Explosion Injury Attorney in Mississippi

Fires and explosions are some of the most traumatic events people ever have to go through. A blast or explosion can cause widespread damage to property and severe injuries and fatalities to those in the vicinity. And the sudden loss of a loved one because of an explosion can leave those closest to the victim with emotional scars that could last a lifetime. This is especially true if they witnessed the event themselves.

For explosion accident survivors, medical bills can easily top six figures or in the most extreme cases, seven figures. And when someone suffers a severe injury, they usually have to miss a significant amount of time from work as well. In fact, in some cases, they are never able to return to work at all. Mounting medical bills combined with time missed from work can cause severe financial hardship for victims and their families. When an explosion injury happens because of someone else’s negligence or reckless actions, those in impacted by it deserve to be compensated.

At the Gardner Law Firm, we have over four decades of experience representing individuals who have suffered explosion injuries and all other types of personal injuries in Biloxi and throughout Mississippi. We have in-depth knowledge of this area of the law, and we are committed to obtaining full and fair compensation on behalf of each client we serve. We understand that victims of explosion accidents endure major physical, emotional, and financial pain, and our goal is to make the legal process as smooth and stress-free as possible. We handle all the complex legal tasks, so you can focus on what is most important; your recovery.

How do Explosion Injuries Occur?

There are several ways a blast or explosion can happen, here are some of the most common:

• Electrical explosions
• Building explosions
• Power plant explosions
• Chemical explosions
• Combustible dust explosions
• Mining explosions
• Oil and Gas Drilling explosions
• Machinery explosions
• Hot work (e.g., welding, torching, etc.) explosions
• Fuel tank explosions (from automobiles)

There are four general types of injuries that can happen as a result of an explosion:

Primary blast injuries: Primary blast injuries are those that result directly from the explosion when the pressure of the blast wave strikes the surface of the body. These injuries can cause ruptured eyes and eardrums, instant damage to the lungs and other internal organs, and traumatic brain injuries.

Secondary blast injuries: These are injuries that happen because of objects, materials, or debris that is scattered instantly after the blast, striking individuals nearby. This can cause all types of blunt force trauma injuries, as well as skin penetration, particularly if the objects are sharp.

Tertiary blast injuries: When an explosion happens, there is a blast of wind that results from it. Depending on how powerful the explosion is, this wind blast can cause individuals to be thrown a significant distance, often resulting in serious injuries. A tertiary blast injury can be especially severe when someone is thrown off of a high platform, down several flights of stairs, or out the window of the building.

Quaternary blast injuries: These are injuries that do not fit into any of the other three categories. Examples of quaternary blast injuries include crush injuries, burn injuries, angina, and exposure to toxic fumes and other hazardous substances.

Injuries from explosions can vary in severity, depending on and individual’s proximity to the blast and other specific circumstances. It is important to note that not all explosion injuries are physical. Some individuals suffer severe emotional trauma just from witnessing the blast and seeing others seriously injured or killed as a result.

Recovering Compensation in Mississippi Explosion Injury Cases

Explosion accident claims can be very complex and challenging to pursue. First of all, it is often difficult to determine how the blast occurred in the first place. Oftentimes, there are a combination of contributing factors that converge in the wrong place at the wrong time, which means there may be several potential parties that are responsible.

A thorough investigation will be necessary to get to the bottom of what happened and to figure out who was at fault. For this reason, it is important to retain a skilled personal injury lawyer as early as possible in the process, so that critical evidence can be preserved, and all responsible parties can be held fully accountable.

Another potential complication with these types of cases is which legal avenue to pursue to recover compensation. If the explosion accident occurred in the workplace, the first step would likely be to file a workers’ compensation claim. Most Mississippi employers are required to carry workers’ comp insurance, and if you qualify, you can receive reimbursement for medical bills, a portion of your lost wages, and compensation for a permanent disability.

Employees are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of who was at fault for the explosion accident (with a few exceptions). That said, filing a claim is a complicated and confusing process, and employers do not usually make it any easier for an employee to recover the benefits they deserve. If you need any help with your workers’ comp claim, call our office right away.

If the explosion accident happened at work but it was the fault of a third party other than your employer, or the accident happened outside of work, you may be able to recover damages directly from the responsible party’s insurer or through a personal injury lawsuit. Compensatory damages for explosion injuries may include:

• Economic damages: These are actual monetary losses resulting from the explosion accident, such as property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and funeral and burial costs.
• Non-economic damages: These are intangible losses that are more difficult to quantify, such as pain and suffering, psychological distress, diminished quality of life, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. Mississippi caps non-economic damages for most personal injury cases at $1 million.

In rare cases in which there is clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted maliciously, fraudulently, or with willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the wrongdoer and serve as a deterrent to help prevent similarly egregious actions in the future. In Mississippi, punitive damages are capped based on a percentage of the defendant’s net worth.

Speak with a Knowledgeable and Compassionate Biloxi, MS Explosion Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in an explosion accident, you need strong legal counsel by your side advocating aggressively for your rights and interests. If you are in Biloxi, Pascagoula, or anywhere along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, call the Gardner Law Firm today at 228-436-6555 or message us through our online contact form for a free consultation and case assessment.

We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis – you only pay attorney fees if we win your case.