Burn Injury

Maryland Gas Explosion Injury Lawyers

Accomplished representation for personal injury victims and injured workers

Gas explosions are frightening. In a second, your life can change, or a loved one can die. Gas explosions can cause catastrophic injuries due to gas, flying debris, and shock. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we work quickly and thoroughly to determine the cause of the accident and who is responsible.  We file personal injury claims, wrongful death claims, and workers’ compensation claims.

Our lawyers have been fighting for injury victims since 1985. We’ve obtained $500 million in recoveries for our clients. While each case is different, and we can’t guarantee results, our Maryland gas explosion lawyers can fight for the compensation that you deserve. We work with a range of liability experts and with respected physicians to support your legal claim.

Call us today when a gas explosion causes injuries or fatalities. We’re ready to help you now.

How can we help?

What causes gas explosions?

A gas explosion happens “when a flammable gas mixes with air and ignites rapidly, releasing powerful energy.” There are three key parts to a gas explosion:

  • A fuel source. Sources include natural gas (primarily methane), propane, butane, hydrogen, or other flammable gases.
  • An oxidizer. Generally, this is oxygen in the air. Air contains approximately 21% oxygen, which is high enough, in most cases, to support a rapid combustion reaction.
  • An ignition source that starts the combustion process. Examples include an open flame, a static electricity spark, a hot surface, or an appliance’s pilot light.

Common causes of gas explosions include a gas leak in a home or another building due to:

  • Improper installation or connections
  • Improper use
  • Damage to gas lines
  • Defective equipment, such as defective appliances, defective tanks, and faulty valves
  • Faulty vehicle gas tanks

Other causes of gas explosions include:

  • Construction accidents, such as those that may occur when digging
  • Old infrastructure
  • Improper storage

Gas explosions can occur at:

  • Residences (homes, hotels, apartments, and other residences)
  • Workplaces (construction, manufacturing sites/factories, chemical plants, and other locations)
  • Refineries
  • Other commercial locations
  • Any place that uses combustible gases

What types of injuries do gas explosions cause?

At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we work with your doctors (and our network of doctors) to understand the full scope and severity of your injuries. Gas explosion injuries may include:

  • First, second, third, and fourth-degree burn injuries, which may require surgery, skin grafts, and plastic surgery
  • Internal organ damage
  • Blast and crush injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Traumatic amputation
  • Vision loss, including blindness
  • Fractures/broken bones
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Lung injuries, internal bleeding, and blast wave trauma
  • Concussive force injuries
  • Heart disorders

Gas explosions may also cause structures to collapse, which can cause catastrophic injuries and deaths.

What are the treatments for gas explosion injuries?

The treatments vary, depending on the type and severity of your injury. Generally, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Possible treatments may include:

  • Medications
  • Emergency care, including managing shock, controlling bleeding, and treating hypothermia
  • Surgeries
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Psychological counseling
  • Pain management
  • Assistive devices and technology

Who is liable for gas explosions in Maryland?

Our Maryland gas explosion lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible for gas explosion injuries or deaths. The defendants may include:

Multiple defendants may be liable. Often, the defendants will blame each other. We build strong claims to show how each defendant contributed to the explosion and resulting injuries.

We also file workers’ compensation claims on behalf of employees who suffer gas explosion injuries during the scope of their employment. There is no need to prove fault in workers’ compensation claims.

How do your gas explosion lawyers fight for victims?

Our lawyers fight for our clients who suffer injuries or the loss of loved ones due to gas explosions in the following ways:

  • We investigate the cause of the accident. We work with gas and fire officials/experts, product safety experts, engineers, our own investigators, and other liability experts.
  • We conduct a discovery of everyone with knowledge of the explosion and your injuries. Discovery includes written questions, oral questions, and requests for all relevant information, such as prior complaints, inspection dates, and many other types of evidence.
  • We work with your doctors to verify your injuries, understand the full range of treatments you need, explain all the ways your injuries are affecting every part of your life, and discuss the cost of your medical care.
  • Our team works with your employer and financial professionals to verify your lost income.
  • We work with other experts and you to verify all your other damages.
  • Our lawyers make formal demands for settlement and negotiate with the insurance companies to try to settle.
  • We argue your case before a judge and jury if there is no settlement.

What compensation do you seek for gas explosion victims?

We file the correct type of claim for your situation. We demand the compensation you fully deserve for your type of claim. Gas explosion claims include the following:

Personal injury lawsuit

Personal injury claims require showing that a business, organization, or person owed you a duty of care (such as protecting you from harm), that they breached that duty, and that the breach caused your injuries or the death of a loved one. Our burn injury lawyers can pursue compensation for all your damages so far and all the future damages that you are reasonably likely to incur. Personal injury damages can include the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of bodily function.
  • Loss of consortium (marital comfort and intimacy).
  • The inability to enjoy life’s pleasures.
  • Property damage.
  • Punitive damages may be available in rare cases involving actual malice or intentional misconduct.

Workers’ compensation claims

In workers’ compensation cases, employees who suffer gas explosion injuries during the scope of their employment can seek compensation for:

  • All medical expenses for as long as necessary
  • Temporary disability benefits
  • Permanent disability benefits
  • Vocational rehabilitation benefits

Death benefits

We file wrongful death claims for families if a gas explosion is due to the negligence or fault of others.

We seek workers’ compensation death benefits for the eligible family members of employees who die due to a gas explosion during the scope of their employment.

What steps should victims take after a gas explosion occurs in Maryland?

Some of the important steps to take after a gas explosion include:

  • Report the explosion to local officials and local utility companies, so they can determine and stop the cause of the explosion and take appropriate preventive steps.
  • Notify your employer in writing of your injuries.
  • Seek immediate medical attention to obtain a diagnosis, show that your injuries are severe, and begin the treatment process.
  • Preserve any evidence of the cause of the explosions and your injuries (such as through photos or videos, documentation) if safe to do so.
  • Contact our Maryland gas explosion injury attorneys immediately.

Gas explosion injury FAQs

How long do I have to file a gas explosion lawsuit?

Don’t wait. Call us now. The sooner we can investigate your claim and review your medical needs, the stronger your claim should be.

  • Generally, the time limit to file a personal injury/wrongful death claim in Maryland is within three years from the date you sustained injuries from the gas explosion or within three years from the date your loved one died. There are shorter notice requirements if your claim is against the government. The statute of limitations for minors who are victims is generally tolled until the minor turns 18.
  • In Maryland, you must notify your employer within 10 days of the injury and file a formal claim with the Workers’ Compensation Commission within two years. Also, a failure to file within 60 days may mean your employer can contest your claim if they can show that the delay prejudiced their ability to investigate.

Claims involving defective building systems or construction may be subject to a Statute of Repose, which can bar claims after a certain period following the completion of the structure.

What if the explosion happened at work?

Employees can file a workers’ compensation claim. Independent contractors normally file a personal injury claim. Both employees and independent contractors can file product liability claims.

Can I sue if a loved one died in a gas explosion?

Families of employees may pursue workers’ compensation death benefits and, in some cases, third-party wrongful death claims against responsible non-employer parties. The families of independent contractors and non-workers can file a wrongful death complaint. Depending on the claims available, damages may include funeral and burial costs, the loss of financial support, and the loss of love, guidance, companionship, and other relationship-based losses. A related survival claim may also seek damages such as medical expenses incurred before death.

Do you have a Maryland gas explosion lawyer near me?

Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. has offices located at

  • 575 S. Charles St., Suite 504, Baltimore, MD
  • 10211 Wincopin Circle, Suite 620, Columbia, MD

We help clients in Columbia, Baltimore, Frederick, and other parts of Maryland.  We also conduct conversations by phone and through online video platforms, like Zoom and FaceTime. We can make other arrangements if your injuries prevent you from traveling.

We can answer all your questions and explain how each step of the claims process works.

Speak with our Maryland gas explosion injury lawyers today

You’re in pain. Your bills are mounting. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we focus on obtaining the financial recovery you deserve, so you can focus on your health, your family, and your work.

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