Maryland Explosion Injury Lawyer
Strong legal representation for individuals injured in explosions
Explosions can happen suddenly, without any warning, and cause serious injuries to everyone in their path. Victims often face physical injuries, expensive medical bills, and emotional trauma, which can significantly change the trajectory of their lives.
Sometimes, these tragic events are caused by negligence. Examples may include ignored gas leaks, unenforced safety measures, and defective equipment. If you or a loved one has been injured in an explosion, you may be entitled to compensation. Understanding your rights is the first step toward rebuilding your life. Contact Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. We can help you understand how explosion injuries happen, who may be liable, and what steps you can take to pursue justice.
What is an explosion injury?
The U.S. Department of Energy defines an explosion as a sudden, rapid release of energy that produces potentially damaging pressures, often involving energetic materials, a pressurization event, or a chemical reaction. The physical trauma resulting from direct or indirect contact with an explosion is a blast injury.
Victims can suffer both visible injuries (such as burns and fractures) and hidden trauma (such as lung damage or brain injury), which makes early evaluation critical.
How explosions occur
When there’s a buildup of pressure or ignition of flammable materials – such as gas, vapor, or dust – in a confined space, explosions can occur. Sometimes, a wire might spark, equipment may fail, or the explosion may be due to human error. Environmental factors can be at play, too.
Types of explosions
The main types of explosions include gas, chemical, industrial, and residential.
- Gas explosions: Natural gas leaks from pipelines, appliances, or underground lines can occur for a number of reasons, including aging infrastructure or poor ventilation, and can contribute to a gas explosion.
- Chemical explosions: Highly reactive conditions, improper storage, or mixing incompatible substances can cause chemical explosions.
- Industrial explosions: Disasters caused by industrial accidents, such as a high-pressure vessel failure that exceeds its structural limits, can cause an explosion.
- Residential explosions: Faulty appliances, propane tanks, or HVAC systems can lead to residential explosions.
Primary, secondary, and tertiary blast injuries
Injuries from explosions are classified into four main categories: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
- Primary injuries: Caused by the blast wave itself. Injuries include lung damage and ruptured eardrums.
- Secondary injuries: Caused by objects, such as debris or shrapnel, making contact with the body.
- Tertiary injuries: Occur when victims are thrown into objects or structures that collapse.
- Quaternary effects: After the initial injury, burns, inhalation damage, and exposure to harmful substances can occur.
Common causes of an explosion accident
Explosions can strike when you’re at work, relaxing at home, or exploring public settings. They can occur for many reasons.
Gas leaks and pipeline failures
Gas leaks can occur slowly over a period of time, especially in older buildings that likely have aging infrastructure. A gas leak can also occur when appliances are improperly installed or damaged during construction work. In some cases, there may be warning signs of gas leaks. An odor is intentionally added to natural gas so that people will smell it and suspect a leak.
Industrial and refinery explosions
Industrial settings require strict safety protocols. Still, explosions can occur and often involve highly flammable materials, including gases, chemicals, and combustible dust. Causes can be failing to install proper ventilation, ignoring safety procedures, or not training employees properly.
Boiler and pressure vessel explosions
Boilers and pressure vessels can be ticking time bombs if not looked after. When pressure gets too high, the results can be catastrophic. Regular inspections and safety checks are critical to staying safe.
Chemical plant accidents
Chemical plants handle substances that can react violently and without warning. If these reactions aren't controlled, explosions can happen. To prevent these accidents and protect the people who work there, proper safety training and careful storage of materials are vital.
Residential explosions from faulty appliances
Many explosions happen in the home. This can be due to faulty appliances such as gas stoves, furnaces, or water heaters, or to small leaks from old parts or defective connections. Depending on the situation, responsibility may fall on a landlord, a maintenance company, or the appliance manufacturer.
Types of explosion-related injuries
Explosion-related injuries can affect more than one part of the body at once. Injuries can be minor or severe. The force of a blast can cause both visible physical injuries and also serious internal damage that may not be immediately apparent. Even if you feel okay, you should seek medical attention. The evaluation may protect your health, and it can also strengthen your legal claim.
Severe burn injuries
Burn injuries are categorized by depth, with 1st-degree burns being the least severe and 4th-degree burns being the most severe. Serious burns can damage skin, muscle, and even bone. Many victims require specialized treatment at facilities like those accredited by the American Burn Association, and often face long recoveries, surgeries, and emotional trauma.
Blast lung and internal organ damage
Even if there are no external wounds present, an explosion can cause ruptured lung tissue and damage internal organs. Blast lung is the most common fatal injury among initial survivors.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Even without a direct blow to the head, the energy from an explosion can be converted into biokinetic energy, damaging the brain and cranial structures due to overpressure. The damage this mechanical energy causes is similar to the blunt trauma of a TBI.
Hearing loss and ear injuries
After a blast injury, you might feel as though the injured ear is clogged. Your ability to hear may be reduced. Other symptoms include tinnitus (ringing in the ear), hyperacusis (auditory hypersensitivity), vertigo, and/or balance disturbances. An explosion can cause a blast injury that affects not only your ears but also your brain.
Broken bones and crush injuries
During the “tertiary” phase of an explosion, victims can be thrown against surfaces or trapped under buildings or debris, causing fractures, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage.
Physiological trauma and PTSD
The psychological effects one might experience after an explosion can be just as serious as physical injuries. Anxiety, PTSD, and sleep disturbances may develop.
If you’ve suffered injuries due to an explosion, document all symptoms immediately.
Who can be held liable for an explosion?
Determining liability after an explosion can be difficult. Responsibility can fall on more than one party. Potential liable parties include:
Property owners and landlords
If property owners or landlords did not properly maintain gas lines, ignored a report of a gas leak, or violated Maryland building codes, they may be found liable in an explosion personal injury case.
Employers and contractors
OSHA laws and regulations are in place to create and maintain safe work environments. Failure to follow OSHA rules may serve as evidence of negligence and support liability for injuries sustained during an explosion.
Gas and utility companies
Failure to monitor line pressure or to address a reported leak in a timely manner can result in liability if an explosion occurs. Failure to properly install gas lines or properly hook up gas appliances can also cause explosions.
Manufacturers of defective equipment
Manufacturers of faulty equipment may be held strictly liable if a defective product causes an explosion.
Maintenance and inspection companies
Maintenance and inspection firms can bear some responsibility if they didn’t conduct thorough inspections, overlooked potential dangers, or allowed hazardous systems to remain in place.
Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., can work with you to determine all of the potentially liable parties.
Compensation available in explosion injury cases
An explosion in Maryland can lead to significant financial, physical, and emotional losses. While it’s impossible to determine the exact compensation available in any particular case, certain types of recovery may be available to recover losses for both immediate costs and long-term impacts.
Emergency medical treatment and surgeries
If the injuries you sustained in a Maryland explosion are catastrophic, the costs can be extensive. Personal injury cases can include recovery for ambulance transport, emergency room treatment, intensive care unit stays, burn unit care and specialized treatment, surgeries (including skin grafts and reconstructive procedures), and any medications and pain management needed.
Ongoing rehabilitation and therapy
No matter what the cause, serious injuries often require physical therapy to restore mobility and strength. Burn injuries due to an explosion may require specialized burn rehabilitation programs that will aid recovery.
Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
In addition to compensation received for addressing your physical symptoms, you may also recover income lost during recovery and hospitalization and lost future income if you can no longer work. This includes bonuses, commissions, or benefits.
Pain and suffering
Non-economic damages for the physical agony and mental anguish caused by the explosion are often recoverable. This might include:
- Physical pain from injuries, surgeries, and recovery
- Emotional distress, including anxiety and depression
- Loss of enjoyment of life and daily activities
- Sleep disturbances or trauma-related conditions
- Ongoing mental anguish related to the incident
Permanent disability and disfigurement
In severe cases, you can recover compensation for injuries sustained after an explosion, which might include a loss of limb or permanent physical impairment. This may include chronic pain, reduced mobility, scarring, visible disfigurement, cognitive impairments, and long-term lifestyle changes, such as the need for a wheelchair.
Wrongful death damages
If an explosion was fatal, you may be able to recover funeral and burial expenses, a loss of financial support and household income, loss of companionship, guidance, and care, and emotional suffering.
What to do after an explosion injury
Taking the right steps immediately after an explosion can protect both your health and your legal rights. Here’s what to do:
Seek immediate medical attention
First and foremost, prioritize your health. If necessary, go to the emergency room or call 911. According to the Mayo Clinic, major burns require emergency medical care, and minor burns can often be treated with first aid. Document any and all symptoms and keep copies of medical records and treatment plans. Also, make sure to attend follow-up appointments.
Report the explosion to authorities
After an explosion in Maryland, call local emergency services right away and ensure an official report is filed. Then, request a copy of the report for your records.
Preserve physical evidence and documentation
If possible, take photos and videos of the scene, injuries, and any property damage. Keep all evidence from the explosion, including any damaged clothing, equipment, and even pieces of debris. Also, document the timeline of events and keep all receipts for related expenses and repair estimates.
Avoid speaking to insurance adjusters alone
Don’t give recorded statements or sign any documents without attorney review.
Contact an explosion injury attorney immediately
An experienced personal injury attorney in Maryland can investigate the cause of an explosion, coordinate with expert witnesses, identify liable parties, and help you pursue the compensation available under Maryland law.
Explosion injury FAQs
While every Maryland explosion case is different, these FAQs are common questions to discuss with a legal professional.
How long do I have to file an explosion injury lawsuit?
Generally, you have three years from the date of the injury or when it was discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered) to file a personal injury claim in Maryland.
Can I sue if the explosion happened at work?
Yes, potentially. If you suffered injuries during an explosion that occurred due to negligence, you may be able to file a third-party claim against negligent manufacturers or contractors.
What if a defective product caused the explosion?
You can likely file a product liability case if a defective product caused an explosion. You generally do not have to prove negligence, but you must show the product was defective, unreasonably dangerous, and that the defect caused your injury.
How much is my explosion injury case worth?
It depends. The value of a personal injury case in Maryland is determined by how serious the injury is, the liable parties, and the available insurance coverage.
Do you have a Maryland explosion attorney near me?
Yes. Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., has offices in Columbia and Baltimore, Maryland. If you can’t make it into the office, we’re happy to meet you elsewhere or chat online via video consultation.
Contact a Maryland explosion injury lawyer today
At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we take time to listen to your story. We understand that you’ve suffered a great deal. We offer compassionate representation for you and your loved ones. Don’t hesitate to reach out today. Call us or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.