Chemical plants process, store, and transport dangerous substances. An accidental fall, explosion, or other harmful event could result in serious injuries for plant workers and visitors. Common accidents and injuries at chemical plants include cuts, burns, limb loss, head, back, and neck injuries of varying severity, and fatalities.
Chemical plants provide a valuable service but are inherently dangerous places. If you or someone you love was injured in a chemical plant accident, the injuries you sustain can temporary and permanent injuries. If the accident was the result of negligence, an industrial accident lawyer in Waxahachie can help you recover financial compensation.
Types of Chemical Plants Where Injuries Occur
A chemical plant is an industrial location that specializes in the manufacturing of chemicals for a variety of uses. Types of chemical plants include:
- Agricultural
- Electroplating
- Fertilizer
- Inorganic
- Oil and soap
- Organic
- Pesticide
- Petroleum
- Pharmaceutical
- Refining
According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data, chemicals you might find in facilities like these include:
- Adhesives
- Binders
- Caulking compounds
- Coatings
- Glues
- Industrial gases
- Paint removers
- Paint thinners
- Petrochemicals
- Resins
- Solvents
- Synthetic dyes
- Synthetic pigments
Texas Chemical Plant Accidents
Notable chemical plant accidents in Texas from 2023, documented by Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters, include:
- A hydrogen fluoride leak in Texas City
- A liquid latex fire in Port Neches
- A massive explosion and fire in Shepherd at a company that produces solvents for glue and paint remover
Additional 2023 incidents include a bleach tank leak in Katy, Texas, a life-threatening chlorine gas leak in Denton, Texas.
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Chemical Plant Accidents Can Result in Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Mayo Clinic research cites explosive blasts as a common cause of traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can vary in severity from mild to catastrophic and can be the result of the explosion itself, or of related falls, severe blows, or flying shrapnel or debris.
Burns and Related Injuries from a Chemical Plant Accident or Explosion
An explosion at a chemical plant or storage facility can lead to dangerous and disfiguring burns. The types of burns caused by accidents or explosions can include:
- First-degree burns that typically cause temporary skin damage
- Second-degree burns that can leave lasting scars
- Third-degree burns that cause skin and nerve damage and severe disfigurement
Chemical plant accidents can also lead to severe injuries, including lung damage, damage to your face, lips, mouth, and nose, internal damage to your windpipe or internal organs, and physical disfigurement.
Chemical Plant Accidents Can Result in Extreme Face and Eye Injuries
Accidents that expose you to caustic substances can cause disfiguring facials injuries, vision damage or loss, and hearing damage or loss.
Limb Loss Resulting From Chemical Plant Accidents and Injuries
An industrial accident can result in limb loss in multiple ways—limbs can be lost as the result of the accident, an explosion, or flying debris. Damage from the accident can also result in later surgical amputation.
Non-Toxic Chemical Plant Accidents and Resulting Injuries
Chemical plants are busy, bustling places. Accidents and injuries that can occur in industrial plants include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by repetitive motion
- Slip and fall accidents, caused by slick or slippery surfaces
- Being struck by or caught between industrial equipment
- Forklift, golf cart, or other motor vehicle accidents
If the cause of one of these accidents or injuries was another person’s or entity’s negligence, you could still have a valid case for financial recovery.
A Lawyer Can Pursue Compensation for a Chemical Plant Accident or Injury
Compensation after an industrial accident can include both economic and non-economic damages. Your compensation request for a work injury can include:
- Medical, rehab, and therapy expenses
- In-home medical and domestic support
- Lost income and lost earning potential
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Lasting impairments and disfiguring injuries
If your family lost a loved one in an accident at a chemical plant, your legal team will request a range of wrongful death damages on your behalf. While nothing can truly make up for your loss, you can request compensation to cover your loss of the decedent’s financial and familial contributions to your family. You can also recover the costs of their funeral or burial expenses and your loss of consortium, companionship, and society.
Evidence Your Lawyer Collects to Prove Negligence in Your Chemical Plant Case
To recover damages for a chemical plant accident, your lawyer will investigate to prove the accident was negligence-based. The evidence you need for a work injury claim can include:
- Plant surveillance and security video, if available
- Incident reports and accident reconstruction reports
- Injury photos and before and after photos of the plant
- Witness statements from coworkers and other staff
Your lawyer will also obtain your employment and salary records to prove the monetary value of your current and future lost income. These records will also prove you were at the plant when the accident occurred.
Texas Imposes a Filing Deadline on Your Chemical Accident or Injury Lawsuit
The majority of civil lawsuits are settled without going to trial. Your legal team will strive for an out-of-court settlement but will still file a lawsuit on your behalf. In Texas, you generally have two years to file your lawsuit, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003.
If you fail to meet the statute of limitations for work injuries in Texas, your lawsuit will be dismissed—if you are allowed to file it at all. A lawyer can help you understand the statute of limitations, including any circumstances that might provide an extension to the filing deadline.
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Get a Free Review of Your Chemical Plant Accidents and Injuries Case
If you or someone you love was injured by one of the common accidents and injuries that occur at chemical plants, our law firm will help you pursue financial compensation. We will also support families who suffered the loss of a loved one in the accident.
Contact our case review team at Clay Jenkins & Associates today to learn more about your rights and to explore your financial recovery options.
Call or text (972) 938-1234 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form