Meet Our Explosion Accident Attorneys

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), thousands of workers suffer injuries each year from fires and explosions in the workplace. In 2022 alone, the BLS reported over 100 fatalities and nearly 2,000 nonfatal injuries due to explosion-related workplace accidents. But the devastation isn’t limited to industrial settings. Residential gas explosions, propane tank mishaps, and vehicle-related blasts also account for a significant number of injuries and deaths across the country.

In fact, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found that home structure fires caused by gas leaks result in over 400 deaths annually, in addition to thousands of injuries. The financial toll is staggering, often reaching billions in property damage each year.

Explosions can occur anywhere—on bustling construction sites, inside a quiet suburban home, or even on the road in a fuel-laden vehicle. Whether it's a factory incident caused by equipment failure or a residential disaster triggered by a gas leak, the consequences are often catastrophic. Victims may suffer severe burns, life-altering injuries, or even death. 

Explosion accidents can be grouped into three main categories: industrial, residential, and environmental. Each has its own causes and contributing factors.

Industrial Explosions

These typically occur in factories, warehouses, oil refineries, and construction sites. Common causes include:

• Machinery Failure: Malfunctioning boilers, compressors, or generators can detonate under pressure.
• Improper Chemical Storage: Incompatible substances stored together may ignite violently.
• Lack of Maintenance: Old or poorly maintained equipment increases the risk of explosion.

In a 2020 incident, an explosion at a chemical plant in Texas injured dozens due to improper storage of volatile chemicals.

Residential Explosions

These are more common than people realize, and can be especially devastating due to close proximity to families and children.

• Gas Leaks: From stoves, heaters, or gas lines.
• Faulty Appliances: Poorly installed or malfunctioning dryers, water heaters, and grills.
• Improper Fireworks Handling: DIY fireworks or backyard displays gone wrong.

A 2023 house explosion in Pennsylvania, traced back to a natural gas leak, destroyed three homes and killed multiple residents.

Environmental Explosions

These are caused by natural conditions or infrastructure issues:

• Natural Gas Seepage: Underground leaks can accumulate and ignite.
• Pipeline Explosions: Aging pipelines under cities and rural areas may rupture.
• Lightning Strikes: Can ignite flammable materials in storage tanks or open fields.
   

A pipeline explosion in Kentucky in 2019 killed one person and left several others with severe burns after a rupture caused by corrosion.

The injuries sustained in an explosion can be devastating and multifaceted. They often involve a combination of physical trauma, psychological harm, and long-term health consequences.

Physical Injuries

• Burns: First-, second-, or third-degree burns are common, often requiring skin grafts or multiple surgeries.
• Fractures and Lacerations: Flying debris can break bones or cause deep cuts.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Caused by the blast wave or blunt force trauma.

Victims of a warehouse explosion may suffer concussions from the shockwave and require months of cognitive rehabilitation.

Long-Term Conditions

• PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is prevalent in survivors, especially those who witness death or severe injury.
• Chronic Lung Conditions: Inhalation of toxic fumes or smoke can lead to asthma, bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Hearing Loss: Blast waves can rupture eardrums, leading to partial or complete deafness.
  
   

Psychological Impact

• Anxiety and Depression: Survivors may experience survivor’s guilt or struggle with anxiety in everyday situations.
• Emotional Trauma: Especially profound in cases where the victim witnessed deaths or was trapped post-explosion.

Determining liability in explosion cases can be complex. Multiple parties may share responsibility, depending on the cause and circumstances.

• Employers: For failing to follow safety regulations or provide protective equipment.
• Equipment Manufacturers: If a defect in machinery or appliances caused the explosion.
• Property Owners: When poor maintenance or failure to fix known hazards contributes to the blast.
• Maintenance and Inspection Companies: For inadequate inspections or failure to identify and remedy safety risks.

If a faulty gas valve leads to a warehouse explosion, the employer could be liable for failing to replace it, while the valve manufacturer might be liable for a product defect.

Explosion victims may be entitled to a wide range of damages, including:

• Medical Expenses: Current and future treatment costs, including surgeries and medications.
• Rehabilitation and Therapy: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychological counseling.
• Lost Wages and Reduced Earning Capacity: Especially relevant if the victim is unable to return to work.
• Pain and Suffering: For the physical and emotional distress endured.
• Punitive Damages: Awarded in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what to expect if you decide to pursue legal action:

1. Free Case Evaluation and Consultation

After the explosion, your first step should be to contact an experienced attorney. Morgan & Morgan offers free consultations, where we assess the details of your case and outline your legal options.

2. Evidence Gathering

A successful claim depends on strong evidence, which may include:

• Incident reports
• Medical records
• Eyewitness accounts
• Photos or video footage
• Forensic analysis by explosion experts
  
   

3. Determining Liability

Attorneys investigate who is at fault, whether that’s an employer, manufacturer, contractor, or property owner, or multiple parties.

4. Negotiation

Most explosion cases are settled out of court. Your attorney will negotiate with insurance companies or responsible parties to secure a fair settlement.

5. Trial (If Necessary)

If a fair settlement isn’t possible, your attorney may file a lawsuit and take your case to court, where a judge or jury will determine liability and compensation.

If you’ve been injured in an explosion, your actions in the immediate aftermath can significantly impact your physical recovery and any legal claim you may pursue. Here are the most important steps to take:

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Your health and safety are the top priority. Even if injuries seem minor, internal trauma, burns, or inhalation injuries may not be immediately obvious. Prompt medical treatment helps prevent further complications and creates official records of your injuries, which are critical for legal claims.

 

2. Report the Incident

Notify the appropriate authorities or property owner:

• Workplace explosions: Report the incident to your employer or site supervisor right away.
• Residential explosions: Call 911 and inform your utility company or landlord.
• Public or commercial property explosions: Report the incident to building management or law enforcement.

Document who you spoke to and when.

3. Preserve Evidence

If you are able and it is safe to do so, gather evidence at the scene. Take photos or videos of the site, damaged property, visible injuries, and any warning signs (or lack thereof). Keep clothing and personal items affected by the blast, and write down or record your recollection of events as soon as possible.

 

4. Identify Witnesses

Collect names and contact information for anyone who saw the explosion or its aftermath. Witness statements can provide crucial support for your case.

5. Avoid Making Statements or Signing Anything

Do not give recorded statements or sign documents for insurance companies, property owners, or your employer without speaking to an attorney. These statements could be used to minimize or deny your claim.

6. Contact Morgan & Morgan

Explosion injury cases are complex and often involve multiple liable parties. A Morgan & Morgan explosion injury lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation, preserve and gather necessary evidence, determine liability, and deal with insurers and negotiate on your behalf.

Most importantly, our legal team can help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.

 

7. Follow Medical Advice

Attend all follow-up appointments, therapy sessions, and medical treatments. This not only aids your recovery but also provides a documented trail of the physical, emotional, and financial impact of your injuries.

8. Track Your Expenses and Losses

Keep detailed records of:

• Medical bills.
• Time missed from work.
• Travel costs related to medical care.
• Emotional and psychological effects (journaling can help).
   

These records are vital when calculating damages.

Proving negligence in an explosion accident case requires showing that another party failed to take reasonable precautions, and that this failure directly caused your injuries. Here’s how you and your legal team can establish a strong negligence claim:

1. Understand the Four Legal Elements of Negligence

To successfully prove negligence, you must demonstrate all four of the following:

• Duty of Care: The defendant had a legal responsibility to act reasonably to prevent harm.
• Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to meet that responsibility.
• Causation: The breach of duty directly caused or contributed to the explosion and your resulting injuries.
• Damages: You suffered measurable losses (e.g., physical injury, medical bills, lost wages).
  
   

2. Identify the Negligent Party or Parties

Explosion cases often involve multiple parties, such as:

• Employers: Failing to maintain safe work environments or follow safety regulations.
• Manufacturers: Designing or selling defective equipment, appliances, or safety systems.
• Property Owners or Managers: Neglecting proper maintenance, inspections, or repairs.
• Maintenance or Utility Companies: Performing faulty repairs or failing to detect a hazardous condition.

Your attorney will determine who owed you a duty of care based on the context of the explosion (workplace, home, public place, etc.).

3. Gather and Preserve Key Evidence

A successful claim depends on solid evidence. Some of the most common forms include:

• Photographs and videos of the explosion site and your injuries.
• Accident reports filed with employers, police, or fire departments.
• Maintenance and inspection records showing a history of neglect or missed warnings.
• Expert testimony from fire investigators, engineers, or safety professionals.
• Product testing and recalls if a defective product played a role.
• Eyewitness accounts of the incident or unsafe conditions beforehand.
  
   

4. Demonstrate Breach of Safety Standards

Negligence can often be proven by showing a violation of established safety regulations or industry standards. For example:

• OSHA violations in a workplace setting.
• Building code infractions in residential or commercial properties.
• Improper storage or handling of hazardous materials.

Your attorney may bring in specialists to show that the responsible party failed to follow these protocols.

5. Establish Causation

This means showing that the defendant’s negligent actions (or inactions) directly led to the explosion and your injuries. This may require:

• Forensic analysis to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
• Linking the hazardous condition (e.g., gas leak, defective valve) to the party responsible.
• Medical records that connect the incident to your injuries.
  
   

6. Prove Damages

You must show that the explosion caused you real harm. This includes:

• Physical injuries (burns, fractures, lung damage).
• Financial costs (medical bills, lost income).
• Emotional impact (pain and suffering, PTSD).

Detailed records, medical reports, therapy documentation, and employment records can support your damages claim.

7. Work With an Experienced Explosion Injury Attorney at Morgan & Morgan

These cases can involve complex legal and technical details, often requiring investigation by engineers, safety inspectors, and legal professionals. A skilled attorney can:

• Coordinate expert evaluations.
• Navigate multi-party liability.
• Negotiate with insurance companies.
• Take your case to trial if necessary.

Building a strong explosion injury claim requires gathering compelling evidence that clearly establishes how the explosion occurred, who is at fault, and the full extent of your injuries and losses. The more detailed and organized your evidence, the stronger your case will be, whether you’re negotiating a settlement or going to trial.

Here’s a breakdown of the key types of evidence you’ll need:

1. Photographic and Video Evidence

Visual documentation from the scene is invaluable. This can include:

• Photos or videos of the explosion site.
• Images of damaged property, equipment, and surroundings.
• Pictures of visible injuries immediately after the incident.
• Surveillance footage from nearby cameras (e.g., security or dash cams).

Visual evidence helps demonstrate the severity of the incident and can also support claims of hazardous conditions or negligence.

2. Medical Records

Comprehensive medical documentation is crucial to prove your injuries and the treatment you’ve received. Collect:

• Emergency room and hospital visit summaries.
• X-rays, CT scans, and other diagnostic test results.
• Doctor’s notes and treatment plans.
• Prescription records.
• Therapy and rehabilitation reports.
• Documentation of long-term or permanent conditions (e.g., PTSD, lung damage, disfigurement).

These records directly tie your injuries to the explosion and help calculate your damages.

3. Eyewitness Statements

Statements from people who saw the explosion, observed the conditions beforehand, or witnessed your injuries afterward can provide objective support for your claim. Be sure to collect:

• Names and contact information of witnesses.
• Written or recorded accounts of what they saw.
• Affidavits or sworn statements, if possible.

Witnesses can corroborate your version of events and help establish liability.

4. Accident and Incident Reports

Official reports provide critical third-party documentation of the explosion. These can include:

• Fire department or emergency responder reports.
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) investigations for workplace explosions.
• Police reports or hazardous materials team findings.
• Internal company incident reports.

These reports often include important details about the cause of the explosion, safety violations, and responsible parties.

5. Maintenance and Inspection Logs

If equipment failure or poor upkeep played a role, historical records may demonstrate negligence. Examples include:

• Maintenance schedules and logs.
• Safety inspection reports.
• Emails or complaints about known issues that were ignored.
• Service records showing failure to address reported hazards.

This type of evidence is especially important in industrial or commercial explosion cases.

6. Employment Records (for Workplace Explosions)

If your explosion injury occurred on the job, you’ll want to gather:

• Proof of employment (pay stubs, contracts).
• Work logs or shift schedules to verify your presence.
• Records of safety training or lack thereof.
• Workers’ compensation claim documents.

These records support both your injury claim and any related wage loss claims.

7. Expert Testimony

Specialists may be needed to explain technical or scientific aspects of the explosion. Experts could include:

• Fire investigators and arson specialists.
• Chemical engineers or hazardous materials experts.
• Medical experts to discuss injury severity and long-term impacts.
• Safety compliance professionals to address regulation violations.

Expert opinions help establish fault, causation, and the full scope of damages.

8. Product Information and Recall Notices

If a defective product or component contributed to the explosion, secure:

• Manuals or instructions for the product.
• Purchase or service receipts.
• Manufacturer specifications.
• Recall notices or safety bulletins.

This can be critical when bringing claims against manufacturers or distributors under product liability laws.

9. Financial Documentation

To recover full compensation, you’ll need to prove how the explosion impacted your finances. Collect:

• Medical bills and receipts.
• Pay stubs showing lost income.
• Invoices for home care or mobility aids.
• Costs for ongoing therapy or medication.
• Documentation of future projected expenses (e.g., surgeries, long-term care).

These documents demonstrate the monetary impact of your injuries.

10. Personal Journal or Impact Statements

Keeping a personal log of how the explosion has affected your daily life can be powerful evidence. Include:

• Pain levels and physical limitations.
• Emotional struggles (anxiety, nightmares).
• Disruptions to work, family, or hobbies.
• Photographs showing healing progress or setbacks.

This type of documentation can help quantify non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

Explosion injury claims are often complex and may involve multiple liable parties, from employers and landlords to product manufacturers and utility companies. Even when working with one of the best explosions injury attorneys, the right evidence is priceless and can help your case be a successful one.

The amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after an explosion injury, known as the statute of limitations, depends on several factors, including the state where the explosion occurred, the type of claim you’re filing, and whether any exceptions apply.

In most states, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is between 1 to 3 years from the date of the injury. If the explosion caused a wrongful death, the timeline may vary slightly and typically begins on the date of the person’s death rather than the date of the explosion.

There are important exceptions that may shorten or extend the statute of limitations:

1. Discovery Rule

If your injuries or the cause of the explosion weren’t immediately apparent (for example, latent lung damage or a product defect discovered months later), the clock may start when you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the injury or cause.

2. Government Entities

If the explosion involved a government entity, such as a city-run utility or public housing, you may need to file a notice of claim within a few months (often 30 to 180 days) before you can even file a lawsuit. These deadlines are strict, and missing them can bar your claim.

3. Minors or Mentally Incapacitated Victims

If the injured person is a minor or mentally incapacitated, some states pause (or "toll") the statute of limitations until the person reaches legal adulthood or regains capacity.

Even if you believe you have time, it’s important to act quickly to preserve evidence (such as surveillance footage or witness memories).

Yes. If you're injured in an explosion while on the job, workers’ compensation typically covers:

• Medical treatment
• Temporary or permanent disability benefits
• Rehabilitation services

However, you may also be eligible for a third-party claim if someone other than your employer was at fault.

Yes. Product liability laws allow victims to file lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, or retailers if:

• The product was defectively designed or manufactured.
• There were inadequate warnings or instructions.
• The product caused your injuries.

Surviving family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover:

• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of companionship
• Loss of financial support
• Emotional suffering
• Punitive damages

When you or a loved one is the victim of an explosion, you need a law firm with resources, reach, and results. With over 35 years of experience and a team of more than 1,000 attorneys with law offices in every state, Morgan & Morgan has recovered billions of dollars for injured clients nationwide.

We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll explosion accidents can take, and we’re here to fight for you. No upfront fees. No out-of-pocket costs. And we only get paid if you win. Contact us today to get started with a free case evaluation.

No. Consultations at Morgan & Morgan are completely free. We believe everyone deserves access to legal advice, regardless of their financial situation.

Hiring one of our lawyers is easy, and you can get started in minutes with a free case evaluation on our site or by phone.

When you hire Morgan & Morgan, you don’t just hire a lawyer; you hire the largest personal injury law firm in the country with an army of over 1,000 lawyers and offices in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Your case will be handled by a dedicated team of professionals, including personal injury lawyers, paralegals, and support staff. You will be assigned a care team that includes a primary attorney who will oversee your case and ensure you receive personalized attention throughout the process.

We love talking to our clients. You will primarily communicate with your Case Manager via telephone and email, and if you would like to speak directly with your attorney via telephone, we will make that happen by scheduling a call.

Morgan & Morgan’s lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that there are no upfront fees or expenses until your case comes to a successful conclusion. That’s right—the Fee Is Free™, and you only pay if we win.

Our fee is a percentage of the settlement or verdict amount, ensuring we are motivated to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

At Morgan & Morgan, our team of experienced attorneys has successfully represented countless clients in similar situations, securing millions in compensation. As the largest personal injury law firm in the country with over 1,000 lawyers nationwide, we have the resources, knowledge, and dedication to fight for your rights. 

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t have to pay unless we win your case. Morgan & Morgan believes justice should be accessible to all, so our motto is the Fee Is Free™—you only pay if we win.

Don’t bear the burden of your injuries on your own because of someone else’s negligence. Contact Morgan & Morgan today for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options.