must file their claim within the state’s one-year statute of limitations on such claims. This time limit begins on the date of your injury, and it’s essential to file your claim before time runs out so the courts don’t automatically bar you from recovering compensation.

Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC

How an Attorney Can Help

When you hire an attorney, they will assist you with all aspects of your personal injury case. This includes:

  • Providing Legal Advice 1

    Any time you have a question about the legal process or what’s in your best interest, your attorney will answer it. Helping you understand your case is one of your attorney’s most important roles.

  • Investigating Your Claim 2

    Your attorney will investigate your claim and gather evidence supporting your case.

  • Identifying Liable Parties 3

    Before you can file your claim, your attorney will assist you in identifying the party or parties responsible for the explosion that caused your injuries.

  • Calculating Your Damages 4

    Your lawyer will collect your medical bills and financial documents to calculate your economic damages. Then, they’ll estimate the cost of your non-economic damages, keeping the state’s cap in mind.

  • Filing Your Lawsuit 5

    After your attorney investigates your case, identifies the liable parties, and calculates your damages, they’ll file your claim within the statute of limitations.

  • Negotiating with Insurers 6

    Before your claim goes to trial, you will negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. Having an attorney to negotiate can protect you from unknowingly accepting a lowball offer.

  • Representing You at Trial 7

    While most lawsuits end with a settlement, yours might go to trial. If that happens, your attorney will present your case before a judge and jury, seeking the maximum compensation.

Contact our Nashville Explosion Accident Lawyers

Were you injured in an explosion accident in Nashville, Tennessee? Are you wondering how you’ll pay for your medical bills and how you’ll support yourself and your family now that you’re unable to work?

Call 615-676-7060 or contact us online for a free consultation about your case with a personal injury attorney from Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC. We’ll provide an initial evaluation, answer your questions, and explain your legal options.